Dec 28, 2017
Brooke Keith is a pulmonary hypertension patient from Mason City, Iowa. She was diagnosed in 2007 at age 8. She is now 19, a freshman in college majoring in biochemistry.
Thank you for letting me share my story. Together we can be
agents of change offering hope and help through educating,
advocating, funding research and raising awareness by sharing with
others.
If you see me around or online, my PH is probably invisible to you.
Most days I can keep up with anyone and do whatever I want
including working out with friends and going on a run. Some days I
need to self limit and have more downtime. And a few days have been
very scary. This was a rough year, I was hospitalized for several
weeks my last semester of high school and again the week before
Christmas. I was well aware that I went to the hospital on what
should have been my friend, Qadri’s, 23rd birthday but he passed
his senior year at the age of 17. I also lost my best PH friend,
Nicole, last summer. The hardest part was wanting to see one
another and not being able to because we were in different
hospitals across the country. I have met lifelong friends and
people I consider family by becoming involved in the PH community.
The amount of support is truly phenomenal and the amount of loss
devastating. We need a CURE which comes through research requiring
funding. If you love someone with PH, please ask how you can
help.
If you are living with PH, it’s important to take care of yourself
in body, mind and spirit. Be as physically active as you can,
surround yourself with positive people and do things for others.
Pray for everyone. When I’m not feeling well, I rely on Faith,
family and friends to help me through. Always have something to
look forward to. Have short term and long term goals. Make a list
of things you want to do in life and do them. When something
doesn’t work out as planned, pray and make a new plan. Give thanks
for every small thing.
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