What's in Store for Families of PH Kids

Posted by:
Michal Rachlin
PHA Kerry Bardorf Family Support Program Associate

“I will be taking my family to Orlando... There is no other venue at which a family dealing with pulmonary hypertension can receive the same kind of support, emotional connection and education.” – Christina Doak, Spring 2012 Pathlight (pictured below with family in 2006)

If a young person in your family has PH, we hope you’ll be joining Christina and her family at PHA’s International PH Conference. The Conference may be your only opportunity to meet other families like yours. PHA worked closely with our Parents Advisory Board to identify the best ways to maximize this opportunity for families of PH kids.

We are very excited to announce two new breakout sessions for parents this year:

NEW! Communication for a Healthy Family
Coping with PH can be stressful for everyone in the family. During this session we will cover  strategies for communicating about PH, and maintaining the relationships that PH impacts. These topics will include the spousal, parent-child, and sibling relationships.

NEW! School and PH
Balancing your child’s education with their health needs can mean facing challenging decisions. Join us for this discussion on schooling to learn how other parents approach these issues at different developmental stages.

Additional breakout sessions of interest to parents include:

• Coping as a Caregiver 
• PH Goes to College
• Communicating to Family and Friends about PH 
• Ask a Pediatrician – Parents Only (0-11 years)
• Ask a Pediatrician – Parents Only (12-18 years)
• New Medical Therapy for Children with PH
• Teeth, Bones and Other Surgical Problems for Kids with PH

Another addition for parents is our Parents’ Mixer. Remember how nice it was to hire a babysitter and go out with your friends? We’ve scheduled this Mixer to take place while the Kids’ Room is open, so you’re all set! Join other parents in the Parents' Mixer at Conference and unwind as you enjoy this adult-only event.

These are just a few of our newest opportunities for families. You can visit the Conference Pediatric Programming page for complete information on everything related to Conference programming for families of children with PH.