Life After PH – a Column by Kathleen Sheffer

After fighting idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension with combined intravenous and oral therapies for 17 years, Kathleen received a heart-lung transplant on July 1, 2016. Now in her late 20s, she works as a photographer in San Francisco, California, and writes about the transition from life with PH to life with chronic immunosuppression. See her photography at kathleensheffer.com.

August 20, 2019August 15, 2019

Cooking Is Great in Life with PH

Columns, Life After PH – a Column by Kathleen Sheffer

A therapist once asked me what makes me happy, and I said “food” right away. Thankfully, I’ve matured since high school, and food is no longer at the top of ... Read more

July 23, 2019July 23, 2019

Chronic Illness Makes My World Smaller

Columns, Life After PH – a Column by Kathleen Sheffer

Christie and I were walking through the Haight-Ashbury neighborhood in San Francisco when I heard someone call my name. Dhaya Lakshminarayanan waved me over. I first met Dhaya at a ... Read more

April 10, 2019April 9, 2019

Normal Lung Pressure Adds Pressure to Live to the Fullest

Columns, Life After PH – a Column by Kathleen Sheffer

My anxiety skyrocketed last month without any medical triggers. I celebrate my 26th birthday this weekend, and my third transplant anniversary is a couple of months away. I’m doing great ... Read more

March 6, 2019March 12, 2019

Skiing Put My Life with PH in a New Light

Columns, Life After PH – a Column by Kathleen Sheffer

President’s Day weekend was supposed to be monumental. I intended to write a feel-good column about coming full circle. It was my first time skiing post-transplant in the mountains around ... Read more

February 14, 2019February 20, 2019

Heart-lung Transplant Inspires Art, Valentines

Columns, Life After PH – a Column by Kathleen Sheffer

The night before my heart-lung transplant, I was in my high school art studio working on an oil painting. I had started painting to pass the time while waiting for ... Read more

February 6, 2019February 12, 2019

Gratitude for an Unfair Life

Columns, Life After PH – a Column by Kathleen Sheffer

I am particularly sensitive to feeling left out of activities with friends. This started when I was a young, sick kid. I walked at the very end of the group ... Read more

January 2, 2019December 20, 2018

2018: My Year in Review

Columns, Life After PH – a Column by Kathleen Sheffer

2018 was triumphant. I accomplished several of my long-term goals. I had zero organ rejection, so I remained on my lowest dose of prednisone all year, and that meant less ... Read more

December 12, 2018December 21, 2018

Echocardiograms Are an Emotional Experience After PH and CHD

Columns, Life After PH – a Column by Kathleen Sheffer

Last week I went in for a cardiac ultrasound (I call this exam an echo). I’ve probably had hundreds of them in my life, but since my heart-lung transplant, echoes ... Read more

November 14, 2018November 20, 2018

My Recent CPAP Use Has Triggered Traumatic Memories

Columns, Life After PH – a Column by Kathleen Sheffer

For 16 years I slept with supplemental oxygen delivered through a nasal cannula. Prone to desaturation at night, I blasted two liters of concentrated oxygen through my nose every minute ... Read more

October 31, 2018November 8, 2018

Challenges and Insecurities While Working with PH and Transplant

Columns, Life After PH – a Column by Kathleen Sheffer

Lately, I’ve been so busy with my freelance photography business that I haven’t had time to put thought into a new column. I suppose that means it’s time to write ... Read more