Columns

April 6, 2018April 5, 2018

Reminders that Help Me Get Through the Difficult Days

Columns, Recharged and Rewired - a Column by Brittany Foster

With pulmonary hypertension, I have been through a variety of difficult days, including days when I feel I can’t fight this disease anymore. They are the days that make me question ... Read more

April 5, 2018April 4, 2018

Spending a Holiday in a Hospital Bed and other Spring Reflections

Columns, PHighting Words - a Column by Mike Naple

I’ve been quiet in this space for longer than I intended to be. Call it writer’s block or an exceedingly busy work schedule or no particular reason, really. I ... Read more

April 4, 2018April 3, 2018

The Bucket List I Refuse to Make

Columns, Life After PH – A Column By Kathleen Sheffer

During my senior year of high school, a teacher assigned the task of creating a “bucket list.” I was furious. A term popularized by the 2007 movie of the ... Read more

March 28, 2018March 27, 2018

Camille Frede Receives a Long-awaited Heart-lung Transplant

Columns, Life After PH – A Column By Kathleen Sheffer

On Sunday, one of my longest friends with pulmonary hypertension received a heart-lung transplant. I met Camille at the first PH Conference I attended in 2000. I was 6 ... Read more

March 23, 2018March 22, 2018

Managing Chronic Illness Taught Me that Vulnerability Is a Sign of Bravery

Columns, Recharged and Rewired - a Column by Brittany Foster

For most of my life, “being brave” meant that I had to be tough. For me, this looked like hiding my true feelings with a smile, fighting tears when ... Read more

March 16, 2018March 15, 2018

What ‘Sick’ Looks Like: My Many Faces of Chronic Illness

Columns, Recharged and Rewired - a Column by Brittany Foster

“At least you don’t look sick.” I’ve heard this comment before — meant as a compliment, I’m sure. As if saying “you don’t look sick” is a good thing. ... Read more

March 14, 2018March 13, 2018

My Sister: Fierce Competitor and Battle Buddy

Columns, Life After PH – A Column By Kathleen Sheffer

My sister and I fell asleep in our flannel nightgowns as my mom drove our minivan the 14 winding miles home. Dad was on a work trip, and we’d ... Read more

March 9, 2018March 8, 2018

Learning to Silence the Voice of Our Inner Critic

Columns, Recharged and Rewired - a Column by Brittany Foster

“You shouldn’t be sitting around all day. If you don’t get up and do something, people will think you’re just lazy.” “You shouldn’t use your illness as an excuse ... Read more

March 7, 2018March 9, 2018

I Am a PH Patient Without PH

Columns, Life After PH – A Column By Kathleen Sheffer

  When asked to help launch the Pulmonary Hypertension News Forums, I was honored, excited … and I felt like a fraud. “I don’t even have PH, anymore!” I ... Read more

March 2, 2018March 1, 2018

Being Patient Is Difficult when You’re a Patient

Columns, Recharged and Rewired - a Column by Brittany Foster

“You just have to be patient.” I can’t begin to count how many times I’ve heard this throughout my years of managing chronic illness. Although I have 26 years ... Read more