April is Volunteer Month

Top 10 Reasons to Volunteer

10. It's good for you!

It provided mental and physical rewards:

Reduces stress- Experts report that when you focus on someone other than yourself, it interrupts usual tension-producing patterns.

Makes your healthier- Moods and emotions, like optimism, joy, and control over one's fate, strengthen the immune system.

9. It saves resources!

Volunteering provides valuable community services so more money can be spent on local improvements.

Estimated value of a volunteer's time is $15.39 per hour!

8. Volunteers gain professional experience!

You can test out any career.

7. It brings people together.

As a volunteer you assist in :

Uniting people from diverse backgrounds to work toward a common goal

Building camaraderie and teamwork

6. It promotes personal growth and self Esteem

By helping foster empathy and self-efficacy.

5. Volunteering strengthens your community

As a volunteer you help:

Support families

Improve schools

Support youth

Beautify the community

4. You learn A LOT!

Self- Volunteers discover hidden talents that may change your view on our self worth.

Government- Through working with local non-profit agencies, volunteers learn about the functions and operation of our government.

Community- Volunteers gain knowledge of local resources available to solve community needs

3. Give you a chance to "give back".

People like to support community resources that they use themselves or that benefit people they care about.

2. Volunteering encourages civic responsibility

Community service and volunteerism are an investment in our community and the people who live in it.

1. You Make A Difference!

Every person counts!

Source- UC San Diego. http://students.ucsd.edu/student-life/involvement/community/reasons.html

Everyone knows that volunteering benefits the place your are volunteering for, but did you know it helps YOU too?! 

Volunteering can offer you the opportunity to practice skills and talents that can further your career, or even teach you a new skill that can change the direction of your life. It the tight economic situation we find ourselves now, everything we can do to make ourselves more valuable can be the difference between being laid off and a promotion. 

For those of us who are unable to work, the opportunity to help others can provide us with a sense of achievement. Depression is a major issue for us, and we have generally had to give up our favorite activities. Volunteering gives us the chance to so for others, to give back, and to find new hobbies and interests.

Studies have found many physical health benefits that come from volunteering. Did you know that it can minimize chronic pain? What about it's ability to reduce levels of disability? Or even relieve depression? All of these things not only help us feel better, but also have been found to make us LIVE LONGER!  

Making new friends, meeting new people. These are difficult, especially in an technology driven society. When you get out and volunteer, you are given the chance to meet other people with at least one interest in common with you, I mean… they are there too!

Sometimes, all you need is to get out into the world, a re-charge. Exercise, fresh air, sunshine, and a little wildlife  can make your day so much better. Depending on your "job" as a volunteer, you may be able to do any one of these while helping an organization.

Even people with a disability can be a huge asset! There are opportunities to volunteer without even leaving your home. Think about your skill set. Were you a professional in your "previous life"? Some organizations are just getting started and need help with the foundation, the "executive" side of things. Do you know how to budget? Are you familiar with contacting potential funding sources via phone, email, or mail? Are you a graphic artist, web designer, or artistic? To volunteer doesn't always mean doing physical work!

So you have decided to volunteer, here comes the hard part! WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO?! Helpguide.org has offered a list of places to look for opportunities:

• Community theaters, museums, and monuments.

• Libraries or senior centers.

• Service organizations like Lion's Club or Rotary Clubs.

• Youth programs, sports teams, and after-school programs.

• Historical restoration and national parks.
• Places of worship, churches, synagogues.
• Online databases like PHA (hint, hint!!).

They also have some things to keep in mind while you volunteer:

• Ask questions. Make sure the organization is looking for your skills, and that you are looking for that opportunity.
• Make sure you know what is expected. Know who you are volunteering for, and understand what they want. Know what time commitment they want. Start small, DON'T OVER DO IT!
• Don't be afraid to make a change. This is supposed to be a good experience for both of you! If it isn't what you expected, then you may need to look for something different.

• ENJOY YOURSELF! If you are not enjoying yourself, ask why. Is it the "what"? Or the "who"? Are you stepping out of your comfort zone? If you know the issue, you can make the correct decision on a course of action!

So join me, be selfish! You can definitely make your like better by helping others do the same!

There are so many ways to help the pulmonary hypertension community, and many of them don't require you to leave your home.  Go to www.PHAssociation.org/GetInvolved for ideas and information!

Sources

World Volunteer Web. "Benefits of volunteering". October 19, 2005. www.worldvolunteerweb.org/resources/how-to-guides/volunteer/doc/benefits-of-volunteering.html

Idealist. www.idealist.org/info/Volunteer/Benefits

Helpguide.org. www.helpguide.org/

National Poetry Month!

April is National Poetry Month! Poetry is a great way to express every emotion a person is feeling or has dealt with for any type of situation. Whether it be a poem about falling in love, describing nature's beauty, or how hard it is to deal with the death of a loved one, poetry can be a therapeutic and creative way of expressing oneself.

In this blog are a few poems by some phriends who were willing to share their words about living with pulmonary hypertension. I can certainly relate to their creative expression. Can you?

The Dastardly Disease ~ by Merle R. November 2010

I used to be healthy; I used to be strong,
I used to work most all the day long.
And then it hit me without even a clue
I wasn't quite sure just what I could do.
I saw many doctors and then all those tests
I was diagnosed with IPAH and you know the rest.

Pulmonary Hypertension the dastardly disease
It’s rare with no cure and progression will be
It affects the right side of heart – the lungs big time too
Those arteries get constricted and give out on you.
It’s so complicated; makes it so hard to breathe
With having this dastardly pulmonary hypertension disease.

Shortness of breath are symptoms at first
And sometimes it feels like your heart just may burst.
That weight in your chest, fast heart beats oh my
And walking too fast may just make you cry.

Some may get dizzy, or maybe pass out
Some are so tired - what’s that all about?
Some cannot work and don’t understand why
With little exertion they falter not fly.

Some have edema, that swelling so bad
Retaining that fluid just makes one so sad
Some may have chest pain and may have blue lips
This disease is too serious and needs to be nipped.

Some may have Scleroderma, Sleep Apnea or HIV
Lupus, Raynaud’s Phenomenon or maybe COPD.
There can be some causes or no cause at all
That’s when our ph doctors need to make the right call.

We cut back on salt, smaller portions for meals,
Nutrition’s important and helps us to deal,
We deal with life changes a whole new life style
Remember it’s doable – we'll be here awhile.

Many will ask when not feeling too well
How do I cope, how do I dwell?
Do not despair and let me just say
There are treatments out now – with more on the way
With hope and with faith we have a good chance,
To fight this disease and maybe then dance.

Too many doctors; some specialist too
Do not understand what this ph disease can do
Luckily though and I praise God on high
There are ph doctors and nurses who do know the why
They treat us with wisdom and caring that shows
I thank them so much and I just hope they know.

They schedule those testings they start off real slow
An echo and blood work and others you know
A six minute walk, many PFT’s, oh gee
We scurry, we’re dazzled, we come then they see.

You may have a CAT scan, a bron-chos-co-py too
And there could be several others they may ask of you.
And then the right heart cath the gold standard of all
This proves the diagnosis is proper – they made the right call.

Some take an oral an inhaled or such
Some with IV’s and more, oh, oh so much.
Revatio, Adcirca, Letaris, Tracleer,
Ventavis, Tyvaso are a few that are here.
Then Veletri, Remodulin or Flolan may do
And some of these meds are almost brand new.

A hose in the nose; a tube in the chest
We struggle; we strive and hope for the best.
It is very doable this dastardly disease
With research abounding, there’s hope – so let’s breathe

Those researchers out there, those researching now
How can we help you, with what and the how
We’re counting on you to brighten our life
You give us more hope to end all this strife.
We’ll give you some blood or whatever you need
And hope for a cure of this dastardly disease.

The cost of these meds is abhorrently high,
We suffer, we struggle, oh my how we sigh.
Some insurance companies won’t give us a dime
The government too in their wisdom declines
Then say they will help – but they have special rules
Most are careless and thoughtless and actually cruel.

There are specialty pharmacies and pharma reps too
With guided persistence they know what to do,
They tell all those doctors those specialists out there
About the ph meds; how they need treated with care.
Some have special nurses and advocates now
Who teach the new patients the why, what and how.
They treat us so special it’s learning one on one
They do have support for us, their work’s never done.

There’s a ph community it spreads far and wide
We meet in some chat rooms and support groups with pride.
I've made many phriends and I value them well
Unfortunately though, and I do have to tell
I've lost ooh too many, that hurts thru and thru
This dastardly disease can do that to you.

With our phamily support system we’re able to cope
We share with each other, there is always hope.
Hope for a future, hope for a life
Hope we’ll endure without too much strife

Although it’s not cancer the symptoms may be
As bad, sometimes worse than that horrid disease.
PH is progressive and can cause us much pain
We must not let fear grip us, there’s still much to gain
As mentioned before and remember this now
Pulmonary Hypertension is doable – we’ll be here a while.

Let’s take a deep breath; so slow if you please
It can strengthen those lungs with this dastardly disease
In through your nose and out through your lips
Slow is the key – please remember that tip.

And last but not least, remember to smile
As smiles are contagious you see
And when you feel down; and bring on a frown
Turn that frown upside down just for me
Smiles make us happy and will help us cope
With having this dastardly pulmonary hypertension disease. :o)

PH Poem ~ by Catalina L. 2006

~To all of us who are dealing with this terrible disease, may there soon be a cure~

You came into  our lives when we least expected it.

Because of you we are weak.

Sometimes unable to speak.

You are such a threat. 

Our hearts throb and we even sigh.

But it doesn't mean we love you!

We are just trying to catch up with our breath.

We think of  you night and day.

We wish you would go away.

We're stuck with you no matter what.

If you only knew the pain you have brought

You're not innocent or pure.

And right now there is no cure.

But we will not give up hope you see.

One day a cure there will be.

Just as easy as you came into our lives.

You will always come

But will not stay.

And we all hope and pray for that day!

"Breathe" ~ by Laura G., September 2013

Pumped full of life and this is true

The only breaths I have are few

The medicine runs through my viens

The best days I have are when it rains

If it's too cold outside my lungs are tight

If it's hot they just dont feel right 

It's so scary when you lose your breath

I just wonder how many these lungs have left

I'm few of the lucky ones who can walk around

Without an airtank dragging them down

I'm still really lucky if I haven't already mentioned

But it really sucks to have pulmonary hypertension