Blooming Hope
— Anna Jeter

In my early 20s, I had the opportunity to participate in an interactive photo shoot. The photographer asked her subjects questions about our lives and then captured our emotional responses. There was much laughter and thoughtfulness among our group. During my portion of the session, the photographer asked, “Where do…

One of the hardest things for me to talk about is the loneliness of chronic illness. The topic can quickly become uncomfortable for me and the person I’m speaking with. Still, it’s been a near constant in my life with pulmonary hypertension (PH), and ignoring it often only amplifies…

Leading up to my heart and lung transplant in 2018, a friend asked if there were any specific activities I was looking forward to doing post-transplant. The hope was that my health would improve following the procedure. One of my very confident answers was that I was excited to…

Following my heart and lung transplant in 2018, I really wanted a smartwatch. Admittedly, the dream was that I’d be using this piece of tech to track ambitious hikes and long walks. Maybe even runs. I had a very athletic vision of myself following recovery, which, of course, ended up…

As a born and bred Minnesotan, the thrill of the winter season lives in my blood. We’re a four-season state, but the reality is that the northern Midwest freezes over into a landscape of immovable ice and snow for six months of the year. My childhood memories are stacked with…

During my senior year of high school, mornings were always stressful. I attended a massive school of about 3,000 students. My driving partner and I lived on the edge of our district, so arriving on time was a constant struggle. In an attempt to be in class by 8 a.m.,…

My relationship with counseling and mental health has adapted and morphed during the many years I’ve battled chronic illness. When I was diagnosed with pulmonary hypertension (PH) in 1999, mental health was discussed far less frequently than it is today. I was also only 4 years…

I’ve written more than once about the support I’ve received from my immediate family throughout my health journey. I’m fortunate to have parents and siblings who are invested in my health and willing to accommodate our family time together, always allowing me to be a fully present participant. Through the…

I was diagnosed with pulmonary hypertension in 1999, when I was just 4 years old. My parents were obviously responsible for overseeing my healthcare at the time, particularly my mother, who has been intimately involved with my journey since the day of my diagnosis. The parent-child relationship in…

When I was in college and my health was in decline with pulmonary hypertension, I had a month when my symptoms became exacerbated. That led to a week of things becoming noticeably worse, which led to a day of increasing worry. By 9 at night, I felt I had…

Last October, I had an annual checkup with my OB-GYN, where I renewed my birth control prescription, which helps to control excessive bleeding in my uterus. This is vital for me because my hemoglobin levels are consistently low due to chronic kidney disease, and I can’t afford regular blood loss.

All my Halloween nights were the same when I was growing up. First, my parents would bring me and my siblings to our family friend’s house, where we consumed sloppy Joes and Jell-O jigglers. Then the kids would disperse to various homes on the street to begin the festivities.