I Was Rejected From a PH Stem Cell Trial
I recently had a checkup with my PH specialist. At my previous appointment, he had told me that he would soon be recruiting PH patients to take part in a study involving the use of…
In Life With PH – Serena Lawrence
Serena Lawrence graduated from the University of Waterloo in 2012, earning an honors degree in fine arts. After she was diagnosed with pulmonary hypertension in 2013 she started the blog called The PHight or Flight Project where she began freelance writing and curating guest writer content. Serena enjoyed a good cup of tea, little adventures, and her Boston terrier named Sammy.
In her “In Life With PH” column, Serena explored the challenges she faced in living with the disease, and sought to connect with other PH patients to gain insights into how to support the ongoing effort to better treat and eventually cure pulmonary hypertension. She also served as the head of columns for Bionews, the publisher of this website.
Serena passed away in September 2018. Click here to read more about her legacy.
Featured Post
My Experience with a Post-PH Depression Diagnosis
I’ve been living with depression nearly my entire life. I remember starting to struggle with overwhelming feelings of sadness and fear around the age of 5. My symptoms started to escalate as I became a teenager,…
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Chronic Illness Can Cause Severe Trauma
I still vividly remember the day I was hospitalized and kept overnight to be picked and probed like a lab rat. A medical team ran dozens of tests to figure out why, at the age…
So, How Are Your 30s Going?
The older I get, the more I relate on a spiritual level to Mike the Situation from “Jersey Shore” trying to force his head through a concrete wall in Italy. A few weeks before…
Honoring Wonderful Women in My Life This Mother’s Day
With Mother’s Day quickly approaching on May 13, I’m trying to figure out this wound I left open over the years. Like many other young adult women with PH, I found out at the age…
The Beauty of an Expired Driver’s Permit
My beginner’s driving permit expired this summer. Even though it is no longer valid, I still carry it around with me in my wallet. It serves as a sort of memento, a sacred artifact to…
Online Dating and Intimate Disclosures
I found myself on Tinder a few weeks ago, after swearing to my friends and family that I would never date again. Truthfully, I felt like I made an account as anthropological research. As a…
The Importance of Friendship
Unfortunately, it often takes a tragedy to find out who your real friends are. And, although living with PH sucks, it is a really good obstacle for weeding out people who don’t belong in your…
Breaking Points
This week marks four years since my life changed forever. On Dec. 21, 2013, I was officially diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension. My doctor told me I had a few years to live. Since…
PH Profiles: Janeris
November was Pulmonary Hypertension (PH) Awareness Month. In honor of PH Awareness Month, I shared several patient profiles about special members of the PH community. Although it is December, I have one more…
PH Profiles: Tegan
November is Pulmonary Hypertension (PH) Awareness Month. In honor of PH Awareness Month, I will be sharing patient profiles about special members of the PH community. Please be sure to visit throughout the month…
PH Profiles: Nicole McClelland
November is Pulmonary Hypertension (PH) Awareness Month. In honor of PH Awareness Month, I will be sharing patient profiles about special members from the PH community. Please be sure to visit throughout the…
