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Joanna tried several medications to help manage her symptoms, including sildenafil, Opsumit and Uptravi. Despite her discomfort and fatigue, she continued to work full time and fulfill her role as mother, wife and sister. Joanna rarely shared her reality as someone living with an invisible illness. “She’d go to work so she was not late, become sick at work, and call me to bring her a change of clothes so she could keep going,” Jeff says.
In 2019, after battling her employer for accommodations, Joanna’s family convinced her to leave her job. This put a whole new stress on her family.
“As much as I recognized the [disease] progression, sometimes you didn’t notice it because you were in it every day. It’s much different living with someone who is sick like that,” Jeff says. “You can’t live your life thinking the worst things will happen.”
Thankfully, Joanna and her family found a huge source of hope in two of her doctors: Barbara LaVarge M.D., and Alison Witkin, M.D. Both doctors became the advocates that Joanna and her family needed. Dr. LaVarge suggested Joanna connect with the Pulmonary Hypertension Association (PHA), which proved to be an invaluable resource. Through her participation in two PHA O2breathe walks in Boston, Joanna and her family found a sense of community that they needed.
Invest in PHA’s wide-ranging programs that support patients by making a donation today. Commit a future contribution to our community of hope by remembering PHA in your estate plan, through bequests, retirement plan assets, insurance or other assets.
Donor Spotlights
Help 11-Year-Old Baseball Player Strike Out PH
When Tyler Garigen was diagnosed with PH, he was only 4 years old. Thanks to the Pulmonary Hypertension Association (PHA), he and his family found hope for the future. “I can’t imagine living with PH without all the help from PHA.,” he says. Tyler, the face of PHA’s 30th anniversary fall fundraising campaign, encourages the PH community to help PHA continue providing support, education and research.
Support Our Spring Fundraising Campaign by June 30
Marcie McGregor, the face of the Pulmonary Hypertension Association’s spring fundraising campaign, shared her emotional story at PHA 2022 International PH Conference and Scientific Sessions in Atlanta. Join Marcie and her family with a gift to PHA by June 30, and give hope for PH patients of all ages.
Devoted to Each Other and PHA
The Pulmonary Hypertension Association recognizes the long-term love between Georgette and Dean Bridger in our end-of-year fund raising campaign. Join them in making a gift to give all families affected by pulmonary hypertension hope for the holidays.