“Auntie B, come catch me!” My nephew yelled this, already off to a quick head start. Luckily, my sister was there to chase after him and take my place. I started thinking about how badly I wish I could run after him and…
Recharged and Rewired - a Column by Brittany Foster
Growing up with more than one genetic condition, I never gave much thought to the long-term effects they would have on my body. It wasn’t until I became an adult and started taking control of my health needs that I realized how these genetic conditions contributed…
*** “Pain comes in all forms. The small twinge, a bit of soreness, the random pain. The normal pains we live with every day. Then there’s the kind of pain you can’t ignore. A level of pain so great that it blocks…
Just the thought of surgery sends my anxiety into overdrive. After having over a dozen surgeries in my 27 years of life, some would assume I am a pro at it. Most people don’t realize the kind of anxiety that goes along with the word…
Mayo Clinic defines post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as “a mental health condition that’s triggered by a terrifying event — either experiencing it or witnessing it.” Living with pulmonary hypertension and other cardiac and neurological conditions has caused my body to endure…
There are days when having a chronic illness feels like too much to handle. Days when the physical symptoms and discomfort make it seem as though my own body isn’t connected to me, and the emotional toll is too much to bear. On these…
My social life, based solely on my pictures online, may seem somewhat average for a 20-something-year-old. On my social accounts, you can find pictures of my friends and me; photos from the beach or of fancy drinks, and selfies from long car rides. What people don’t…
Chronic low oxygen levels, sleep-related breathing disorders, lack of proper circulation, and gas exchange impairment are all factors that have contributed to the neurological consequences that have been more prominent in my life recently. Pulmonary hypertension affects more than…
Growing up with congenital heart disease, I was always advised against overexposure to the hot weather and warned about the effects of staying in the sun for too long. Despite the warning, summer was always my favorite time of year. I never thought…
“Focus on breathing in through the nose and out through the mouth.” ER doctors told me this as I tried slowing my heart rate down after feeling palpitations following my numerous breathing treatments. My heart rate eventually went down with the help…
“What goes up must come down.” When thinking about pulmonary hypertension and chronic illness, this saying holds so much truth. It is disheartening to come to terms with the fact that although there are good days when I can manage my illness, there…
Vacation for anyone should be relaxing, enjoyable, and a great stress relief. With pulmonary hypertension and chronic illness, it’s not easy to be stress-free when it comes to planning and partaking in a trip. After a recent weekend of travel to…
