Life As A Caregiver – a Column by Colleen Steele

Colleen was born and raised in New Jersey, and received a Bachelor of Arts in English from Immaculata University in 1994. She lives in Washington state with her husband and two sons. Her oldest child was diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension when he was 8. At 14, he received a heart and double-lung transplant. Colleen’s love for writing, experience advocating for her son, and determination to spread PH awareness inspired her to become a columnist and forums moderator for Pulmonary Hypertension News in 2019. In her column, “Life As A Caregiver,” Colleen is open and honest about caring for her son, his PH experiences, and life post-transplant. It is her ambition to educate and inspire others facing similar challenges.

November 2, 2020October 29, 2020

30 Days to Be Thankful and Aware

Columns, Life As A Caregiver - a Column by Colleen Steele

November is a special month for many. It is a time to gather with friends and family, and share a meal, memories, current events, and hope for the future. ... Read more

October 26, 2020October 22, 2020

People With Different Rare Diseases Share Common Struggles

Columns, Life As A Caregiver - a Column by Colleen Steele

Second in a series. Read part one. In last week’s column, I shared the inspirational story of Cassidy Huff. Cassidy and my son Cullen became friends through the Make-A-Wish ... Read more

October 19, 2020November 5, 2020

Cassidy Huff Doesn’t Let Expectations Get in the Way of Finding Joy

Columns, Life As A Caregiver - a Column by Colleen Steele

First in a series. Those in the pulmonary hypertension (PH) community often refer to each other as PHamily. They don’t live under the same roof, but they do have ... Read more

October 12, 2020October 9, 2020

Take Care of the Aging Caregiver

Columns, Life As A Caregiver - a Column by Colleen Steele

Why do some people look younger the older they get? Not me! I turned 49 yesterday, but the woman in the mirror looks much older. I recently read an ... Read more

October 5, 2020October 1, 2020

Making the Difficult Decision Not to Attend a Funeral

Columns, Life As A Caregiver - a Column by Colleen Steele

“Many have credited my husband, Brian, and me as the sturdy trunk supporting our little family tree. But a tree is only as strong as its roots, and ours ... Read more

September 28, 2020September 24, 2020

Maintaining a Healthy Relationship Between Doctor and Patient

Columns, Life As A Caregiver - a Column by Colleen Steele

One-sided relationships are unhealthy, so why have one with your doctor? It’s important for both patient and doctor to be committed to establishing an open, honest, and respectful rapport. ... Read more

September 21, 2020September 17, 2020

Creating Your Own Recipe for Lemonade

Columns, Life As A Caregiver - a Column by Colleen Steele

When my son Cullen was diagnosed with pulmonary hypertension (PH), my husband and I would have gone to the ends of the earth to help him fight it. When ... Read more

September 14, 2020September 14, 2020

Creating Space Between Peace and Anxiety

Columns, Life As A Caregiver - a Column by Colleen Steele

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 ... Read more

August 31, 2020August 27, 2020

Medication Compliance and Patient Advocacy Are Big Pills to Swallow

Columns, Life As A Caregiver - a Column by Colleen Steele

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). ... Read more

August 10, 2020August 10, 2020

Experiencing the Other Side of Organ Donation

Columns, Life As A Caregiver - a Column by Colleen Steele

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 ... Read more