Debra Gonzales, 66, is a just a year into her pulmonary hypertension journey. After a recent doctor visit, she learned her arterial pressure had declined and her heart function had improved. Her pulmonary arterial hypertension doesn’t stop her from spending time with her daughter, mother-in-law, friends and her dog in Redondo Beach, California.
As an intensive care pediatrician, Chandani Dezure, M.D., treats critically ill children. After one son was diagnosed with pulmonary hypertension, Dr. Dezure became a caregiver herself. She shares how her son's PH helped her become a better doctor. Her story appeared in the June 2022 issue of Pathlight.
Doctors weren’t sure Lillian Cooke would survive the night they discovered her pulmonary arterial hypertension. Three years later, the stay-at-home mom spends time with family and friends, painting, playing video games and listening to music.” I hope my story gives someone else hope,” Lillian writes in the Pulmonary Hypertension Association’s Right Heart Blog. “I will never lose hope, and I’m going to keep fighting until my last breath.”
Pam Vinesett of North Carolina served three years of active duty and 17 years in the army reserves. The mother of seven and grandmother of eight enjoys swimming, fishing and tubing with her husband. In 2014, she noticed shortness of breath and other pulmonary hypertension symptoms. Since her eventual diagnosis and other health challenges, she is doing well and teaches four to six Zumba classes a week.
Nadine Al-Naamani, M.D., was inspired to become a doctor after growing up in Beirut during the civil war in Lebanon. She knew then that she wanted to help people around her. Today, she treats people with pulmonary hypertension (PH) and other serious lung conditions at Penn Medicine and conducts PH research. She is an assistant professor of medicine at University of Pennsylvania Hospital, a Pulmonary Hypertension Association-accredited PH Care Center. She originally shared her story with Pathlight, PHA’s quarterly member magazine.
Twelve years after her pulmonary hypertension diagnosis, Marcie McGregor credits her faith in God, her doctors and the Pulmonary Hypertension Association (PHA) for where she is today. Marcie shares her story for PHA’s spring fundraising campaign, which begins April 29.
Angela Donovan began experiencing shortness of breath in 2019. After she moved for a new career, her symptoms worsened. A work visit to an urgent care clinic led to her chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension diagnosis. She shares her story for Blood Clot Awareness Month.
Mesha Guilloty wasn’t diagnosed with pulmonary hypertension (PH) until a decade after her symptoms began. Mesha’s story originally appeared in the December 2021 issue of Pathlight, PHA’s member magazine.
PH changed the life of Jessica Calkins. Jessica, 37, of Yakima, Washington, awaits a double lung and heart transplant for her pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH).
Morgan Nuchols began to show signs of PH as a baby. Today the 28-year-old participates in the Pulmonary Hypertension Association’s Generation Hope Facebook Support Group for young adults. She also participates in research studies to in hopes of finding a genetic link between pulmonary hypertension and congenital diaphragmatic hernia. She also participates in research studies to in hopes of finding a genetic link between pulmonary hypertension and congenital diaphragmatic hernia.
