I’m Aware That I’m Rare: Barbara Thompson (229)

The phaware® interview

Pulmonary hypertension patient Barbara Thompson discusses why she wears zebra clothing 365 days a year and her long road through 14 doctors before a young grad student gave her a proper PH diagnosis.

Hi, I’m Barbara Thompson. I’m a pulmonary hypertension patient.

We used to do weddings as a family business. We did everything: photography, video, cakes, catering, flowers, directing, reception hall, chapel. But the last thing I remember in April of 2000, was getting a bride down the aisle, and then I don’t remember anything until December of 2002, because when your brain is not getting enough oxygen, you don’t remember things. I became bedridden.

My husband, Chuck, took me to 14 different doctors before I was diagnosed. 14th doctor had just graduated from medical school, so he was a little gung ho with stuff. And thank God he was. He said, “nobody has bronchitis this long. Let’s look and let’s take an echocardiogram, see what’s going on.” So, he did that, and he called back in about week, and he said…