It’s challenging carrying this rare genetic condition, HHT, through life. While this disorder has been relatively recognized for years in the medical community, it is mostly unknown to the general population. Likewise, it has no standard progression over the course of a lifetime. When the flareups come, no one sees any outward signs. I imagine…

2016 is the year my largest PAVM, first detected and treated in 1993, decided to fully challenge my life. Over the previous four years, my HHT interventional radiologist had made a valiant effort to close this PAVM, but this singular cluster of mixed up pathways now threatened my existence. At 5 p.m. on a Friday…

Just after I learned I might have HHT, my family and I moved from the Boston area to Atlanta. Emory University Hospital was where I had my first PAVM embolization in 1993.  The projected two hour operation extended to just over four hours, but was pronounced successful, so we were pleased. The PAVM was coiled…