The Call that Changed My Life
As soon as the first words were out of his mouth, I knew the man on the phone was calling to offer me organs. I had imagined this phone call several times a day for the…
Life After PH — 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.
Featured Post
Cooking Is Great in Life with PH
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 my mental list of reasons to live.
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5 Things I Wish I Had Known Before My Transplant
Knowing that transplant was my plan when all else failed, I lacked the curiosity to gather information before making a decision. I focused on survival: More information only increased my anxiety.
Healing While Waiting for Transplant
The hard part I’ve heard that waiting for the transplant is the hardest part. Every day after my transplant, I heard, “This is the hardest part,” leaving me a firm believer in relativism and forever poised for…
Finding PH Community in Waiting Rooms
When my alarm goes off at 9 a.m. in the clinic and I pull out my bright green pill organizer, others around me start to do the same. “I’m glad she did that because it…
How My Cosmetic Products Changed with My Chronic Illness
“What’s with the nail file?” my sister asked, her eyes failing to conceal her amusement. Still grinding my nails down, and with two backup emery boards in my purse, I explained my new habit, one of many recent changes…
Recognizing My Window of Opportunity for Transplantation
The changes were gradual enough not to alarm me. I went from a steady 110 to 118 pounds in less than a year, but always celebrated weight gain. The blue coloring in my lips and fingernails was more…
Why I Avoid Congratulating Transplant Recipients
When I tell someone I had a heart-lung transplant, I’m usually greeted with “congratulations,” unless they are particularly clueless and say, “Get well soon.” When I was dealing with intense postoperative pain and brain fog, it upset me to…
