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

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.”

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.

A month after her diagnosis, Wendy McBride was sitting in her living room attached to a central line. Despite a five-year prognosis, she chose to live rather than die. Her life changed for the better as she learned to cope through diet, exercise and a quit-feeling-sorry-for-yourself attitude. She discovered a strength she never knew she had.

After a 42-year education career, Missy Storm volunteers for the Pulmonary Hypertension Association and the hospital where she underwent a pulmonary thromboendarterectomy in 2018. She started by sharing her experiences with medical staff fulfilling their continuing education requirements.

Kayla Naecker had classic signs of pulmonary hypertension (PH), a disease that killed her biological grandmother. But Kayla, of Benld, Illinois, didn’t suspect PH. She was in her 20s, and her grandmother’s case was thought to be associated with diet pill use. Genetic testing after a right heart catheterization confirmed familial PAH, so Kayla had her 3-year-old daughter tested, too. Kayla shares her story with the Pulmonary Hypertension Association’s Right Heart Blog for American Family Month.

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) was no stranger to Albert Wright when she was diagnosed in 2018. Her oldest sister and a niece died from it. But Alberta lives life to the fullest, taking nothing for granted. She leads the Pulmonary Hypertension Association’s Detroit Support Group and administers a PHA Facebook support group page. A full-time teacher’s aide, she shares her PH journey with PHA’s Right Heart Blog for National Family Month in June.

Monica Penaranda thought her life was shattered when a pulmonary hypertension (PH) diagnosis ended her days of cheerleading, track and varsity softball. Instead, she reconfigured her life goals. Twenty-three years later, Monica, a member of the Pulmonary Hypertension Association (PHA) Board of Trustees, is the face of PHA’s spring fundraising campaign.

A month before Genevieve Hughes turned 50, severe shortness of breath forced her to seek emergency treatment. “I thought I was just getting older and out of shape,” says Genevieve, who later learned she had idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension and eventually would need a double-lung transplant. Now two years post-transplant, she’s breathing deeply and enjoying her gift of life.

When Kathleen Grady started the Remodulin pump 11 years ago, she was sick, in pain and miserable. She felt sorry for herself all the time, especially after reading friends’ Facebook posts about fun activities. One day, she had an ah-ha moment.

Mark Synder of Waxhaw, North Carolina, was awaiting a cardiopulmonary exercise test in March after his first visit to a pulmonary hypertension (PH) specialist. The test was canceled as the COVID-19 pandemic forced closures of clinics, businesses and public spaces.

Evans Wilson and his wife Alicia were recently affected by the smoke from the wildfires that raged through the West Coast. Evans was diagnosed with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), pulmonary fibrosis (PF) in October 2014 and chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) in December 2016. This is his story.

Diana Lewis, 57, lives in Rio Rancho, New Mexico, with her husband of 28 years, Adrian, and her son Joshua, 29, who has autism spectrum disorder. Diana, a pastor, taught pre-K and elementary school for 14 years. She was diagnosed with pulmonary hypertension (PH) five years ago. She shares her story about dealing with the pandemic.

Lisa Laughlin was terrified after her husband Michael fell and passed out in 2017. He had been short of breath for more than a year and no longer had energy for his nightly walks. His diagnosis of a disease they’d never heard of was equally frightening.

Rosemary Graham, of Atlanta, Georgia, is a long-time advocate for people with rare and chronic diseases. She was diagnosed in 2012 with pulmonary hypertension (PH) related to lupus, pulmonary fibrosis and sleep apnea. This is her story.

Aisha Woods Zarb-Cousin lives in San Antonio, Texas with her husband Adam, her 13-year-old stepdaughter Zion, and their dog Zoe. She retired from the Air Force in 2010 after seven years of active duty service. This is her story.

“I wanted to give up, but with lots of prayers and faith, I eventually started improving.” By Lorraine Polston Lorraine Polston of Amarillo, Texas, was diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH)

“I have a long road ahead of me, but one day at a time, right?” Jenny Phillips, 52, lives in Woodridge, Illinois. She has a sister, two brothers (including her twin) and

Samuel Hall’s pulmonary hypertension (PH) developed nearly a decade after he was diagnosed with sarcoidosis. The inflammatory disease can affect many organs but often causes lung issues and shortness of breath on exertion. Samuel, the inventor of the O2 Safety Strap, considers himself a sarcoidosis warrior. The Springfield, Missouri, resident talks to the Pulmonary Hypertension Association (PHA) to mark Sarcoidosis Awareness Month.

“My mom taught me many things, but one thing in particular I want to share with all the PHighters...Sometimes the road may get tough, but darling, you are tougher!” By Ranolene ­Pillay

“I'm thankful for the clinical research that has led to my pump and Remodulin and I hope that my story will be one that helps raise awareness for the seriousness and severity of PH.”