Sunday, June 22, 2014

Save the Date for 2016!

Join us in Dallas, Texas, June 17-19 in 2016!

What's Next?

Another PHA Conference has ended! It's sad to have to leave all of our PHriends and the fun and education we had this weekend. You can continue your education on PHA Classroom (patients and families) and PHA Online University (medical professionals), where all the recordings will be posted in the coming months. If you were inspired by Diane Ramirez to get involved, check out our website for a ton of ideas and tools.

Thank you to everyone, especially our volunteers and sponsors, who made Conference possible.

Young Conference Attendees Enjoy Saturday Field Trip

By Karen Lovett, 2014 Conference Reporter

The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis strives to create extraordinary learning experiences. Today, young ladies and gentlemen visited and showed them the power and strength of the younger attendees of the PH Conference.

With a variety of topics of interest to choose from such as China, trains, dinosaurs and the contribution of children to improving the world, there is something for almost everyone.

Today’s visitors have a few suggestions. Maren, from Alabama, found a love of dinosaurs when she saw the cast of dinosaur bones. Dev, from Ontario, thinks the Take me to China exhibit was the most fun. Jalen, from Missouri, loved the Egypt archeology exhibit. Cameron, from Oklahoma, thinks that the Fireworks of Glass exhibit was something you just can’t miss. Many of the young attendees, like Julia from Alabama, picked The Science Works exhibit as their favorite – especially Israel, from New Mexico, who built his own boat. All of these powerful young attendees seemed to have had a blast.

To learn more about the museum, visit its website at www.childrensmuseum.org.

PHers Strut Their Stuff at the Fashion Show

Written by Marylin Hanft, 2014 Conference Reporter 
Photos by Karen Lovett, 2014 Conference Reporter

Put 10 makeup and hairstylists, 29 models and a dozen or so PHA staff members in a large room, and what do you have? The 2014 Conference Fashion Show! As everyone filed into the backstage area with 2 1/2 hours to go to showtime, controlled chaos ensued.

The estheticians worked their magic on hair and makeup, turning every model into a beauty. PHA staff member Chelsea and her staff kept everything moving as we all donned our first outfits and nervously got in line. "I'm FIRST?! But I'm not even sure what I'm doing!" "You'll do fine. Relax and enjoy the fun." I took that advice to heart, relaxed and had one of the most enjoyable times of my life.

Cute kids, mostly girls, emerged from the hairdressers' chairs sporting gorgeous curls, got into adorable outfits, and got in line. Ladies who had arrived without makeup or fancy hairdos were transformed into runway-ready beauties, first donning casual wear then more formal attire.

The lone male in the groups arrived wearing his purple zebra cape and hat with panache (pictured right). Our MCs, Debbie and Lucas, did an awesome job of reading the scripts that participants had provided and leading the "Where's the pump" game.

Out of chaos came laughter and a show that went off without a hitch. The audience cheered us on and made all of us feel very special. Ornah in her wedding gown made a lovely end to the show as we all gathered around her for our final bow.

What fun we had! What memories we take away!

Team PH Crosses Finish Line a Day Earlier Than Expected!

Team PHenomenal Hope crossed the finish line on their 3,000 mile Race Across America last night a good day earlier than expected. PH community members gathered at the finish line in Annapolis, Md., and via Skype from PHA's Conference in Indianapolis, Ind., to cheer them on and congratulate them on such an amazing feat. You women are truly amazing!



Saturday, June 21, 2014

PH Community Interview: Perry Mamigonian

Support group leader and pulmonary hypertension patient from Fresno, Calif., Perry Mamigonian shares what he loves about Conference.

PH Community Interview: Support Group Leader and PH Patient Aletha Ellison

We caught up with Aletha Ellison, a pulmonary hypertension patient and support group leader, in the Exhibit Hall by the blogosphere. Aletha shares her PH story and what she enjoys most about Conference.