PHA conference

[jen-cueva]

Hi @Debra Gonzales, I also attend the PHA Conference with my hubby, Manny. I am going to share a link to the PHA Conference site that offers the info. I would call and ask about a shuttle because I have not checked yet. It’s only a few weeks away!

A few others are copming, too, so let me know if some of you want to try and meet for a coffee or drink or something. We could do a PH forums pic to share here. I’ll also tag you in the topic where several have mentioned they atre attending.

Hope to see and meet you there! 💜

https://conference.phassociation.org/Travel-and-Safety

conference.phassociation.org

PHA 2024 International PH Conference and Scientific Sessions

The biennial Conference brings together more than 1,300 people with pulmonary hypertension, caregivers and health care professionals.

[Debra]

Hi Jen, hope we are going to meet up

[Terese]

Dear Deb,

I will be at the conference! I’m driving in with another support group member from my state (MI). I would love to meet you, and Jen’s idea of a Forum photo sounds wonderful. I’m in! Also, I will be co-presenting a breakout session on CTEPH with Dr.Sanjay from Houston Hospital on Friday at 2:30, so please stop in and identify yourself!

[Debra]

I am here at the conference. I do hope we get to meet up

[Colleen]

@Debra Gonzales did you get to meet up with @Jen C ? She is going to be so bummed if you didn’t get a chance to. I hope you share your thoughts and experiences at the conference! I’ve never been to one.

[jen-cueva]

Hi @Debra Gonzales, I’m bummed that we didn’t have the opportunity to connect. I was running around everywhere. It was the largest conference I’ve attended yet! I hope you enjoyed it and paced yourself.

I was hoping I would see you while I was volunteering. I worked two shifts at the t-shirt booth on Friday and Saturday. I also attended sessions and met with drug companies and healthcare providers.

For some reason, I didn’t have your or @Charlene Rains ‘s cell number. I realized that Charlene messaged me on the PHA app on Saturday. I had no clue we could do that, but unfortunately, I missed you two.

I had the opportunity to meet and take pictures with @Terese Tuohey and @Marcie. I can share my photos with them if they are okay with it. Did anyone else find they were getting lost all weekend?

I plan to post a discussion topic for some of the conference highlights, etc.

By the way, Terese did an incredible job on her session about CTEPH with Dr. Sahay! I was so incredibly proud of her and grateful I could attend her session. Yeah, I was a tad late, but I was lost for about 10 minutes. 🤗💜💫

[Charlene Rains]

I was at the conference, but was not able to connect with anyone from the forums. I think I saw Debra at the airport when we were leaving, but there wasn’t time to chase her down.

I live in NH and was able to meet up with others from NH and Maine. The conference was a wonderful experience, and I will definitely do it again in Dallas in 2026!

[jen-cueva]

Hi @Charlene Rains , I also hope to attend Dallas in 2026! Hopefully we can meet up then!

Now, I will be more familar with the app. I’m grateful you met some local PHriends! It was an incredible conference but easy to go and not run into people.

@Hall Skåra , were you also there? I thought I saw your name in the app.

[Terese]

Debra, I was at the conference, but I don’t think we had a chance to meet. There were so many wonderful people! I was thrilled to be able to meet up with Jen, and finally get to deliver the hug I’ve held for her in my texts. I don’t know about Dallas. I’ll have to see as that day comes closer. Wishing all the best to all the PH folks who did attend, and those of you on the Forum! Hugs!

[Marcie]

I’m good with that @jen-cueva I haven’t posted any of my pics from conference except for the ones about the coloring books. I’m still trying to recoup some of my energy. Conference was great, but I’m exhausted!!

[carol-volckmann]

@jen-cueva Hi Jen, and welcome home. Sounds like you had a wonderful time at the Conference and, of course, very busy taking it all in as well as volunteering. Really happy you were also able to connect with some folks from the forum – what a treat.

Now you are home, it is neatly the weekend and time to put your feet up, reflect, relax and doze 😴. Love you Jen warm hugs 🤗.

[jen-cueva]

Hi @carol-volckmann, Thank you so much, my sweet PHriend. It was so busy and in a good way. There are so many new opportunities in the pipeline for PH.

It’s always a wonderful time, yet exhausting. But there, as Manny said, my adrenaline was sky-high! The day we flew out, that Thursday, I woke at 3 a.m. for the airport. However, after going to our room around 10 p.m., my mind would not stop, and my texts, emails, and social media messages were nonstop. I was up until after 12:30 a.m. So, it was a few long days, and still, I missed so much of what they offered and their connections. I’m grateful for all I could do and see while there.

You know, I’m looking forward to the weekend.KK’s birthday is Sunday. But because she will be with friends on both days, we were invited to the first friend’s house a little tomorrow afternoon. They are gartering with a surprise theme, food, and games. Sunday, she has to be at another friend’s house, and three of the girls are, I believe, taking on a spa day. But she isn’t sure what it is.

So, that’s all we have planned, and I said nothing else. I may find myself at the beach reading a new book I won at a raffle at the conference. 🏖📚

Thanks for your love and support. Is anything new from you or Dick?

[Debra]

Sorry I did not get to meet up with any one at the conference. I arrived before noon on Friday. I had to go up to my room a few times to rest up that first day. I didn’t get any sleep the night before. I also was walking around in circles that first day. It will take me a few days to recoup. To top it off I caught a cold the next day, I was over-tired.

[jen-cueva]

Oh no, @Debra Gonzales , don’t say that! I’m sorry you caught a cold. My throat is sore, and I am past exhausted, which worries me. But I’m hoping it’s just me being overly cautious. Like you said, it was exhausting, but also, like you, I was lost too often.

I hope you rest, hydrate, and start feeling better soon. It could take a week. I’ve had that issue at times. I’m sending you gentle hugs and prayers that your cold doesn’t worsen. Are you taking anything? 🤗

[Debra]

Thank you, I am slowly getting better. I had had a cold at the end of July that took forever to shake off, then to catch another. I usually do not catch colds easily.

Hopefully I will get to attend the conference in 2026. I will be better prepared for it.

[jen-cueva]

Hi, @Debra Gonzales. Our immune system is compromised, so catching colds or other viruses is easy. I also tend to develop chronic bronchitis. I am happy to hear you are better. Before we traveled, and most often when I know we are in larger crowds, I try to boost my immunity with extra vitamin C, zinc, immunity gummies, etc.

I also get tons of immunity juice shots at Trader Joe’s and had some before and again after I returned. I have a little cough, but my throat is okay, and my cough is not bad. So, I’ll monitor it.

Dallas is the 2026 Conference, and even if it’s not the same hotel as the one they used in Dallas before, it did seem a bit easier to locate things and events you want to attend.

💜

Continue to pace yourself and monitor if the cold worsens, etc.