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| Myself a few days ago at a place near where I live called Deception Pass |
How Long Have You Had
PH? What medications are you on?
I was diagnosed with Severe Pulmonary Hypertension when I
was 9 years old, although doctors believe that I have had it since birth. When
I was diagnosed at age 9, a lot happened. I was told I wasn’t going to live
because my heart was so enlarged. A PICC Line was put in and I was put on the
medication Flolan. I was only on it for less than 3 months when my PICC Line
fell out in the middle of the night. Doctors made a big ordeal that if I was
off the medication for more than 24 hours I would die. It was well over 24
hours without it and I didn’t die. Doctors then realized I didn’t need it. At
age 12 I was put on Tracleer (Bosentan) where I did amazing on it! That was
almost 15 years ago. I am now on Tracleer (Bosentan), Revatio (Sildenafil),
Prednisone, Pulmicort Inhaler, Foradil Inhaler, and Spiriva Inhaler.
What are you able to
do that doctors said you couldn’t?
When I was born October 22, 1990 my parents were told I wouldn’t live and if I did I would be mentally challenged due to being born at 28 weeks. Well, guess what? That didn’t happen. I was raised by incredible parents who told me I am no different than anyone else and I can do anything I set my mind to. I was always determined to get good grades in school; I was never in any special education classes because of my “disability”. I did have an I.E.P. (Independent Education Program) that was only because of having my oxygen and if I were to get sick and be away from school they had a plan in action to where I wasn’t to get behind in school. I graduated on time, with my class in 2009. I was Senior Class President and graduated on the honor roll.
Last Hospitalization:
I have not been able to move forward with my education
because I had a health set back the summer after I graduated in 2009 where I
was in the hospital for a month and a half, due to some not so great decisions
on my part. Not due to being immature but being forgetful and caught up in
being a High School senior. I forgot to take my medications that are so very
important! I was in the hospital where I had a PICC line put in once again but
this time I was put on Remodulin. Doctors were talking Lung Transplant, my
family and I then until May 2010 went through everything to prepare for
transplant. Testing, doctor visits with the surgeon, transplant classes, etc. I
then decided when they were prepared to list me I told them no I wasn’t ready.
In August 2010 I received a new doctor. I asked to see if I could have the PICC
Line taken out. I was tested to see what was more effective, the PICC Line
medication or Oral PH treatments and in conclusion I was removed from infused
medication in September 2010 and my PICC Line removed that November. I would
love to go back when the time is willing, I’d like to become and
Echocardiographer. By this time in my life I could probably do them on myself
in my sleep! Haha
What does your day
consist of with PH?
Some days consist of being with my 1 1/2 year old and 8 year
old cousins. Being silly and having fun with them. A lot of the time I like to
relax at home, being with family every chance I get and spending all the time I
can with my boyfriend Mac when he isn't busy working. I am sort of a homebody.
I like movies. whether sitting at home watching them or going and seeing one. i
love to ea and having being trying to get more involved and learning to cook
more meals. I like going on little adventures here and there. Too much activity
and I get worn out easily.
Hardest part of life
with PH:
The one thing that has gotten to me though having PH the
last few years is the fact I don’t have a good friend support system. To be
honest I don’t have any at all. I mean best friend or good girlfriends that I
can pick up the phone and cry to, talk to and know they’ll be there for me. On
my part it’s hard for me to be that sort of friend but it would be nice if I
were to be able have that. It is hard, and has always been hard. There is a
difference between having friends and the people you went to school with. I was
only invited to a few birthday parties by girls I went to school with here and
there. No, one besides a few people actually reached out and tried to be my
friend, not just in school but outside of school as well. My mom tried to push
me to make more friends but it was hard when not everything girls want to do I
could just go and do with them like walking the mall, or going and watching the
high school football games, where I would get cold and turn blue just sitting there
for less than an hour. I am girl, I like to get pretty, do my hair, and makeup.
I like to shop but only when I know I need something because I know the mall is
not friendly to me with all that walking. I’m more laid back, I love food and
to go out and eat. I love going and seeing movies. More so yes I am a homebody
because I can just run all day. I get tired, my oxygen only has a certain time
frame of hours it lasts, and I get headaches when I do too much. I sound lame
that way but I would give to have friends who understand and tell me its okay. 
Everyone on the PH site asks about dating, having kids, etc.
Honestly I was like any other girl I had crushes, oh many crushes growing up. I
never dated though; I had my one tiny middle school relationship. A slow dance
at an after school dance turned into a little fling for a few months. Didn’t
involve holding hands or kissing but I did get flowers on Valentine’s Day in 6th
Grade from him. Then you move on. I have only had 2 serious relationships in my
life; the first was the summer before my junior year of high school. A guy
friend from school added me on MySpace and that’s how my life went in a
direction I thought it never would. I got caught up in the whole my first love.
I don’t regret that time but I was young, naïve, immature and definitely had
low self esteem. He was a nice guy, but it only lasted so long. At that age
it’s hard to get someone to comprehend this is what your life will entail being
with someone that has PH and oxygen. He didn’t get the magnitude of it and I
wouldn’t want someone to at age 18 fresh out of high school. I had a small
relationship the summer I got sick after I graduated; he was a nice guy but not
the guy for me. I then had the next 4 years. I took those to myself. I learned
to love myself and build my self esteem up more than it ever has been. I had a
long time to learn what I wanted and didn’t want in a guy and out of a
relationship. That was the best thing I could have ever done for myself. In February
2013 I met my boyfriend on an online dating website. We have been together for
a year and a half. He is the sweetest, funniest, cutest tattooed guy to come
into my life. Not only does he understand my life, he has done things and wants
to continue to do things that change his life to have me in it. I will admit he
knew a good amount of time before me that I was the one before I knew he was
the one. Only in part I was scared, I hadn’t dated someone since after High
School. He has never thought differently of me with having oxygen. He told me
the first time he seen my picture he loved my smile. He has told me early on
that he wants to take care of me, no matter what happens. He is the one I am
going to marry someday, and have children with. He knows I can’t have children
and he would never let me risk my health to be selfish because he wants kids.
We both do want children one day but doing it the right way. I have always said
I wanted to do Gestational Surrogacy. When the time comes we will but adoption
is also an option as well for me.
That is some of my story; I still have a lot more of it to
happen. I hope any young adult woman or man who reads this that has PH gets
some glimmer of hope from it and it changes how they feel about their life. I
have always told myself when people say “Your life must be hard?” I tell them
“Someone out there has it much worse than I do.” It’s the truth. I have never
been unhappy about my life. This is my life and I live it to the best of my
ability.
If you would like to read more about Tia and her day to day life please make sure to visit her blog: In the Life of Tia.The PHight or Flight Project would like to thank Tia for sharing her incredible PH journey for PHighter Friday!
* If you have an inspirational PH journey that you would like to share to help provide hope to those who are newly diagnosed, please contact me at phightagainstph@gmail.com. More information about sharing your PH journey for a #PHighterFriday can be found under the Share Your PH Journey/Contact tab.
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