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].
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…
Read more
Physical, emotional, and mental exhaustion are common symptoms of pulmonary hypertension (PH) and caregiver burnout. Many of us will keep packing on the fatigue until that snowball gets harder and harder to…
Most people are good. I truly believe we’re better than what we ingest daily from the local, national, or world news. But what often keeps us from proving it is a lack of inspiration…
True love isn’t just found in fairy tales. Terese Tuohey met her Prince Charming, Timothy (Tim) Tuohey, at a dance. They fell in love, married, and will celebrate their 15th wedding anniversary in October.
As babies, our first steps were probably acknowledged with exaggerated praise. Since then, however, not every step forward has been applauded. Wouldn’t it feel awkward if they were? My son Cullen received a…
When my son Cullen experienced a fast and critical decline in health after six years of battling pulmonary hypertension (PH), he received a heart and double-lung transplant. Recovery from the surgery was…
It’s beginning to feel a lot like the day after Christmas. Hopefully, that feeling is joy, but if it isn’t, what’s bothering you? Were symptoms of pulmonary hypertension making you too ill…
Imagine you’re walking through an open field. It’s quiet except for the faint trickle of a nearby stream and a rumble that sounds like thunder in the distance. The thunder seems to get closer,…
Slowly, you begin to ascend. At first, you can’t even see the apex of your destination, so already you’re feeling anxious. As the climb steepens, you feel ambivalent, wanting to brave it out but…
Selecting a coloring book wasn’t something I rushed as a child. Testing my parents’ patience, I would carefully page through many books until I found the perfect one with the most appealing pictures. I…
My husband, Brian, was born on his parents’ wedding anniversary. As a child, he disliked sharing his special day with them, but he grew to appreciate the connection. When I informed Brian that November…
I think of birthdays and New Year’s Eve as self-awareness holidays. People often use these holidays to make resolutions for personal change and better life choices. November is Pulmonary Hypertension Awareness Month.
Take a walk with me. Our senses are awakened the moment we step outside. The sun feels comforting, but a brisk breeze suddenly sends a chill through us. We are reminded that we have…
Get regular updates to your inbox.
