Laura’s Breathing Easy After Pulmonary Hypertension Surgery

In her down time, Laura Floeckhler, 45, enjoyed visiting the theme parks in her hometown of Orlando, Fla. But last year she started getting short of breathe and her legs began to swell. Walking was painful. She bought a cooler and kept it by her bed to avoid having to leave her bedroom. On Christmas night 2014, Laura was taken by ambulance to her local hospital, where she was diagnosed with pulmonary hypertension, a rare disorder of the lungs affecting about 30 in every 1 million people.

November is Pulmonary Hypertension Awareness Month. Mayo Clinic in Florida is one of 26 designated Pulmonary Hypertension and Vascular Disease Centers in the country, recognized based on patient volumes, comprehensive care, family support and research initiatives.

Thanks to a complex surgery known as pulmonary thromboendarterectomy, Laura is now breathing easier and looking forward to adventures with her first grandchild.

Learn more about pulmonary hypertension awareness

JOURNALISTS:  For an interview with Laura or her physicians, please contact Cynthia Weiss, Mayo Clinic Public Affairs at newsbureau@mayo.edu or 507-284-5005.