Anna is an artist and writer based in Minnesota. Diagnosed with pulmonary hypertension at the age of 4, she fought for 19 years before receiving a lifesaving heart-lung transplant in 2018. Despite complications following transplant, she was discharged back home eight months later. Anna now manages life with a tracheostomy and relies on supplemental oxygen, but her life remains full of hope and wonder, which she strives to share through her writing. In addition to her role as a columnist for Pulmonary Hypertension News, Anna works as a photo editor, a photographer, and also runs her own art business.Like many parents in the 1990s, my mom and dad opted to have my siblings and me regularly vaccinated according to the recommended schedule. I’m not sure they thought twice about it. This was common practice among most families we knew in the Midwest and was eventually required at the…
Whether you’re 5 or 15, back-to-school season can involve all sorts of overwhelming factors when living with pulmonary hypertension (PH) or another complex illness. Along with shopping for school supplies and planning an outfit for school pictures, PH warriors also have to worry about medication management, energy allowance, and…
My first doctor for pulmonary hypertension (PH) introduced the general concept of organ transplant to my parents and me at the same time as my diagnosis. As we learned about a life with PH, she also explained that transplant was the single lifesaving option I’d likely need once I…
While talking with some friends recently, we ended up discussing our college majors. My mom had encouraged me to study literature, writing, or something similar, but after a lifetime of being closely tied to the healthcare system with my pulmonary hypertension, I was determined to pursue a career in…
When I got my driver’s license at 16, my parents mentioned that I might benefit from handicapped parking, given my pulmonary hypertension (PH). But despite my poor tolerance for walking distances at the time, I didn’t even entertain the subject. A parking permit — a blue tag that…
As an avid reader who lives with a chronic illness, I’ve always looked for stories to which I could relate. When I was a teenager, I read “The Fault in Our Stars” by John Green, which followed the life of a 16-year-old girl with terminal cancer. It was…
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.,…
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