- Apr 5, 2013
- 13,850
- 10,166
- 228
In August my Sister told me that all options had been done. Her heart was failing. It was one of the hardest things I'd ever heard. My favorite person in this world could literally pass at any moment. She was put on the top of the Heart Lung transplant list at Duke University. Over the next 6weeks, 2 times she was called in, prepped for surgery, each time not knowing if she would wake up, each time the donor organs failing. The 2nd time, they had her prepped for the surgery when the donor organs failed. Needless to say, this took quite a toll on my sister, and all of us were on an emotional roller coaster ride. Not something I would wish on anyone.
On September 13, they told her to get to the Hospital. This was it. This was going to happen. A young woman had passed, and had donated her Heart and Lungs to be used. I grieved knowing that someone had passed, their last charitable act meant my sister would live.
24 hrs. later, I spoke to my sister. She was feeling as god as one could expect. Jump 6 days forward, she walked a mile, unassisted. She is now flourishing, and it hasn't been a month. She is staying in an apartment next to the hospital (as required), but this is her home now with her husband, who has been a rock through all of this.
The last two months drained me emotionally, which is why I haven't been around much.
I'm back, with renewed strength in my faith especially after seeing this miracle take place. my sister had been an advocate for PPH (Primary Pulmonary Hypertension), testifying before Congress about how this disease is killing so many people.
When the government fast tracked the two diet pills to be sold into one, called "Phen-Phen", over 500,000 people became ill with the heart problem my sister had. She was in many studies, they could not understand how she had lived so long. She should have died in her 20's, but she was 50 and still alive. She helped in pioneering new treatments by allowing herself to be the subject of medicinal trials. She was the longest living person with this illness in the U.S..
Now, she is doing very well. The amount of medicine and routine she has to go through every day is daunting, but she feels every minute she is alive, is a gift from god, and wishes to be a good Steward of what's been given to her.
I wish to thank you all for reading this. I have a link below, so you can read her story. It's quite inspiring.
phassociation.org
www.wral.com
On September 13, they told her to get to the Hospital. This was it. This was going to happen. A young woman had passed, and had donated her Heart and Lungs to be used. I grieved knowing that someone had passed, their last charitable act meant my sister would live.
24 hrs. later, I spoke to my sister. She was feeling as god as one could expect. Jump 6 days forward, she walked a mile, unassisted. She is now flourishing, and it hasn't been a month. She is staying in an apartment next to the hospital (as required), but this is her home now with her husband, who has been a rock through all of this.
The last two months drained me emotionally, which is why I haven't been around much.
I'm back, with renewed strength in my faith especially after seeing this miracle take place. my sister had been an advocate for PPH (Primary Pulmonary Hypertension), testifying before Congress about how this disease is killing so many people.
When the government fast tracked the two diet pills to be sold into one, called "Phen-Phen", over 500,000 people became ill with the heart problem my sister had. She was in many studies, they could not understand how she had lived so long. She should have died in her 20's, but she was 50 and still alive. She helped in pioneering new treatments by allowing herself to be the subject of medicinal trials. She was the longest living person with this illness in the U.S..
Now, she is doing very well. The amount of medicine and routine she has to go through every day is daunting, but she feels every minute she is alive, is a gift from god, and wishes to be a good Steward of what's been given to her.
I wish to thank you all for reading this. I have a link below, so you can read her story. It's quite inspiring.
PH Changed Her Life. It Taught Her to Persevere
Diane Ramirez of Lexington, North Carolina, was diagnosed with pulmonary arterial hypertension in 1987. At the time, fewer than 200 cases were known of the disease then known as primary pulmonary hypertension (PH). Diane originally shared her PH journey in the December 2020 Pathlight magazine...
phassociation.org
Duke patient walks 75 miles to raise awareness for pulmonary hypertension
On Saturday morning, Diane Ramirez, joined by her Duke Medicine team, completed a 75-mile walk to raise awareness and funding for pulmonary hypertension.
www.wral.com
glad to hear some great news these days. Hope all goes well in the future.