I’m Aware That I’m Rare: Maria Simionato (375)

The phaware® interview

Italian pulmonary hypertension patient, Maria Simionato discusses her diagnosis and how a complications following a menstrual period that lasted for over a month led her to be listed for a double-lung transplant surgery.

Maria Simionato:
My name is Maria Simionato. I’m a 24-year-old student and full-time worker from Venice, Italy. My connection with pulmonary arterial hypertension goes back to March 2005. I was seven and a half years old and I was diagnosed after an acute episode of fever and shortness of breath.

I was fortunate enough to get diagnosed right away. I got sent to get an echocardiogram right away and a doctor that goes by the name of Lucia Tessarotto, who I’ll always be thankful for, basically, told my parents right away what the disease was. After a couple of weeks, I got sent to Padua which is one of the most renowned hospitals in Italy. I got a right heart catheterization and my diagnosis was confirmed. Luckily enough, I did respond well to nifedipine right away.