Pulmonary Hypertension Awareness In Davidson County NC

I have waited a few days to post this.The truth is I really want to be in DC right now with the patients for advocacy day,but I know we don't always get what we want.I was however able to speak to an editor of a free magazine that is distributed to over 100 locations through out the county I live in.It is called Davidson Focus.They used my story on Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension with some pics from our learning day last week. There will be 22,000 issues of this magazine given to all the hospital,doctors offices,herbal and vitamin shops,and physical therapy centers,etc..Hopefully one person will read it and learn something .
Here is the link to the pdf page : http://dcfocusmagazine.com/focus.pdf
I am on page 20 I believe.if this does not work then go to :
http://dcfocusmagazine.com/neighborhoodspotlight.html
Click on see all stories and it will let you download the story as a pdf file.I hope this works.
Have a great day.Happy Awareness Month !!!
Peace Phamily

November is Pulmonary Hypertension Awareness Month. Pass it on!

When I first heard I had PAH,I felt totally overwhelmed and went into denial.The information the doctors gave me that day was too much and way too scary.I had just had my first cardiac cath.I thought they were mistaken.Not me ...No way !
The first thing I did after that was to cry.I had also been told it was very rare and the only other person that had it in the area,actually lived in Massachusetts and she had just had a heart/double lung transplant.
At that time there were so few of us in the country,I relied on the people I met at the transplant support group.There were no groups or even websites for Pulmonary Hypertension available.I felt very alone with my diagnosis.Even so I stayed connected to these people because they gave me hope.Then my brother in New York was diagnosed followed by my sister.We had each other to talk to,but that was a few years after I was diagnosed.
Today I am a co-leader to a PH Support group.I have many friends all over the U.S. with this disease.I no longer feel alone and I my life is full of hope !!
The best advice I heard from everyone was to listen to my doctors and fellow patients.Take extra good care of myself and change my life style.It took me awhile,but that is exactly what I did.I cleaned up my act,lost weight,started to exercise and lived life to its fullest a day at a time.
That was over 20 years ago and I still try to live my life my by this advice .I exercise,keep my weight in check,listen to my doctors and stay very connected and involved with my phfriends and phamily.They have saved my life many times and I love them all .My brother passed away 2 years ago from this illness He was a fighter and held on for a long time. My sister is very strong and a fighter as well.We stay in touch with each other and share news that we hear about PH.
For awareness month this year,I am reaching out to more doctors with information on PAH.I am trying to get my story published in a local medical magazine and I continue with the advocacy work that I love so much.My personal goal is to reach out to 5 primary care doctors with info on PH and try to get them involved with PHA.I have already done this with one,4 more to go.
If you have PH or know someone that does,try starting a blog or join the big PH family on face book.Spread the word...it's awareness month !

Pulmonary Hypertension Learning Day

Tomorrow I will be at a learning day .It has been put together as a joint effort between Duke University Hospital and U.N.C in Chapel Hill.
I was asked to speak in the afternoon,so I will be on the panel with a doctor,nurse and and 2 pharmacist.Wow ! I had no idea it was going to be a panel type thing .I thought it was going to be a small meeting.Anyway it is an absolute honor to do something like this.I will follow up on Saturday and give more details and maybe even pictures.
On another note: Fort Hood.How terribly sad.So many people have been and will continue to be effected by this.I pray that they have peace in their hearts soon.
The irony of it all.A psychiatrist loses it and does what he has been helping others not to do.May God have Mercy on him.
Peace

Awarenss Month is Here !!

The picture above is me,Cindy Pickles ,Senator Kay Hagan and Janet Cecil at her DC office-we had coffee and doughnuts together.What a treat !
I know it has been awhile since I posted on here.I got kind of lost doing so many other things.I have found my way back-so here I am .
As I have already said November is Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension Awareness month.I plan on writing everyday about PH.Personal stories,new info etc.
First I would like to begin with an update.I went to Maryland and DC last month .There were three of us from North Carolina and we wanted to lobby.That is exactly what we did.We met with Senator Kay Hagan.We told her about PH,how it effects us,how many patients there are in NC and we asked her to bring our bill H.R. 1030 into the Senate.She said she would take it into consideration.We also met with Jennifer from Senator Richard Burr's office.Gave her all the facts and info and asked the same thing.She passed the info on to his Public Health Expert.We are hoping they will do something together.Following up on this is imperative.
I so enjoy advocacy.I love the whole legal process,going to Washington DC and meeting new people.Doing this has helped me in a way I wasn't expecting.It has boosted my self-esteem.I honestly feel that I can make a difference.We all can make a difference.We are a phamily that cares for each other and holds each other up when we are down.
One of the perks from our trip last month was an invitation to tour the White House.There were 4 patients and 3 caregivers touring the white house on October 16Th.it was totally awesome!
We also got a chance to meet the entire PHA board and fill them in on what we have been doing.
I went to a support group meeting there and got a chance to visit with Ellen for a few minutes and take some pics.It was a great trip.We accomplished what we set out to do.We were also able to drop off a legislative kit at Congressman Butterfield's office.That visit made it official.All 13 reps and both senators from North Carolina have now been presented with H.R 1030.The Tom Lantos Pulmonary Hypertension Research and Education Act of 2009-woohoo !!!!
As of today in N.C. we have 4 co-sponsors and 2 senators considering our bill.I hope and pray that we will get more co-sponsors and get this bill passed.

PH Walk/Run for Research- A Victory !

The Piedmont PH support group had its annual Walk/Run for PH Research on May 17TH.
This is my group and doing a walk is something I have wanted to do for a long time.
I did it ! I walked 5k for PH Research .I am so excited even though it was a week ago.We had good support with runners and walkers alike and it was raining all day.We were able to raise 10,000.00 which was our goal.All in all it was a victorious day for everyone.The walk was not as easy as I hoped.There were steep hills that wanted to stop me.With patience and perseverance I prevailed !!!
Awareness and Advocacy for our disease is part of my daily life.I have been busy contacting our Congress members about the new bill H.R. 1030.Hopefully we will have our first official meeting with a Congressman this month.I am excited and full of hope.
I have hope that this bill will pass and we will have more support for research and awareness.I have hope for myself.I just had my 21St anniversary with this illness.At one time I never thought I would live this long.Today there is hope for me,for you and everyone else in this great big world we live in.I will continue with the awareness and advocacy work I do.In the meantime and in between time I will walk !
Our support group has big plans this year.We are having a golf tournament in September and possibly a yard sale with proceeds going to PHA Conference Scholarships.We have our work cut out for us but we are a great team.With a fantastic leader.Cindy I love ya girly !!! You rock .
I pray that this Memorial Day Weekend is full of joy for all.
Peace

This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.

The title of today's entry is one of my favorite passages from the Bible.
I am so grateful to be alive!
My mom is feeling so much better.She is out of the hospital and recovering at home.She has decided to not move back to Connecticut.Her decision had us all a little concerned but the truth is my mom loves her independence.She is not ready to "have to live with someone". Not yet ,not today.It was an odd situation that brought her decision about and it's way to long to get into on here.I have faith .She is being taken looked after.
As for me,well it's my birthday today.I don't hide my age.I am 46 and I am proud to say so.I don't feel like I am getting older physically and that really is a blessing.The true miracle is that I have lived to see this age.Having PH has given me to opportunity to see miracles everyday . I am the miracle today,,woohoo !!!
I was diagnosed when I was 24 and was told I wouldn't live more than 2 years without a transplant.Well here I am 20 + years later and I am ALIVE & KICKING.
Amen

My Mom

I have been at the hospital every day for the past two weeks.My mom has been very ill.It's hard to see this active ,lively woman in such pain.She is incredibly strong and I admire how she has handled her hospital stay. She can no longer live alone.So once she heals my dear mum will be moving to Connecticut.She will no longer be an hour away. This is what needs to be done.I am not well enough to take care of her and admitting that has really gotten me down. She wants me to be happy with my life and not to feel guilty or have any regrets.I told her I am happy with my life.Even though I have had PH for so many years,the gifts I have received are countless.It has been a blessing in disguise.The only regret I have is not having the strength to care for me mum.
I have been home for 2 days now and have only been able to talk to her on the phone.I am taking my doctors orders to rest.A hospital stay for me is not an option.So the phone is our connection for today.I will have to get used to that .I will not be able to just drive over for lunch or meet her and go shopping.Our visits will have to be well planned for everyone.My brother is a great person and she will be with him and his family.My nephew is happy that his "abuelita" -that's grand mom in Spanish will be with him.My prayer today is for my mom,and for me to be easier on myself .Self forgiveness is so much harder than forgiving others.
Peace be with all of you my phabulous phfriends !

It's Been a Long Time Huh ?

I know I have not kept up with my blog.I have been busy with life ,PH and all that it entails.
I wanted to share something that I learned over this past Christmas & New Year .It is something that I read and it really hit home.It's called Lesson in Contentment .
Here are four steps to develop contentment in your life.
1. Stop comparing yourself to others. When you compare your life with someone else’s, the only place it can lead is toward discontentment. There will always be people who appear to be better off than you, but you don’t know their real circumstances.
I recall counseling a husband many years ago, and he said he wished his wife could be more like so-and-so, and he named a woman in our congregation. What he didn’t know is that the woman was a functioning alcoholic causing incredible heartache and stress for her family and for her husband.
That’s why the Bible teaches it is unwise to compare (2 Corinthians 10:12).
2. Be grateful for who you are and what you have. Learning to be content requires that you stop any “when and then” thinking – “When I am ___________, then I’ll be happy.” (You fill in the blank.)
The reason we fall into this trap is that we may actually be content for a little while but it won’t last. But, more than likely, someone else or something else will come along and drain the contentment from your life.
But listen, you are unique. God created you to be like nobody else, so why would you want to be anyone else. God is perfect, and you were his perfect choice to be you. Understanding that is a huge step toward being content with your life.
And then look at all the things God has given you. So often we allow what we don’t have to so dominate our focus that we forget the many wonderful things we already have, not only material blessing, but far more important things, such as family and friends.
3. Give yourself to others. If you will begin giving yourself to others, sharing what things you do have, sharing your time and your talents, you will find yourself learning to be content. Helping others will give you an appreciation for what you have and who you are, but more importantly, you will find yourself growing content. Why? Because God designed us to serve and share with others, and until we do that, we will feel great discontent.
4. Focus on things with eternal value. The real secret to becoming content is to focus on the things that have eternal value. It may be a familiar teaching to you, but Jesus said we should store up our treasures in heaven, and not on earth “where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal” (Matthew 6:19-21 NIV).
As I read this on December 31st.I realized that all of his applies to Ph'ers and the struggle we have with our limitations or desires to do as much or more than others.I know that we are all very special.We all help each other and we all do what we can.Individually we may not be able to do a whole lot but put us together and we can achieve anything.Our support groups ,advocacy and awareness is our way of "giving of ourselves".I can honestly say I Do Not know of one PH'er that does not give !
So to all of my Phamily.I love you,trust you and look forward to growing with you this year.
"lesson in contentment" by Rick Warren.