30 Years of Volunteering
Left to right: Mary Clare, Tom, Terry and Annie
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hen Terry McGraw was diagnosed Making aa difference Making difference with primary idiopathic pulmonary hypertension (now IPAH) in January 1990, Terry slowly became more involved with PHA as she had never heard of the disease. time went on and the association grew. At first, she “During the first few years after my diagnosis, my started participating on the patient forum on PHA’s husband and I focused on doing all we could to learn website. It helped her connect with other patients about the disease and get answers,” Terry says. and exchange advice. As her kids got older, she Her husband Tom remembers being terrified. He began attending support group meetings and started worried that Terry wouldn’t be around for their two fundraising for the PHA Boston O2breathe Walk. daughters. “The fear of them Through her participation, she not having Terry hit hard,” he learned how vital PHA is to the ‘The fight is not over, and says. But Terry fought, and PH community. Tom began to plan and fight “Because our disease is so rare, I know PHA has the right on her behalf. we need a louder voice, and PHA priorities.’ Terry and Tom are among is a strong advocate that projects the families who have lived — Tom McGraw, caregiver that louder voice — so much with pulmonary hypertension louder than we could muster on (PH) for many years – in our own,” Terry says. their case, decades. At the time, there wasn’t much Tom was slower to get involved. “At first, I was information available about PH, and it took the more focused on Terry and our kids, but as time McGraws about five years to learn about then passed, I realized that PHA was an important ally to fledgling Pulmonary Hypertension Association us.” (PHA). Tom, Terry and their daughters, Mary Clare and Annie, started the fundraising team “Tipperogues for Terry” for the Boston O2breathe Walk. Tom and
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PATHLIGHT // ISSUE 4
