30 Days of PH: Teen Life Post-Transplant

by Jen Cueva | November 2, 2019

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Day 2 of 30 Days of PH ⁣⠀ Topic: Teen life post-transplant ⁣⠀ ⁣⠀ This is Sarah’s story @my_journey_with_ph⁣⠀ ⁣⠀ My name is Sarah, and I was diagnosed with Pulmonary Hypertension at birth. I’m now 15 years old, and can finally say that I’m now PH free! This past 1 ½- 2 years I was going downhill. I was in and out of the hospital, finding out that my pressures were just increasing more, eventually reaching over 200. ⁣⠀ ⁣⠀ The transplant was being talked about more often. I was terrified, nervous, worried, and devastated. But under all of that was a glimmer of hope that everything would be ok. I knew that I had to trust in God. I was listed for transplant two weeks this past summer. I received the call on July 17, 2019. I was wheeled back at about 5:00 PM. Saying goodbye to my family was the hardest part. I didn’t know if I would see them again, I was bawling my eyes out and so was everyone else. ⁣⠀ ⁣⠀ I’m now three months post-transplant. I can say it’s been the hardest, but most rewarding three months ever. I’ve had to learn all new symptoms, medicines, how to breathe, how to walk, how to use my diaphragm correctly, and tons more. I’ve been able to experience running and swimming. I've experienced going to school and walking up the stairs, not needing oxygen at night, and being able to hang out with my friends. I am grateful for every bit of it, all of these things that I haven’t been able to do my entire life. Thank you, donor, for making my impossible, possible. You and I will make the most valuable and rewarding memories in this lifetime. ???? ⁣⠀ #30daysofPH ⁣⠀ #doublelungtransplant⁣⠀ #pulmonaryhypertension ⁣⠀ #phawarenessmonth

A post shared by Pulmonary Hypertension News (@pulmonaryhypertensionnews) on Nov 2, 2019 at 11:51am PDT

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About the Author

Jen Cueva Jen Cueva lives in San Diego, California, with her husband and daughter. Jen worked in nursing before the script changed upon her diagnosis of pulmonary hypertension (PH), group 1, in 2005. Advocacy has been essential to her life. Her passion is to instill hope and remind others in the PH community that they are not alone. To do this, she serves as a forum moderator for Pulmonary Hypertension News and in her weekly column she delves into the roller coaster of emotions that accompany PH. It is powerful and meaningful to her to have this opportunity to play a role in helping others become more informed and educated so they are more empowered in their journey. Together, we PHight stronger!