Teens raise awareness

Haley Lynn is a 19-year-old PH patient

My symptoms of pulmonary hypertension started when I was fairly young. I knew something was wrong, but when I was in school there wasn't any education on things such as heart and lung issues. You were just weird for not being able to breathe. Since PH is something that goes undiagnosed for years, it's important that parents are aware of what could be wrong with their children's bodies. Having trouble breathing is a common problem that branches off in many directions. It takes a lot for parents and even doctors to look into these symptoms. 

Since I'm earning my degree in education, I want to really try to raise as much awareness as I can about PH and let parents of my students be very aware of this disease I suffer from and how their kids could be suffering too. I knew I was different in school and I want to make sure children are not suffering silently anymore. So I taught my Pre-K class about PH! We broke the concepts down very simply and explained what lungs are. Then we hung PH coloring papers in the halls for our other teachers and staff members to see as well.

I cannot wait to keep raising awareness. Even though these four and five year olds didn't comprehend PH much, I got my point across with parents and faculty. These simple coloring pages with lungs were just the start.

November 2011.