#FirstEnt and #PHAware: A Pulmonary Hypertension Story

Carl Hicks is the Executive Vice President of the Pulmonary Hypertension Association and this is his remarkable story. Carl was a career soldier who retired from the military after his daughter became ill. Carl went into business and about two years ago make the decision to work full time with the Pulmonary Hypertension Association to fight against this life-threatening condition. Carl is all too familiar with this condition, his oldest daughter, a vibrant, healthy, beautiful young girl who excelled at gymnastics was only 13 years old when she came home one day short of breath completely out of the blue. Carl claims, “We didn’t think much of it because she was in completely good health.”

As the days continued his daughter became sicker, after rushing her to the doctor she was misdiagnosed with childhood asthma. After many doctor visits they finally found out the true problem, Carl’s daughter had a terminal illness and had less than a year to live. Carl and his family weren’t going to give up that easily. They visited Stanford and met Dr. Robin Barst, who gave the family the first shred of hope that their little girl may live past just one year.

Learn more about pulmonary hypertension: https://bit.ly/1K4oewk