Uraiwan Campbell went to urgent care for what she thought was an infected scratch on her leg. But after several days in the hospital and many tests, she learned her swollen leg was related to pulmonary hypertension. A recent heart catheterization showed her lung pressure has declined, buoying her spirits.
Chloe Merritt, 22, is still getting used to a low-sodium diet, lack of energy and the challenges of a subcutaneous pump after her September 2022 diagnosis. But the life-changing experience has brought her closer than ever to family and friends. And it led her to a new favorite food. Chloe shares her positive outlook in the Right Heart Blog.
Whitney Whited was 10 when her father died of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) complications. Recently, she learned about the BMPR2 gene and sought genetic testing for her 11-year-old daughter. Whitney, 34, who doesn’t have PAH, shared her family’s story in the winter 2022 issue of Pathlight, the Pulmonary Hypertension Association’s member magazine.
Joyce Sandberg of Port St. Lucie, Florida, noticed shortness of breath nine years ago while biking. A few years later, she developed blood clots and chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension. But she doesn’t let her conditions stop her from enjoying life, taking cruises and attending classic car shows with her husband.
Karly Loree, 30, felt isolated after her chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) diagnosis. But when she discovered a Pulmonary Hypertension Association support group for people with CTEPH, she found support, hope and community. As she awaits surgery this month, she shares her story for the Pulmonary Hypertension Association’s end-of-year fundraising campaign.
Bonnie Patricelli memorializes her son Ryan Juntti through her volunteer work for the Pulmonary Hypertension Association (PHA). She and Ryan revived PHA’s South Jersey Support Group in 2008, and she continues to co-lead the group since Ryan’s 2015 death. Bonnie’s story appears in the fall issue of Pathlight, PHA’s quarterly member magazine.
The Liu family was vacationing in the Netherlands in 2012 when their 2-year-old daughter, Esther, had a heart attack. Two days later, she was diagnosed with pulmonary arterial hypertension, with an unknown cause. Since then, she has received a double lung transplant and travels all over the world with her mother Michelle, a physician and Pulmonary Hypertension Association (PHA) board member, to share their PH journey. Dr. Liu, shares that story as part of PHA’s fall fundraising campaign.
Becoming a support group leader has added meaning to Les Freeman’s life. The former teacher says being a support group leader is much like preparing lessons: He tries to blend education along with socialization. Les, who leads the Central Oregon PHA Support Group with his wife Michele, shares his story with the Pulmonary Hypertension Association’s Right Heart Blog.
“As Dean’s illness progresses, living each and every day is precious. We don’t take it for granted.” Georgette Bridger and her husband of 27 years, Dean, live in Suffolk, Virginia. Together they have four children and a dog Annabell. Dean was diagnosed with scleroderma in 1997 and pulmonary arterial hypertension in
Debbie Kittel recently started a Pulmonary Hypertension Association support group at The Ohio State University, where she is the PAH nursing program manager. “I am proud of how big the group has grown and how quickly it has taken off.”
