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…
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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Tomorrow, a surgery is taking place, but for once, I won’t be the person counting back from 10 as they’re put to sleep. Instead, it’s my mother who will be undergoing a minor procedure. Fortunately, it’s low risk, but we’ve still had a lot to consider regarding her recovery, which…
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…
When I was younger, my life with pulmonary hypertension (PH) was busy. I was active in dance, softball, and the arts. I was an engaged student and had an active social life. We took family trips and made many memories. I lived a full childhood in tandem with my progressing…
“What’s the one thing you wish people knew about your transplant journey?” It’s one of the most thoughtful and thought-provoking questions I’ve ever been asked. It was posed to me six months after the momentous discharge that followed my traumatic heart-lung transplant. I remember looking up at my friend…
I didn’t truly realize how messy of a person I was until I went to college and spent more than four years living in small spaces with others. Growing up, my room would always become quickly disorganized, but this was typical teenage behavior no different than my older siblings’. Every…
The need for adaptation in my life began so quietly I often didn’t notice the accommodations I required. I started dancing at a young age, and at the end of each dance season, we had a big recital with different costumes for each performance. This created a problem when considering…
I still remember sitting on the couch with my mom on the eve of my 15th birthday. We were talking about how old I was getting, and after a brief pause, she said softly, “Every year for you is a miracle, you know.” I don’t remember how I responded, but…
On May 21, I celebrated 22 years of survival. On that day many years ago, I underwent a heart catheterization. Halfway through, doctors came out to inform my parents that the only diagnosis option was pulmonary hypertension (PH). My parents had previously been told that this was the worst-case…
Having grown up with a complex diagnosis that includes pulmonary hypertension, I was always interested in the field of healthcare. I still remember being 10 years old and telling people I wanted to be a pediatric anesthesiologist when I grew up. This was because of the anesthesiologists who had been…
When people ask to hear my story, I always offer the same opening line, “When I was 4 years old, I was diagnosed with a rare heart-lung illness,” as if I did not exist prior to that fated day. In some ways, this feels true. If I have learned anything…
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