Sonya Collins

Diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension (IPAH) in 2003, Sonya has overcome many obstacles and experienced a lot of change. She spent about four years questioning her shortness of breath (SOB) and severe fluid retention (something that was first noticeable during her pregnancy). After her second pregnancy she addressed these symptoms with her GP.  It was passed off as being linked to the fact that she was a mother of two small children. After approximately 18 months of many ER visits, she was finally diagnosed with pulmonary hypertension (PH) by a cardiologist. It would take almost two years for her cardiologist, pulmonologist and rheumatologist to conclude and agree that she had in fact had primary, not secondary pulmonary hypertension.

Residing in Paradise, Newfoundland and Labrador, Sonya is happily married to her high school sweetheart; they have two teen daughters, two Yorkshire terrier dogs, as well as two Siberian cats to complete their home. Since receiving her diagnosis, she has experienced many changes. 

Sonya is excited to be stepping into her role as a PHA Canada Ambassador and looks forward to doing what she loves: helping people. One of her favourite things to say is that “pulmonary hypertension isn’t the best thing that has happened to me, but I have never been happier!”