Peter, PH Slovakia

My name is Peter Makovník, I live in Slovakia and I work in software development. Aside of that I am helping my mother with PH association related activites such as web, digital marketing, translations, organizations of events etc. I love sport, such as bicycles, fitness and swimming, therefore I can only imagine how difficult it is for PH patients to overcome their challenges, as they are very limited to any kind of movement.

My mom had idiopatic pulmonary hypertension. 10 years ago she had undergone double lung transplant surgery. My first experience with PH was when my mom returned from hospital with this at that time for all of us very unknown diagnose. I was at that time only 14 years old. Later I only found out how serious this disease was.

Shortly before her transplant surgery, she had founded the PH patient association in Slovakia. The reasons were quite clear, rare disease with very few people and even doctors, that were aware of it. My mom had a strong need to communicate with other patients with PH. Patients in this situation do need mutual support and experience sharing.