Lindsay was 23 years old when she started experiencing trouble catching her breath. Though she attributed the problem to being out of shape, even climbing a few steps had her dizzy and gasping for air. Upon examination her doctor heard a heart murmur and suggested a specialist who conducted tests. Though pulmonary hypertension was suspected, Lindsay’s diagnosis slipped through the cracks and for the next three years she dismissed her worsening breathing symptoms. “I think I was in denial,” she said.
But Lindsay’s condition could not be ignored. After passing out multiple times during minor exertions, she returned to her doctor determined to pinpoint the cause. A right heart catheterization showed that the pulmonary artery pressure in her heart was in the 90s. “This is off the charts as most people run around 15,” she explained. “It kind of freaks me out that I was living without treatment for three years when the mortality rate for untreated pulmonary hypertension is so high.”
Thus began her journey to manage her pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). The first prescription they tried brought Lindsay’s pressure down to the 30s, but the results didn’t last for long. When she switched providers, they suggested a new medication that had similar results. But her new specialist worked closely to monitor her sometimes extreme side effects and new symptoms and try to adjust her medication accordingly. “One medication caused me such intense pain that we could not increase the dosage as instructed,” she said. “It was not sustainable because I am a high school math teacher and I was having to run back and forth to the bathroom all the time because I was so sick.”
Unfortunately, there were very few drugs available to treat PAH and by the end of 2019, none of them were managing her hypertension anymore. “I could feel things were going downhill but before I got a chance to talk to my doctor, I had an arrhythmia (abnormal heartbeat) and was sent to the hospital.”
Falling in Love with Breathing
Lindsay’s doctor conducted a right heart catheterization through an IV that revealed her blood pressure was in the 50s. He recommended Lindsay try the newest drug available on the market. “In my experience, the drugs would put a Band-Aid on the problem, but they would become less effective the longer I used them and I would eventually just end up back in the hospital,” she explained.
But after taking the first dose of the new medicine, Lindsay had the weirdest feeling…she could breathe! “It’s hard to explain how odd it feels to go from feeling like your lungs are being squeezed 24/7 to feeling like they are going to float away,” she said. “It felt scary at first because there was all this extra room in my lungs, but as soon as I got used to it, I was ecstatic.”
Because of shortness of breath, Lindsay’s exercising had been extremely limited. She could walk and do yoga, but anything more strenuous was impossible. But when she finally felt like she could breathe, she decided to face her fear and try running. “I tried running before and after three steps I was panting,” she said. But this time Lindsay was able to make it around the block without a problem. “It was probably one of the happiest days of my life, completing that first run. And now I am obsessed.” In November 2021, Lindsay completed a full marathon without any breathing problems.
Advocating for PAH
After her amazing turnaround, Lindsay’s doctor, who had been involved with the American Lung Association for years, suggested she share her story. He asked if she would be willing to be the featured Lung Champion for the 2021 Derby Eve Gala and the Fight For Air Climb in Kentucky. Since then, Lindsay has become involved with the Lung Association in every way she can and attends both events every year. “I never attempted a stair climb before and it is just so fun to do the Climb,” Lindsay exclaimed. “I want everyone with lung disease to know what this feels like, it is awesome to be able to breathe!”
PAH is a rare disease that many people are unaware of. It is important to Lindsay to continue to spread awareness and encourage donations to research since it has changed her life so dramatically. “The three medications that I currently take did not exist when I was first diagnosed,” she said. “If these medications didn’t exist, I wouldn’t be here; I cannot breathe without them. But also, they have made my life infinitely better. So that just goes to show how important medical research is and how much of a difference it can make.”
Learn more about Fight For Air Climbs and how you can get involved raising money for lung disease research.
Blog last updated: March 18, 2026
