In recognition of American Heart Month in February, the Pulmonary Hypertension Association’s (PHA’s) The Right Heart blog brings you a story about Lisa Goldstein. She recently was diagnosed with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) related to Scimitar Syndrome, a congenital heart defect she only learned about as an adult. Lisa was diagnosed with Scimitar Syndrome in 2013 when her daughter was in high school. This led to a series of open-heart surgeries and many challenges associated with the condition. In November 2019, she was diagnosed with PAH.

There was an initial shock when Lisa learned she had two rare diseases, but since then, her diagnosis has also connected her with a community. Lisa is thankful for the new-found support of other pulmonary hypertension (PH) patients and for the information she’s found at PHA. “This year, 2020, has brought me new challenges, but it has also brought me new hope,” she says. “I feel connected to patients like me, patients I can finally relate to.” Now that’s she’s found hope, Lisa doesn’t plan on letting go of it. “I will tackle this new diagnosis like I did with my heart surgeries, with faith, family, determination and a whole lot of tears, laughs and cursing.” Read about Lisa’s PH journey in The Right Heart blog.

The Right Heart