Columns

Almost 10 years ago, my husband and I were sitting in a pediatric cardiologist’s office with our son awaiting the results of an echocardiogram. The doctor described in simple terms a disease called pulmonary hypertension (PH). We had never heard of it but were relieved to be…

Chronic illness often leaves me feeling frustrated with my physical and mental health. When I am feeling overwhelmed by my body’s symptoms or experiencing emotional distress, I am not the best person to be around. When my internal organs seem out of my control,…

Summer is here, and perhaps a road trip is in your plans for the season. I’ve always looked forward to this time of year. However, living with pulmonary hypertension (PH), summer can take a toll on my body. Dealing with the unpredictable ”variety pack” of PH symptoms, it…

As a little girl, I developed a huge crush on the character John Boy from the television drama “The Waltons.” I was attracted to his aspiration of becoming a novelist, and my favorite part of each episode was when he would write in his journal. I related to…

It is difficult to admit defeat. It is even more of a challenge to acknowledge something as a loss. Living with chronic illness and pulmonary hypertension, I’ve felt defeated many times in my life. Sometimes, I failed to pay attention to the…

Living with pulmonary hypertension (PH) for the past 14 years has been a challenge, to say the least. Along this journey, an important relationship for me has been with my PH specialist. I started out with a few different doctors before finding an actual PH specialist who “vibes” with…

Due to pulmonary hypertension (PH), my son was on the transplant list for almost a year when he received the call that a heart and lungs were available. We were prepared for an out-of-state transplant, with packed suitcases by the door and two different med flights on speed dial.

When my husband and I said our vows, “To have and to hold … in sickness and in health,” we had no idea to what extent that promise would be tested. Our child’s diagnosis with pulmonary hypertension (PH) was like an earthquake shaking the foundation of our marriage and…

Welcome to Jen Cueva’s “Worth the PHight,” a new Pulmonary Hypertension News Today column. Hey, y’all! I am happy to be here writing this column, and I hope it will help others out there who are PHighting this same PHight. Living with pulmonary hypertension (PH) for the last 14…

My son’s pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) was idiopathic, which means it developed suddenly with no known cause. He was healthy until he became symptomatic at 6 years old. Before then, we only brought him to the doctor for checkups and the occasional ear infection. He was an early walker…

Life with chronic illness is not easy. My days are unpredictable, and I often feel unsure and uneasy about what lies ahead. Some days I feel productive and physically able, and I have sufficient energy for the things I want to accomplish. At other times, I feel completely…

I wish I had a dollar for every time I’ve been described as strong, but what if people knew my weaknesses, unfathomable sadness, and heartbreaking mistakes? As a caregiver to my son, I’ve had to accept his reality and mine. I’m not a pillar of strength or perfect in what…