Tag Archives: Pulmonary Hypertension
← Previous postNewsmaker Q&A: Rino Aldrighetti, President of PHA
April 8, 2013
Rino Aldrighetti was hired as the first part-time professional staff member of the Pulmonary Hypertension Association. In the years since, he’s assumed the title of President of the organization, enhanced PHA’s scope, built a full-time staff, and advocated tirelessly to increase awareness about pulmonary hypertension. Here, Community talks to Rino about where PHA has been, and where it’s going.
Describe the journey in becoming President of PHA.
In 1998, seven years after PHA’s founding, the organization’s volunteer leadership decided to build a staff. Their first step was to advertise for a part-time executive director. They put an ad in the Chronicle of Philanthropy, running it once.
At the time they were doing this, I was a non-profit consultant. I had just finished a five-year project for one of my larger clients and was getting ready to do what I always did when I was preparing to think through a new direction, begin a three-day retreat. The day before I was to begin, I picked up the Chronicle of Philanthropy and saw a brief two-line ad: “Small rare disease association looking for part-time executive director”.
I responded and was invited to meet with an extraordinary person, Bonnie Dukart, who was PHA’s president. Bonnie, who had been diagnosed with PH shortly after graduating from college, explained to me that the goal was to bring on a person who could increase PHA’s budget so that the organization could do more. Following that meeting, I had the opportunity to meet the board and quickly became aware that I was in the presence of heroes.
I soon accepted the board’s offer and became PHA’s first (part-time) professional staff person in 1999. By 2001, we had increased PHA’s income from $132,000 to $1.1 million and built a small part-time staff. The board then invited me to lead a new full-time staff. The work has always been a privilege.
What are some of the challenges you face when trying to increase awareness or support a rare disease like pulmonary hypertension?
Our greatest challenge in raising awareness about PH is our relatively small numbers. A rare disease in the U.S. is defined as one with 200,000 or fewer patients. PH has 20,000 to 30,000 diagnosed patients.
Given that reality, each person’s decision to make a difference is of enormous importance. At PHA, our mantra is that any person whose life is touched by PH has the right to fight back as much or as little as health and interest allow. Over and over again we have seen what the ability to influence positive change means in people’s lives. We may have 30,000 patients living with this disease, but each has family members and friends, neighbors and medical professionals who care and are ready to help. Harnessing that energy with a strong community is what makes a real difference.
What are some of your goals for PHA for 2013?
In this economic and political environment, organizations that cannot adapt will ultimately decline. At PHA, we have been working hard over the past year to introduce new ways to support our research and patient-serving programs. In December, we opened PHA’s first three chapters – in New York, Chicago and San Francisco. This is a pilot for us to build a professional events structure that will develop a larger population of supporters for our core programming in communities around the country. If we are successful in our first year, we will implement a five-year program to expand the network. It’s an ambitious effort to not only assure our sustainability, but to make sure that our ability to serve the needs of our community is not limited by funding restrictions.
PHA’s early diagnosis program, Sometimes It’s PH Campaign, was launched at our 2012 International Conference and has generated early excitement in the U.S. and other nations. It came about following research indicating that despite all the increased visibility for PH during the past 20 years, the time from onset of symptoms to point of diagnosis has not reduced. This may not have been a problem two decades ago when there were no treatments; however, today with nine treatments and more on the way, getting patients diagnosed so that they can take advantage of these treatments is hugely important.
Why should a PH patient join PHA?
PHA is more than an organization. It’s a community, a place where people understand and help each other get through the challenges of this difficult disease. The strength of the community has value for the individuals who choose to join. It also has value for the whole, for all who live with the disease through our collective ability to develop public awareness, drive advocacy and sustain helping networks. These are things we can only do together and that will create opportunities for better tomorrows for everyone.
Posted in Diseases, Featured, Media Center | Tagged PHA, Pulmonary Hypertension, Rino Aldrighetti | Leave a commentSeeking Support
November 28, 2012Whether you’re newly diagnosed with a condition, or have been living with it for years, getting the support you need is crucial to maintaining your best healthy life, both physically and mentally. There are tons of ways to participate in support groups, whether 
it be through an actual physical get-together, online meetings, or even actively participating in message boards.
The benefits of support groups are obvious – being in an environment in which other people understand you and can share helpful advice and motivation is always going to be an aid, however it’s important to see how this engagement can benefit your personal relationships. It can be truly difficult for someone to give the support they want to a person with a chronic illness, because they don’t truly understand or know what to say. And it can be equally hard for the person affected to really share in words what is going on in their minds and with their bodies. Going to an outside source of support can create a better bond between the caregiver and the person who is ill.
Often times, people are hesitant to go to support groups because they feel what they are 
going through is too personal or intimate to share with a room full of strangers. So, if you’re feeling hesitant, think about the benefits of just going and listening. It can be more beneficial than you may believe to just be silent for an hour and soak up what others are saying. And if going to a support session seems like you are relinquishing some of your independence, just remember that everyone needs a helping hand sometimes, just don’t be afraid to take it.
Below are some great resources for support groups from some of our friends in the rare and chronic disease community. Also, don’t hesitate to ask your doctor or medical professional where to look.
Pulmonary Hypertension Association
Pulmonary Hypertension Central
MD Junction Pulmonary Hypertension Online Support Group
Daily Strength Pulmonary Hypertension Online Support Group
Pulmonary Hypertension South Africa
Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation
Daily Strength Pulmonary Fibrosis Support
Coalition for Pulmonary Fibrosis
MD Junction Pulmonary Fibrosis Online Support Group
Narcolepsy Network
Daily Strength Narcolepsy Online Support Groups
Narcolepsy Online Support Groups
Huntington’s Disease Society of America
Daily Strength Huntington’s Disease Online Support Groups
Huntington’s Disease Lighthouse Families Online Support Groups
Huntington’s Disease Advocacy Center Message Boards
Huntington’s Disease Youth Organization
Infantile Spasms Center
The Infantile Spasms Community Board
Alpha-1 Association
Daily Strength Alpha-1 Online Support Groups
Are there support groups which you have found helpful? Please share with us!
Posted in Caregivers, Diseases, Featured, Media Center, Uncategorized | Tagged chronic illness, Infantile Spasms, narcolepsy, Pulmonary Fibrosis, Pulmonary Hypertension, Support, Support Groups | 3 CommentsCindy’s Story
October 19, 2012I have had a long history of coronary heart disease so it is not uncommon for me to experience angina on a regular basis. However, in November 2009 it became stronger than usual and my doctor ordered first a stress test, then a heart catheterization. The doctor preforming the cath found no real changes in the left side, so he decided to do a right sided cath and check the pulmonary artery pressure, which was elevated but not too high. He told me that I was begining to show signs of pulmonary hypertension.
I was not familiar with this and when I went to the follow up with my doctor he put me on a new medication which I assumed was for the PAH. It wasn’t, so in September 2010 I had to go to the ER due to severe angina again. Another heart cath was done including a right sided one to further assess the pulmonary pressure. It had gone from mild to severe in less than a year with a pressure of 80.
I discussed this with my doctor and asked why the new medication had not worked and I was then told that the medication he put me on was not for the pulmonary hypertension. I asked why he had not addressed the PH and he shrugged and left the room. It was at that time that I found a new cardiologist as well as a pulmonologist who put me on PH meds. I was on the lower dose for a year and a half and there were episodes of shortness of breath and I asked about possibly increasing the dosage, but the doctor did not want to do that. I had planned a trip out of the country for vacation and the doctor did a HAST test and said I was fine to fly without oxygen.
He was wrong. I thought I was going to die the enitre trip. I became very sick and really 
could not participate in my own vacation. By the time I got home I was even sicker. I went to the doctor to explain what had happened and he said it was not from the PH and that I should talk to my cardiologist. It was at that point that I looked for a PH specialist that my insurance accepted and found one in my general area. He is still in the process of adjusting my medications and has done two cardiac caths, one right side the other left side. I have still not been able to return to what I was able to do before the trip and the doctor isn’t sure if I will ever be able to.
When I was put on the PH meds, I had no idea how expensive the medication was and when they told me what my co-pay was I said, “Well they might as well shoot me because there is no way that I can afford that as I am on disability.” It was then that the speciality 
pharmacy referred me to Caring Voice. They made everything so easy and within only a couple of days had me approved for the balance of that year as well as the following year. I cannot thank them enough for making such a difficult time easier as I don’t have to fight to get my medication.
So that’s my story so far. I am still working on getting back to where I was before the trip and I am determined that I will do so. I will just have to take baby steps, but I know myself, and I will get there.
Posted in Diseases, Featured, How We Help, Media Center, Uncategorized | Tagged Angina, Coronary Heart Disease, Hosiptal, Misdiagnosis, Pulmonary Hypertension, Share Your Story, Swollen Ankles | Leave a commentStories from Caregivers
October 12, 2012Imelda’s Story:
I am a spouse of someone that was diagnosed with Pulmonary Hypertension almost 6 years ago. Although the therapy medications worked and helped for 5 years it came to a point where the medication stopped working for him and the only thing that could save him was a double lung transplant.
He was put on a transplant list at UCSD in August of this year. Just two months later he 
got the call this past Monday that they had a potential donor. He cried when he heard the news. Two hours later from having had received the call we were at UCSD waiting to hear if the lungs were a match. At 11 :00p.m. that night the doctor came out to let me and his siblings know that the surgery was a go. On October 9, 2012 my husband received a second chance at life without PH. Never give up and always keep the faith.
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Keli’s Story:
My mom, Nelda Backus, suffers from Pulmonary Fibrosis and has been kept alive only via medications. In one month, her cost of the medication escalated from $447 to $1894 per month. My dad had always handled anything to do with mom’s medical issues, but we lost him last October. My sister and I were aghast at what the pharmaceutical company had done and didn’t know what to do to help our mother. Please understand that we are 
talking about a widow who receives $2013 a month in social security benefits. We started calling everyone and anyone we could that might possibly be able to help, only to be turned away time and again because her medication hadn’t been traditionally approved for her illness. Then we were fortunate enough to find out about Caring Voice Coalition.
Caring Voice did everything but stand on their head to ensure that she was able to receive the medication that has kept her with us since 2003. There was a young woman there named Tye who has held our hand through the process and who fought the battle for us! Tye called me to let me know that they would be issuing a grant for my mother that would greatly offset her costs and allow her to be able to buy groceries each month!
Our family owes the Caring Voice a debt of gratitude and we can’t speak highly enough of what they did for our mom. Please get out your checkbook and donate to the cause. They help so many people who are just like my mom, living on a fixed income with no way to generate enough income to pay the rapidly accelerating costs of medicines. I truly believe that they were put in our path by a higher power and that we are blessed to have found them!
Posted in Caregivers, Diseases, Featured, Media Center, Uncategorized | Tagged caregivers, chronic illness, Coping, Medical Bills, Pulmonary Fibrosis, Pulmonary Hypertension, Transplants | 1 Comment
Jewell’s Story
October 5, 2012I would have to say my situation started back in the 90′s. I was experiencing a shortness of 
breath and would be sick with bronchitis a lot. I decided to go see an allergist and he put me on shots, I took them for about 10 years. It did help me but I still had the shortness of breath. My internal medicine doctor back then decided to do a chest x-ray and when she saw the results she decided to send me to a Pulmonary Specialist.
They diagnosed me with mild asthma and also did a lung biopsy. They said I had scar tissue on my lungs but never really told me how bad it really was. I was treated by this doctor for a number of years with steroids, antibiotics and breathing treatments. As the years went on I became sicker more and more often. I would have periods in which when I would cough I would black out for a few seconds, however the doctor didn’t make a big deal about it.
Fast forward to 2010, I started to have a lot of weakness and fatigue. One day while driving home I began to choke on some water and I blacked out while driving. When I came to I was making my way over to the next lane on the interstate. I know that the Lord was with me that day because otherwise I would not be talking to you today. I didn’t go to the doctor until about a week or so later when I began having severe headaches and weakness. I thought it maybe was a toothache so I made an appointment with the Dentist.
On the day of the appointment, I had to climb a flight of stairs and by the time I got up those stairs I was gasping for breath. My dentist told me he would treat me for my toothache but he said I needed to see a doctor becayse he believe I had something very serious going on, pointing out that my hands were blue!
I called my Internal Medicine doctor and she ordered tests on my heart and blood tests. 
They would not let me go home because of the severity of my condition. They also conducted a CT scan of my lungs. The doctors came in and told me I had Pulmonary Hypertension.
They immediately started me on medicine (this was in July of 2010) and then in October of that same year I started to see a pulmonologist who put me on medicines related specifically to Pulmonary Hypertension. I am now also on oxygen pretty much all the time and I am doing Pulmonary Rehabilitation to help build up strength and endurance for my body.
It has been very encouraging and inspiring to do. I would like to say it has affected my life in many ways. It has affected my physical relationship with my husband who does not 
always understand and who is also dealing with his own health issues. It has affected my daughter and grandchildren as they were very worried about me. But, I am a fighter and refuse to give up because I know my Lord Jesus Christ is my healer, my rock and my shield and He will heal me.
I would like to say to all who are battling this disease or anyone who has a loved one who is battling it, to always support them, love them and pray for them and know that the Lord is with you and with them. I hope that I have been able to help or encourage someone today.
Posted in Diseases, Events, Featured, Media Center, Uncategorized | Tagged Asthma, Pulmonary, Pulmonary Hypertension, Shortness of Breath | 5 Comments ← Previous post
