Thanksgiving is almost here, y’all. Scroll through any social media channel and you’ll see people sharing their thoughts on gratitude. Daily reflection on the things I am grateful for is important to me. I keep a gratitude journal on my nightstand. While writing this column, an…
Parents sometimes view birthdays, milestones, and even achievements as bittersweet. Witnessing a child mature and grow brings joy, but sentimentality tends to mix with the happiness. Many a parent has wished life would slow down so that they could enjoy the childhood of their offspring just a little longer. I…
November is Pulmonary Hypertension Awareness Month, a good time to share a little more about my journey with y’all. My hope is that you will tell your stories and generate awareness about pulmonary hypertension (PH) within your communities. I was diagnosed in 2005. Because of my nursing background,…
Last week, I scrolled through Pinterest on my phone as I was wheeled into the endoscopy suite for a J-tube placement. I was doing everything I could to distract myself. I have worked hard in therapy to come up with coping mechanisms and have learned to keep my mind…
One of the hardest parts for me about having a serious chronic illness is telling people about my condition. I’m always worried that they will look at me differently. And every time I inform someone new about my diagnosis, I have to relive it. Before my pulmonary hypertension (PH)…
No cure exists for pulmonary hypertension (PH). People often ask, “But isn’t transplant a cure?” PH Awareness Month is an opportunity to explain the frustration that those who are battling this disease feel when faced with this question. I don’t deny that since my son’s heart and double-lung…
When I received my pulmonary hypertension (PH) diagnosis I was in congestive heart failure. Since then, I have been taking diuretics to assist my body in getting rid of excess fluid and to treat my heart failure. Unfortunately, over time, the diuretics have damaged my kidneys. I was diagnosed…
As a child, I always felt uncomfortable when people expressed sadness and fear. I tried to be strong to keep my family from feeling upset. I remember maintaining a brave face during surgeries and interventions to assure my loved ones that I would be OK. People have told…
November is Pulmonary Hypertension Awareness Month. I remember the first November of my son’s diagnosis. My family and I were still in the process of learning about this disease. Awareness to us was explaining to friends and loved ones that my son had a life-threatening, incurable condition. Exposing this…
Do you struggle to prioritize your health when confronted with life’s daily demands? It’s a tough job to balance everything, especially when you’re already exhausted. When living with pulmonary hypertension (PH), life can be messy and unpredictable. I tend to put others first, and my health drops to the…
I have little sympathy for those who exclaim that they don’t like hospitals — no one does! But for many of us, they are an unavoidable part of life. I can understand the inclination to avoid them at all costs, but the day might come when you no longer can.
Happy Halloween! This week, I’m taking you on a journey to a “gross lab.” Yes, that is what it’s called. Four weeks after our son Cullen’s heart and double-lung transplant, we paid our respects to his old organs. Some might consider that morbid, but to us, it was…
Get regular updates to your inbox.