At 20-years-old, I thought my life was over, and I feared if I went to bed that I wouldn’t wake up the next day. I had my whole life planned out. I was engaged to a wonderful man–we’re married now–and I had a wonderful career in the army and planned …
Read More »Marsha’s Story (Lupus, Heart Disease)
In 2005, I was diagnosed with Brugada Syndrome, a heart disease that causes dysrhythmia. The doctor implanted a defibulator/pacemaker to help control the dysrhythmia. In 2008, I was diagnosed with lupus. Before my diagnoses, I experienced fatigue, joint pain, and pain in my spleen. My sister-in-laws’ wedding was coming up …
Read More »Heart and Lung Transplant FAQ
All my life I have gotten questions about my health. ‘How long will you live?’ ‘Does having a heart condition hurt?’ And my favorite, ‘Can I catch what you have?!’ But as I start down this new journey of getting a heart and lung transplant – I am getting more …
Read More »Don’t Romanticize the Fact That I’m Dying
The latest buzz on the internet is a new television show called Red Band Society. I’ve read a few reviews of the show that were written by chronically or terminally ill teens who had watched the pilot. Their reviews made me worried that chronic or terminally illnesses wouldn’t be portrayed …
Read More »Sabrina’s Story (Heart Disease)
I was 30 years old when I first found out I was sick. I am a single mom of a beautiful nine year old daughter. I started sleeping a lot and kept blacking out. I went to the emergency room one night because of chest pains, blacking out, headache, nausea, …
Read More »Updated – Sorry It’s Been So Long!
Hey guys, I know I haven’t posted in a while and I am so sorry! I have been having some health problems lately. One being my memory loss. I can’t even remember whether or not I have taken my pills and that has never been a problem for me! It’s …
Read More »Update From Becca
Hi everyone, Sorry I haven’t updated lately! I had to have the battery of my pacemaker/defibulator replaced and there were a lot of complications that came with it. Once they had put me under with sedation, I had a huge asthma attack that lasted for 3 to 4 hours. And …
Read More »3 Tips for Coping with Panic Attacks When You Have Heart Disease
Heart disease is already a difficult fight. When you suffer from panic attacks it can become even harder. Panic attack symptoms are entirely mental, with no physical cause, and yet the experience of a panic attack – even in those without heart conditions – can make you feel like you’re …
Read More »Don’t Judge a Book by It’s Cover
I have heard a lot of comments throughout my 19 years of living with a Congenital Heart Defect and life threatening lung disease called Pulmonary Hypertension. Many of which have had to do with my scar or the way my voice sounds. A few times in elementary and middle school; …
Read More »Kids Interrupted – Children with Pediatric Heart Disease
I went to visit two heart kids the other day at the hospital. My mom and I make an effort to go and visit the kids and their families whenever we can because we know how much it meant to us when people would come to comfort us when we …
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