Columns

I happened upon a meme of a cat lying flat on its belly, ears pulled back on alert, chin resting between two tense paws, and eyes wide with a look that could kill. The caption read, “I’m so calm, happy, and well-rested — said no caregiver ever!” My ability to…

The hallway felt cold despite the extra blanket the transfer specialist gave me before moving me in my hospital bed. We headed to another wing of the building for yet another test. I waited in a dimly lit hallway for 45 minutes or so, counting the minutes, hours, and days…

A pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) diagnosis can have a significant impact on someone’s life. Without treatment, a PAH patient’s health can rapidly decline and leave them facing a difficult future. Some may be eligible for organ transplant and are placed on a waiting list with enough time to actually…

I was diagnosed with pulmonary hypertension (PH) at the young age of 4, so I don’t really remember life without it. The tasks and routines associated with PH were a part of my day before I’d even begun elementary school. Because I was so young, I was able to give…

Patient advocacy is a broad term covering many topics, and the concept leaves many confused. Those of us in the pulmonary hypertension (PH) community must educate ourselves about it. In this column, I primarily refer to self-advocacy and briefly touch on systems advocacy. To me, self-advocacy means making my…

Up until age 6, my son Cullen was a healthy little boy. Earaches, wellness checks, and immunizations were the only reasons I took him to the pediatrician. So I was shocked when he began complaining that his heart felt funny and he was short of breath while exercising. Asthma was…

“I wish I could help you. I know how tough pulmonary hypertension is and what you’re going through — there just isn’t enough supply of the antibodies treatment.” That was the gist of what a doctor told me while I was isolating in a California hotel room in January. I…

Most people realize that living with a serious health condition can make it difficult to develop romantic relationships. The difficulty of forming new friendships doesn’t seem to be talked about as often. Making friends as an adult is hard enough without the added complication of a chronic illness…

The emotions of an 11-year-old girl named Riley take on a life of their own in the 2015 Pixar movie “Inside Out.” In the animated film, the control center of Riley’s brain is headquarters for five emotions portrayed as the characters Joy, Fear, Anger, Disgust, and Sadness. They control…

While I cringe a bit at the term, I would definitely consider myself a foodie. Food Network often plays in the background while I work. I was gifted a pasta-maker for Christmas, which I now use weekly, and I’m currently experimenting with sourdough bread recipes. I’ve loved food and everything…

“The courage it takes to share your story might be the very thing someone else needs to open their heart to hope.” — Unknown My hands were clammy and my heart was racing as I waited to meet a prospective new primary care provider (PCP). I sat in the…

A woman driving home from work becomes severely short of breath and dizzy. She pulls over into a “No Parking” area, which draws the attention of a parking enforcement officer. He calls for help, and she is rushed to the hospital. Five days and many tests later, doctors diagnose the…