Opening Up About My Struggles with Mental Health
If you have found yourself standing in a warm shower as tears stream down your face, you are not alone. It is no secret that living with a rare disease like pulmonary hypertension affects…
Worth the PHight — Jen Cueva
Jen Cueva lives in San Diego, California, with her husband and mini schnauzer, Zoé. Jen worked in nursing before the script changed upon her diagnosis of pulmonary hypertension (PH), group 1, in 2005. Advocacy has been essential to her life. Her passion is to instill hope and remind others in the PH community that they are not alone. To do this, she serves as a forum moderator for Pulmonary Hypertension News and in her weekly column she delves into the roller coaster of emotions that accompany PH. It is powerful and meaningful to her to have this opportunity to play a role in helping others become more informed and educated so they are more empowered in their journey. Together, we PHight stronger!
Featured Post
Now, more than ever, we must unite for our future
Recent news headlines have sparked significant concern among those of us in the pulmonary hypertension (PH) and other rare disease communities. The massive budget and staff cuts across multiple federal agencies are particularly…
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Celebrating World PH Day and National Nurses Week
When you hear May 5, do you smell warm chips and salsa? Or taste a tangy margarita? Most of us probably think about Cinco de Mayo. No judgment. I, too, typically enjoy Cinco de…
Can I Have a Bit of Normalcy Without Fear?
“I have watched fear change us. I have watched fear ride roughshod over our families, organizations, and communities.” – Brené Brown, “Braving The Wilderness.” In the above quote, lecturer Brené Brown was speaking…
PH Has Changed Me in Profound Ways
I often hear that I’ve changed since my pulmonary hypertension diagnosis. I constantly speculate about whether this might be true, and then repeatedly realize it’s pretty accurate. Surviving every day with a rare and…
I’m Starting to Lose It with Social Distancing
Have y’all had times during this self-quarantine when you’ve lost it? If so, you’re not alone. Last week, my husband was home from work all week. He was feeling achy and had chills for…
Tapping into Music as Therapy for Illness and Trauma
If you listen to music, you may already know that it affects our mood. I listen to music almost daily. Playing music on Spotify is simple, and I appreciate that I can choose a…
Kindness Matters, So Let’s Work to Unite Our PH Community
“If I could tell the world just one thing, it would be that we’re all OK.” –Jewel Through the years, I have noticed that within the pulmonary hypertension (PH) community, not everyone shows…
Dealing with Anxiety Caused By Life’s Uncertainties
Life is full of the unexpected, the unknowns, and uncertainty. This is no secret. My pulmonary hypertension diagnosis was unquestionably one of my toughest unknowns. Unknowns also may include a job loss, the loss…
Staying Positive During a Global Pandemic
As I write this, I am watching the news. Shocker, right? As of the writing of this column, 63 cases of COVID-19 have been reported in the greater Houston area, although that number…
For National Kidney Month, I Share My Experience with Chronic Kidney Disease
March is National Kidney Month, the perfect time to remind people with pulmonary hypertension (PH) to take care of their kidneys. I realize people with PH have plenty to keep track of. But…
Why Is It so Difficult to Take Time to Pause?
Life is hectic, wouldn’t you agree? Some days I find myself overwhelmed from living with pulmonary hypertension and other coexisting medical issues. More days than not, I am inundated with emotions. But anyone…
My Passion and Hope Make Me Rare
This month, Bionews Services, the parent company of Pulmonary Hypertension News, is focusing on promoting Rare Disease Day with increased advocacy efforts. Several activities are planned worldwide, and I challenge you to…
