2008 PHA Conference

The 2008 Pulmonary Hypertension Association Conference was in Houston, Texas this year. I Had a blast and it was great to meet other people that have PH. Best thing of all was that the Saggar brothers were there (I <3 you both!). It was awesome to hear everyone's story and it was really inspiring to listen to an 80 year old survivor tells us young ones not to give up in life. Here is my day by day breakdown:




Thursday-



Plane landed in Houston in the AM. Checked into the Hilton. It was AWESOME!!! The rooms were great, the beds were really great, and I already saw PH peeps in the elevator. I drove my rental car down to the famous mall in Houston and did some shopping with mom. That night was the Conference "meet and greet" and registration. Mom and I got our free stuff and our badges.

(View from my hotel room at the Hilton, Downtown Houston)

Friday-

Conference opening speach was that morning. 7am. Waaaaayyyyy to early for PH peeps. Carl Hicks spoke first about his daughter's PH story and his reason for being on the board of PHA and why he wanted to be President. I think there wasn't a dry eye in the place. That afternoon was the medical sessions for doctors. I found little Saggar (Dr. Saggar's fellow and little bro) and he told me to come in if I wanted to. So I went in while mom rested in the room. Big Saggar was there and gave me a big hug. After that, every doctor we ran into, he had to tell my case to. After awhile, I left and went and got mom for dinner. We went to a local place and got some awesome food.

(At one of the many dinners that weekend. Caroline, Monica, and Myself)

Saturday-

Breakfast again. Met Monica and Caroline who are PH peeps from UCLA. They see Dr. Shapiro though. Caroline had seen Saggar though for a PH episode she had a few months ago. We all became best buds. We then met another young girl from Montana that was just diagnosed. She looked very frail. I felt bad for her. Then we met another girl from Mass who has had PH since birth due to a heart defect. Her brother had died from PH. Her mom was one strong woman.

We all went to the the same patient classes and learned about new meds, new I.V. prep techniques, and all different kinds of things. There was even a class on sex and having PH....Wow...I know. Then there was the fashion show and people showed others how they hide their I.V. pumps and dress up for special occasions. Then their was dinner and more speakers from around the world.


Sunday-

Last day of conference. We had our last sessions and had our final conference meal (all were prepared by the Hilton and were YUMMY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!). I said goodbye to the Saggars, my new friends, and others that I had met in my Remodulin Support group. One of the members of the PHA board asked me if I would be willing to go to Capitol hill with her next summer and speak. I told her to give me her card and I would call her, or she could call me. Little did I know that Joanne also ran the PH support group system for NY and was the EXECUTIVE board of PHA.

I am definitely keeping her in my Blackberry.

Over all I had a great time, met some wonderful people and can't wait to go to the next one: IN ORANGE COUNTY!!!! (I will definitely be volunteering for that one!)