My top 5 truths about the surgery recovery process
With a history of eight major cardiovascular surgeries, I’m often assumed to be a pro at recovering from an operation. Maybe so, but no matter how many surgeries or procedures I endure, it…
Recharged and Rewired
— Brittany Foster
Brittany Foster lives in Cranston, Rhode Island, and has a passion for teaching, writing, and advocating. She was a special educator for four years before beginning her work at Bionews in 2017. She was diagnosed with pulmonary hypertension at birth, 1991, due to a congenital heart defect. Brittany writes openly about how chronic illness and rare disease impacts her daily life and mental health. She wants people to know that there is still a very high quality of life possible for those with medical conditions despite all the inevitable challenges, treatments, and procedures. On good days, you can find Brittany playing street hockey with her nephew or listening to country songs while driving to the beach.
Featured Post
How my healing process has helped me redefine hope
H.O.P.E.: Hold on, pain ends. This acronym came across my phone screen as I was scrolling through social media last month. Despite my physical pain and emotional discomfort, I laughed and thought to myself,…
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A letter to my future self: Please remember that someone needs you
Dear Future Self, I know you’ve been experiencing days that feel like years. Living with a body that feels out of control and a mind that must react isn’t easy. The combination of…
Choosing to survive is one thing that’s within my control
For the past few months, I’ve been fighting a body that feels like it’s knocking me down. In addition to my chronic hypoxia and pulmonary hypertension (PH), my gastrointestinal (GI) system has…
Crying in the shower was the emotional cleanse I needed
“I have to shower immediately. I’ll get all of these EKG lead stickers off of me and erase the hospital.” That was the first thought that came to my mind after a…
By the Power of Love, I’m Still Here After Open-chest Surgery
My two favorite female singers, Celine Dion and Carrie Underwood, have songs about love and the power it holds. Dion belted out the following lyrics in her timeless classic “The Power of…
Enjoying Sex, One of Life’s Not-so-Simple Pleasures
“There were nights of endless pleasure. It was more than any laws allow.” Celine Dion’s “It’s All Coming Back to Me Now” is a classic. As I sang along, I couldn’t help but wonder,…
How Medical Trauma Led to an Irrational Fear of Kidnapping
I recall waking up in a full-body sweat every time I had a nightmare as a child. The nightmare was always the same and involved my two sisters, a kidnapper, and me. In the…
Rewiring My Mind by Focusing on Pride
My mind once seemed wired to focus on parts of me I wish I could change. Most of my life, I struggled to accept my reflection in the mirror. I spent a lot of…
I’ll Be 30, Single, and Still Figuring It All Out
In the movie “13 Going on 30,” the character Jenna Rink sits in a closet crying on her 13th birthday. Distressed about her birthday celebrations going awry, Jenna longs to skip her teen…
I Need to Stop Apologizing for My Body and Start Connecting to It
“Don’t mind the pacemaker on the left side of my chest — it sticks out. I hope you’re not grossed out by the port because you can see the tunneling of…
The Week I Discovered What Makes Me Happy
I’m often asked, “What is something that makes you happy?” Sometimes it’s by a friend reaching out to support me during a difficult week, or it might be a therapist helping me through a…
