Author Archives: BNS Staff

November has come to an end and Pulmonary Hypertension (PH) Awareness Month now waits another year to come back around for the general public. For PH patients and caregivers familiarity with the condition is not only confined to one month, of course. There is a continuous need for medical care,…

Photo courtesy of Colleen Steele Day 30 of 30 This is Colleen Steele’s story: My son Cullen had pediatric idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension (IPAH) and received a heart and double-lung transplant seven years ago. As a columnist and forum moderator for Pulmonary Hypertension News, I strive to help others…

Photo courtesy of Justin Anthony Day 29 of 30 This is Justin Anthony’s story: It was the Easter holiday of 2007, and I made my way to my hometown of Greytown, KwaZulu-Natal, in South Africa. I’d been a student at Wits University, and always loved going home on holiday…

Photo courtesy of Sara Eldaly Day 28 of 30 This is Sara Eldaly’s story: Suffering from a chronic illness is an undefined feeling. I was only 24 years old at my diagnosis, newly married, and extremely excited about my upcoming life and plans. I then found myself fainting in…

Photo courtesy of Pam Minkey Day 27 of 30 This is Pam Minkey’s story: My daughter Mara was diagnosed with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) in February 2017 at age 9. She had been misdiagnosed for several years until finally having an echocardiogram. Her echo suggested PAH, so…

Photo courtesy of Carrie Walls Day 26 of 30 This is Carrie Walls’ (@boymomx3walls, @prayersfortriston) story: The first time I heard the words “pulmonary hypertension” (PH), I was sitting next to my son’s hospital bed after his first open-heart surgery. I had no idea what it meant…

Photo courtesy of Jessica Nichols Johnson Day 25 of 30 This is Jessica Nichols Johnson’s (@7261Johnson) story: Kayleigh Johnson is a typical teenager with one huge difference. She fights for every breath she takes. When Kayleigh was born, she had two holes in her heart. Her doctors decided…

Photo courtesy of Darci Stout Albrecht Day 24 of 30 This is Darci Stout Albrecht’s (@darci.albrecht) story: The most intense and rewarding work I have done as a licensed clinical social worker has been with the pediatric pulmonary hypertension (PH) population. I have been a clinical social…

Photo courtesy of Manny Cueva Day 23 of 30 This is Manny Cueva’s (@M109er) story: This month has me thinking about the seriousness of my wife’s pulmonary hypertension (PH) and her battle against COVID-19. With Jen’s primary PH, we’d been hoping to avoid COVID-19. Even…

Photo courtesy of Annie Whitaker Day 22 of 30 This is Annie Whitaker’s (@PHAAustralia) story: My name is Annie Whitaker, also known as Annie Boxsell Whitaker. I am a Queensland nominee for Australian of the Year. I was nominated because I have worked over the past 22 years…

Photo courtesy of Priya Balachandran Day 21 of 30 This is Priya Balachandran’s (@pbinla) story: “If I had to do it all over again, knowing what I know, I would, just to spend whatever time I have with my miracle, Kali.” I finish reading, a lump in my…

Photo courtesy of Jessica Apostoloff Day 20 of 30 This is Jessica Apostoloff’s (@xoxjessaxox) story: Odin is our seven-year-old son who has been living with pulmonary hypertension (PH) since birth. It’s an illness that he fights daily and one he does not allow to define how he…