Columns

Just as life seemed to be moving smoothly for me and a new treatment was showing promise, I unexpectedly found myself  “on vacation” at my local hospital. For those of us navigating the complicated world of chronic and rare illnesses, these unplanned hospitalizations are sometimes inevitable. Living with a rare…

During the holidays, I love spending time in the kitchen, using all my favorite devices to bake cookies and other treats that remind me of past Christmas celebrations. With a stand mixer, food processor, cookie press, and immersion blender, I feel like I’m starring in my own Food Network cooking…

When I was younger, I created what I call my “time capsule.” I made a point of preserving moments that felt beautiful, thrilling, or special by fully engaging all my senses, while also taking note of my emotions. In those fleeting instances, it felt as if I had frozen time.

A week or two before I had a heart and lung transplant seven years ago, my mom and I had lunch with a friend who was a pulmonary hypertension survivor and had received a transplant two years earlier. She shared with us what there was to look forward to…

When you live with a chronic and complex illness, complications and side effects from the medications to treat it are always lurking around the corner — even in the most stable of times. The more dramatic setbacks of living with pulmonary hypertension (PH) have included things like getting sick…

My mom was quick to share her dream with me from the night before when I came downstairs for breakfast on a recent morning. In the dream, I was still living with pulmonary hypertension (PH), and we were sitting with a group of our close PH friends. Everyone seemed…

If you’re reading this, it means I’ve started to find my “PHighting” words again. A lot has happened since I last wrote a column for Pulmonary Hypertension News, and I’m readjusting after a hospitalization that shook my world like an earthquake. A little over a year ago, my recovery…

There’s something truly rewarding about knowing you’ve helped someone. There is no final goal or checklist to accomplish when that happens — it’s an immediate feeling of success and fulfillment! It’s one way that I, along with others in our PH community, know we are doing meaningful work. As…

Caregivers to loved ones are often metaphorical mountain climbers who begin their journey without prior experience or training. Equipped with the power of love and the persistence of hope, they move forward with all the emotional, mental, and physical strength they can muster. While chased by a diagnosis, caregivers help…

Before I was diagnosed with pulmonary hypertension (PH), my life moved at full speed. I worked full time as a hospice care nurse, a job that was both emotionally demanding and deeply fulfilling. I was an active wife and mom, constantly on the go. Many of my mornings started…

Pulmonary Hypertension News recently shared a graphic on Instagram illustrating the various symptoms of the disease. Next to the outline of a body are the words “Cough and hoarseness,” with a line pointing to the throat area. This depiction pleased me, because hoarseness was my first indicator of disease…

If you saw my husband, Manny, on the street, you might think he looks angry or even a little intimidating. With his love for Harleys, T-shirts, and plaid, he fits the biker persona well. But what you can’t see is the immense heart of the man who has been my…