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.The night before my 15th birthday, my mom looked at me and took a moment. Then with love and a bit of bluntness, she said, “Every year is a gift.” It could’ve been a general statement regarding the fragility of life, but I knew better. Instead, it was her…
In 2002, three years after my pulmonary hypertension (PH) diagnosis, my family and I made our way to the Pulmonary Hypertension Association’s (PHA) International PH Conference. I have no memories of this gathering, which was the first we’d attended, but it soon became a treasured part of…
One day, when I was 15, I tagged along with my cousin and her partner to run a few errands. In the car, Ben Howard, an artist I’d never heard of, played on the CD player. Two songs later, I was hooked. I’d never heard music like his. When we…
In the world of chronic illness, medications can be many things. At best, they’re a blessing, but more often than not, I’ve found them to be a necessary evil. While living with pulmonary hypertension (PH) for 19 years, I remained on a fairly consistent medication regimen. My doctors…
Since May, I’d been faced with a challenge familiar to many women: finding the perfect dress for a wedding. Two close friends of mine were married last weekend, and I had the honor of attending the wedding and reciting original poetry during the ceremony. After my heart-lung transplant in…
The approach of summer always catches me off guard. For about six weeks between May and June, I can’t avoid keeping a packed schedule. Along with several holidays and birthdays, including my own, this period also marks the beginning of my busy season working as a photo editor. In…
When I was diagnosed with pulmonary hypertension (PH) in 1999, doctors prepared my parents for the reality I was facing. Just two weeks before my fourth birthday, they were told such words as “progressive” and “terminal.” The doctors set the trajectory of my PH journey before us,…
When I was diagnosed with pulmonary hypertension (PH) in 1999, the subject of organ transplant was introduced almost immediately. Doctors explained to my parents that PH was terminal, and that transplant, usually of the heart and lungs, was an option for extending life. For the next 14 years, transplant…
Growing up with pulmonary hypertension (PH), I was fortunate to avoid many situations that required home healthcare. My parents and I used the service a few times, mainly when we needed training for a new medication or when both my mom and…
When living with a chronic illness, countless situations arise that require one to prioritize health above all else. When I was growing up and my friends and peers were expanding their horizons, I often decided to take a back seat to focus on self-preservation. These sacrifices became even more common…
I was listening to a sermon via a podcast the other weekend. During the announcements for the week, my ears perked up as the pastor eagerly discussed an exciting event coming up. It would be a three-day affair. Each day involved walking a portion of the city, stopping at various…
At my most recent post-transplant clinic appointment, my transplant pulmonologist added a new lab to my testing. Prospera, as it’s called, is a way of assessing the risk of active organ rejection in transplant patients. Prospera isn’t new in the world of organ transplantation. It was initially created…
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