Columns

Have you ever nodded off at an inappropriate time? For a moment, your body gives in to fatigue. Your heavy eyelids begin to droop, and you start to ease into a peaceful slumber. It’s all going well until you are jolted awake by the force of your head dropping like…

“Everyone knows they’re going to die, but nobody believes it. If we did, we would do things differently.” – “Tuesdays with Morrie” by Mitch Albom Maybe it is because of my work in hospice care, but talking about death and dying doesn’t bother me. Many others, however, are…

“Numbers don’t lie.” Members of my medical team have used this phrase, and I have caught myself saying it lately, too. Doctors say “numbers don’t lie” when congratulating me on improving my pulmonary function test or when my six-minute walk score is better than my previous one. Unfortunately, this…

Learning how to take medications can be a hard lesson for children, but my son Cullen managed it like a champ when he was diagnosed with pulmonary hypertension (PH). I know adults who struggle to swallow pills, but at 8, my son could take them without issue or complaint. It…

“You look so good.” “What’s wrong with you now?” “But you’re too young to be on oxygen.” “Wow, you don’t look sick at all.” “But you went out last night.” If I had to guess, I’d bet that…

Trigger warning: This column discusses sexual assault and rape. If you need assistance, please call the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-4673. I left a procedure last week feeling shaky, unwell, anxious, and upset. The procedure, draining an ovarian cyst, unfortunately was unsuccessful. I found out shortly after waking…

Three years ago when I was diagnosed with pulmonary hypertension at age 22, I never would have predicted I’d one day want to live alone. At the time, I was terrified and became reliant on my family for support and comfort.  A lot has changed since…

The song “In My Daughter’s Eyes” by Martina McBride hits me heavy every time I hear it. I always dedicate this song to my daughter, Kayla. If only I could see myself in my daughter’s eyes. As a mom, I have always loved my daughter beyond measure, and…

When looking through pictures on social media, I see so many body-positive influencers making powerful statements about the “ideal body.” I see women and men on Instagram trying to show others that beauty standards aren’t realistic. Skin folds, bends, and changes shape for countless reasons. The message is that society’s…

When going to the hospital for tests, one always hopes and prays for the best-case scenario.  Last week, I had a number of tests and was lucky enough to get pretty good news across the board. My walk test was good and has definitely improved…

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.

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…