Back out on the Road
Teresa’s love for motorcycles isn’t just about the thrill of the ride — it’s a passion that ignites her spirit and fuels her sense of freedom. From the roar of the engine to the wind in her hair, every moment on her bike is a reminder of life’s exhilarating adventures.
“I always had a passion for motorcycles,” Teresa said. “I used to be really active. When I first got sick, I couldn’t ride them anymore.”
That sense of freedom seemed to disappear on New Year’s Eve, 2015, when Teresa was diagnosed with pulmonary hypertension, a rare disease that affects the blood vessels in the lungs. The disease meant Teresa required treatment, including oxygen support, to help her breathe. Though she and her husband had health insurance through his employer, the treatment cost left her speechless.
“I was crying because I couldn’t afford the copays,” Teresa said. “I said, ‘I can’t do this.’ I had no idea what to do.”
Teresa’s doctor referred her to The Assistance Fund’s (TAF’s) Pulmonary Hypertension Copay Assistance Program. The program helps eligible individuals with out-of-pocket costs for all FDA-approved treatment for the disease, including coinsurance, deductibles, and copays for the medication Teresa relies on.
“My doctors told me I needed to get my affairs in order,” she said. “I was looking at six months to live.”
In minutes, Teresa was approved and enrolled in the program. For more than seven years, Teresa has counted on TAF assistance to continue getting her critical treatment.
“It’s such a load off of my mind,” Teresa said. “I am so grateful.”
Thanks to her treatment, Teresa’s condition is stable enough to let her dream about the future. It also means taking in every minute she can with her young grandchild, Roman, who recently turned three. Her grandson, Teresa said, helps her keep going.
“Rowan is like the light of our life,” she said.
Teresa is once again riding her motorcycle, now that it is specially equipped to charge her oxygen tank. She recently returned from a “glamping” cabin trip with her family, where she enjoyed the lakes and towns of Southern California.
“I’m just so grateful to be alive and to be able to be a part of his life,” Teresa said.
