The day you get called in for a transplant is a strange one, filled with all sorts of extreme experiences. Something most people might not know is that, in an attempt to execute the transplant procedure efficiently, patients are taken to the operating room before the donor organs even arrive…
Blooming Hope — Anna Jeter
Anna L. Jeter is an artist and writer living in Excelsior, Minnesota, with her parents and her sweet mini goldendoodle, Luna. Anna was diagnosed with pulmonary hypertension in 1999 at the age of 4. After a 19-year fight, she received a lifesaving heart-lung transplant in 2018. After enduring many complications, Anna was finally discharged home in April 2019. Now, living with a tracheostomy, and dependent on oxygen, she celebrates the time gifted to her by her donor, never taking the joys of everyday life for granted. Anna’s art and writing is centered on grief, survival, and the hope that continues to bloom amidst these circumstances.
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Growing up with a rare, chronic illness can draw a lot of attention. Specifically, it can raise a lot of questions, especially from other kids. I can’t remember an age when I wasn’t required to explain my health situation to others, particularly my peers. Early on, absences from school would…
My family loved dogs before I even came into the picture. My parents’ first child was a golden retriever named Sadie. Although I don’t remember her, she lives on through our family’s dog stories. The first dog I remember properly, the one I’d consider my childhood pet, was Chester. We…
By the end of my freshman year of college, it had become a bit of a joke that I would never be caught around campus in sweatpants. While my roommates and peers relished the university lifestyle of casual clothing, I was rarely seen in anything other than a fully put-together…
In 19 years of living with pulmonary hypertension (PH), the period of greatest illness I experienced was during my sophomore year in college. It was the only time in college that I was unable to live independently on campus and had to commute from my parents’ home nearby. About four…
I was hospitalized following my heart-lung transplant in 2018 One of the biggest emotional burdens was experiencing the passage of time, which was most notably marked by the holidays. Halloween was first, quickly rolling into Thanksgiving, and then Christmas. These were all difficult days spent with my immediate…
Like many people, I have always treasured the holidays. The weeks between Thanksgiving and New Year’s feel like a time for joy, community, and celebration. The holidays can also be stressful, but they can be especially devastating for those of us managing a chronic illness. I can remember the years…
It was 2 a.m., and I was waiting to have my nose packed for a bleed that had been going on for hours, a result of blood thinners and oxygen that I used to experience from time to time. I remember hoping to get back to my college…
A certain responsibility comes with being diagnosed with a rare disease. Because we know the details of our illnesses best, it is up to us to educate the world about them, so that greater knowledge and investment can be brought to our communities. This leaves me wondering what story I…
My grandma’s favorite story to tell about me is when I was 5 years old and she was staying with my siblings and me while my parents went on a short trip. A home nurse was summoned one morning to take care of my central line and prepare the…
As I prepare for a small diagnostic procedure this week, I’m noticing that my anxiety has skyrocketed. This is happening for two reasons. The first is that I have a full memory bank of physically uncomfortable and painful procedures that have made me quite sensitive. My years with illness have…
The memory is impeccably clear in my mind, tied up tightly in the damp smell of chlorine. I’m sitting on a bench in a humid concrete room while my peers splash boisterously around in the pool. They in their swimsuits, me in the required gym uniform. They, “normal.” Me, “the…
When we hear the question “Did you pack everything but the kitchen sink?” my family’s answer has always leaned toward “Yes.” Since being diagnosed with pulmonary hypertension (PH) in 1999, my family has never been able to travel lightly. But the efforts we’ve put into traveling have always outweighed the…
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