Tips for Dealing with Coronavirus: Be Practical and Don’t Panic
Since no one is talking about it, I decided to write about the new coronavirus. And yes, I am being facetious. I have also laughed at some of the memes circulating on social media.
Life as a Caregiver — Colleen Steele
Colleen Steele was born and raised in New Jersey and received a Bachelor of Arts in English from Immaculata University in 1994. 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 forum 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. Her ambition is to educate and inspire others facing similar challenges and encourage them to share their journey. If you are a caregiver and would like to be interviewed, contact Colleen at [email protected].
Featured Post
PH can impose physical restrictions, but don’t limit yourself
It’s a beautiful day in the country for what appears to be the beginning of autumn. There are acres of trees, mostly green except for a few that have changed to gold. They’re casting…
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Don’t Judge Another’s Journey: The PH Road Is a Rocky One
Many of us have a tendency to judge ourselves and others based on our accomplishments. A quick scroll through social media proves this point. We are inundated with the presumed successes of others, based…
Battling PH Risk Can Be a Double-edged Sword
Risk is an essential part of living and as diverse as the humans who partake in it every day. So, saying I’m not a risk-taker is like claiming I don’t need air to breathe.
Daring to Be Rare by Believing in the Power of Hope
Year-round, the parent company of this website, Bionews Services, strives to provide pertinent and updated information about complex, rare diseases. Staying current with medical research is a key component of effective self-advocacy, but…
Promoting Organ Donation by Sharing My Son’s Good Fortune
National Donor Day in the U.S. was on Feb. 14. However, every day when I look at my son, I feel inspired to raise awareness about the lifesaving benefits of organ, eye, and…
Words of Support for Those Transitioning from Hope to Grief
Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is an incurable, life-threatening disease. This reality is a gaping wound that patients and loved ones try to cover and protect with hope. But at some point, we are all forced…
Survivor’s Guilt from the Perspective of a Grieving Mother, Part 2
Second in a series. Read part one. Grief and guilt are not easy to express or explain. It has been five years since my son’s heart and double-lung transplant after a lengthy battle…
Survivor’s Guilt from the Perspective of a Grieving Mother, Part 1
First in a series. Many pulmonary hypertension (PH) patients and caregivers experience survivor’s guilt. During my son’s battle with PH and the five years since his heart and double-lung transplant, a staggering number…
Waiting Room Warriors Battle Worry and Fear
It is said that good things come to those who wait. But when you are waiting for a loved one to get out of surgery, patience has nothing to do with the outcome. Neither…
Carrying Hope from One Decade to the Next
Over the past decade, my son and our family have been through an intense journey from pulmonary hypertension (PH) to transplant. Most of the big, scary, sad, joyful, and incredible moments were squeezed into…
Honoring the Nurses Who Have Taken Care of My Son During His PH Journey
I recently read that the World Health Organization has declared 2020 as the Year of the Nurse and the Midwife. In honor of the 200th anniversary of Florence Nightingale’s birth, I hope…
Performing Acts of Kindness During the Season of Goodwill and Beyond
In my previous column, I encouraged those who are celebrating Christmas to gift themselves with the feeling of peace this holiday season. However, you don’t have to be a Christian to welcome peace…
