Columns

Some Days, Anxiety Feels Like Riding the Crazy Train

According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, nearly 40 million people in the United States experience an anxiety disorder in any given year. If you have pulmonary hypertension (PH) and anxiety, you already know this struggle. Anxiety affects us in more ways than we ever thought possible.

Experiencing the Other Side of Organ Donation

On Aug. 7, my son Cullen celebrated his six-year anniversary of having a heart and double-lung transplant. In last year’s anniversary column, I shared the joys and struggles that come with this miraculous gift. Taking care of new organs is an enormous responsibility. The reality that Cullen would…

The Joy of Walking My Dog, Bernie

My dog, Bernie, turned 1 last week. In the nine months that I’ve had him, he has taught me more about unconditional love than I could ever teach myself. I wake up to puppy snuggles and feel his tiny paws resting somewhere on my…

Life as a Caregiver Is Worthy of a Reality TV Show

When driving to doctors’ appointments for my son Cullen, we often listen to “The Danny Bonaduce & Sarah Morning Show.” They make us laugh, and we enjoy the topics. Last week, we were headed to an appointment when the show asked listeners to “call in and share which profession…

Learning to Give Myself Permission to Feel Well

Living with congenital heart disease and pulmonary hypertension has taught me to let my physical health “be what it is.” This past year, giving myself permission to “be” helped me accept my bad days as they happened. I had to learn how to rest, listen to my body, pay…

The Power of Persistence When Battling Health Insurance

If you are battling a chronic illness, odds are you have also battled health insurance. My son Cullen managed his pulmonary hypertension (PH), received a heart and double-lung transplant, and survived almost six years post-transplant without running into any major health coverage roadblocks. Any issues were quickly resolved with…

A Lesson About Pity from My Late PHriend

Since my recent hospitalization, I am not allowed to drive for a while. This may seem like no big deal to some, but for me, driving is my little bit of freedom; it’s my independence. Usually, I only drive for small distances near my house. Some days, this is…

Counting My Steps Saved My Mental Health

Lots of people count their steps using a Fitbit device or their phone, but for me it has been a total lifeline.  Being less active during lockdown made me worry that my fitness had declined and that I had generally deconditioned. Putting on a bit of…