Meet Catherine
Catherine is not only a patient with scleroderma and PAH, but also a writer, a painter, and a teacher. Learn more about her journey and the importance of screening.
00:06
I was born in Westford, Massachusetts, in 1962, which is basically where I grew up my whole life.
00:15
My mother was always taking pictures, especially when I got older.
00:20
I guess she wanted to remember before I moved out, you know.
00:25
I'm a systems analyst, so I came down to central Florida.
00:29
You know, it's 87 degrees out. I said, “I'm not going back to Massachusetts.” And then I met Wayne, and we started dating, and 3 months later, we were married.
00:41
I started running in 2004.
00:44
Training was torture, but I kept with it. I enjoyed the camaraderie. And then, in 2010, I got very sick.
00:53
I was coughing all the time, and I was like, “Man, I'm having trouble climbing stairs.” I never was well after that illness. How did I go from running 6 and half miles a day to barely being able to go down to the mailbox?
01:11
I didn't know what to do.
01:13
I was not fond of doctors.
01:16
I don't follow directions.
01:18
I just kept thinking, “I'll get better,” but I was getting worse.
01:23
My husband dragged me to the doctor's when I wouldn't go.
01:27
And then, I went to my dermatologist, and by looking at the spots on my skin, she says, “You have scleroderma.” I said, “What? What's that?”
01:37
She told me that I could be at risk to get other conditions and wanted me to see a specialist. And I got an appointment with my rheumatologist, who said, “We're going to do what's called an ANA blood test.”
01:51
And sure enough, I tested positive for scleroderma, lupus, and mixed connective tissue disease.
01:58
She sent me to a pulmonologist that specializes in pulmonary arterial hypertension. So, I had a pulmonary function test, which turned out to be 50% lung capacity.
02:11
So essentially, I had one lung.
02:13
And then he referred me to a cardiologist, which ordered additional testing such as the 6-minute walk test, the echocardiogram, and a right heart catheterization.
02:26
Once I received the PAH diagnosis, the reality set in and I was going to have to live with this.
02:33
My medical team, we decided on a course of treatment that was the best for me to be able to live my life, but they would be closely monitoring because everybody is just a little bit different.
02:47
No matter what, my husband was there, and I can't even express how grateful I am for him, and that's what you need to have, and I'm a lot happier now than I was a couple years ago.
03:01
He loves all the advocacy that I'm doing.
03:04
For example, the PH conference I attended.
03:07
I started meeting with people from all walks of life.
03:12
I'm doing this because I feel this is my calling.
03:16
If I could just help 1 person go to the doctor's.
03:20
Don't wait like I did.
03:22
The earlier that it's diagnosed, the better the outcome.
03:26
Awareness really does make a difference.
03:29
My name is Catherine, and I have scleroderma and PAH.
03:34
Ask your doctor about an annual screening for PAH and the importance of an early diagnosis.
03:42
Remember, you're your own best advocate.
