A Journey Not So Smooth

By Kiara Tatum

Kiara's Family On Path to Stone Church

I was noticing that over the last week there were more postings of people with PH venting and feeling down on the PH Family Facebook page.  Although I didn't post it, I also had a couple of low days last week.  And one day, I stayed in my bed all day long because I just couldn't face the day and wanted to hide.  This PH journey isn't a smooth, a steady or an easy path that allows you to simply take medication, and you will be cured.  It's an uneven, bumpy, rough and difficult path.

Kiara and her nephews

I was reminded of last summer when I went on my first hike since I was diagnosed with PH.  It was a place I wanted to go to for years.  I printed up the brochure in 2007, and I told my family and some friends that I wanted to go to Stone Church in the Town of Dover, NY.  Knowing I was on oxygen and I could barely walk a block at that time, I had to see it.  During my six-minute walk tests, I would have chest pains, dizzy spells, would have to slow down and hold my chest, so going on a hike to Dover Stone Church just seemed impossible.  But I wanted to do it.  So summers would pass, and I never went.  I knew I wasn't physically ready to go.  Then in the fall of 2010, I started Remodulin subcutaneously, and it gave me hope to reach my goal of going on the hike to Dover Stone Church.  In the summer on August 20, 2011, I made the journey. 

Stone Church Entrance

We had to drive up and around the mountain which presented thinner air as we got closer to the site.  I had to climb stairs, I had to cross rocky paths, I had to walk over slippery wet rocks, walk up a mountain, but I did it.  I slipped, but I didn't fall; my oxygen tank rolled the wrong direction, but I pulled it with me.  I had to let my mom hold my oxygen tank for me, but I kept walking; I had to stop for breaks, but I never gave up.  I had to catch my breath, but I had more breaths left and I reached the top, and I saw Dover Stone Church.  When I walked inside the cave, I knew my journey was complete.  I was so proud of myself, and my family was proud of me as well.  It was so beautiful and so serene.  Knowing what I had to go through to get to that point made the journey so much more meaningful and powerful for me.  I had the strength, courage, faith and hope I needed to take on that not so smooth journey to see the natural beauty of this world, and I did it!

Path to Stone Church

So sometimes you may want to give up because you feel like you don't have any more strength to fight, but hold on a little longer.  It's not going to be easy or straight, and you're going to feel depressed and angry sometimes.  Just remember there is going to be something--a medication change, an inspirational song, an encouraging word from a phriend, or anything--that will give you more hope, courage and strength needed to fight another day and another day to get out of bed, to take your medicine, to do the simple yet hard tasks of the everyday.  Also remember you are not alone; you have your family, friends, and phriends to help you through each day.  Have hope on this not so smooth journey!  And maybe one day, we won't have to fight any more.