The Pulmonary Hypertension Association’s (PHA’s) The Right Heart blog brings you a story about Sydni Burgess, whose mom was diagnosed with pulmonary hypertension (PH) when she was two. Rebecca Burgess was diagnosed with PH in 1999 and stayed strong for her family, while facing the struggles of her health condition. Sydni remembers becoming a caregiver at a young age, helping her mom daily to change her batteries in her medicine pump, along with making weekly visits to the hospital for labs or tests. It wasn’t until Sydni got older that she realized what PH patients go through and how she admires the strength they show every day. “My mom is the strongest woman I know. She didn’t look at PH as a downfall and she never talked negative about what was happening to her body. She faced it head on with a smile on her face, and she knew that she had a family to fight for,” says Sydni. “Now, as an adult and with a daughter of my own, I want to continue to raise awareness and fight for more affordable treatments and do whatever is necessary to find a cure to this disease.”
Sydni’s story talks about her perspective growing up with her mom, Rebecca, who made her a PHighter as well. Her mom inspired her to help others and to set an example for those around her and her family. Read more about Sydni’s path of strength and courage she gained from her mom and other PH patients, and how she continues to be part of helping the PH community in The Right Heart blog.
