Mackenzie Hartman, Pulmonary Patient

Summa Health's Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension Clinic helped Mackenzie breathe again.

Transcription

Mackenzie: "I had breathing issues as a child, and they determined at the time that it was asthma. But as I got older, it started to get worse. I couldn't have a conversation without being out of breath, or even just walking and doing normal-day activities was strenuous for me.

My primary care physician at Summa referred me to the Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension Clinic. Dr. Buggey performed a right heart cath on me, and I was diagnosed with pulmonary arterial hypertension. It basically means that the veins in my lungs are narrowed, causing the pressure in my heart to increase, so it causes right-side heart failure.

Remarkably, I'm able to maintain my condition with the medications and see Sarah Serb at the clinic regularly. I'm so happy that I have Dr. Buggey and Sarah Serb on my team. Amazingly, now I'm able to walk 20,000 steps a day, and I'm not in pain, and I can breathe, and everything's good. I am very grateful."