Patient Stories
That Instinct Ultimately Saved My Life: Lauren’s Story
That Instinct Ultimately Saved My Life A few days after my 29th birthday in April 2026, I experienced calf pain that felt like a pulled muscle. I was otherwise fit, healthy and active. Something Felt Wrong My gut told me there was something seriously wrong despite the lack of symptoms. That instinct ultimately saved my…
I Went to Yoga With 15 Blood Clots in My Lungs and Didn’t Know It: Laura’s Story
What I thought was a regular day led to a nightmare. The Vacation My husband and I decided to go on vacation — a very short flight (1.5 hours) to Mexico. During the flight, I felt the chills that wouldn’t go away, even once we arrived at our destination. I had to stand in the…
They Told Me I Have Factor V Leiden 15 Years Ago, But Was Told Not to Worry: Karen’s Story
Live Your Life 15 years ago my mom had surgery for lung cancer. Two weeks later she had a clot in her leg and a PE. They found out she had Factor V Leiden. They told all 5 of her children to get checked. I was the only one and found out I have it…
Being So Young and Not Understanding How This Was Possible, It Was Difficult for Me to Process: Abigail’s Story
Don’t Let It Control Your World Two weeks after having fractured my fifth metatarsal in my foot, with a non-weight bearing treatment plan, I began to have a cramping sensation in my calf — pain and tightness that was so intense and persistent for hours. I first dismissed it earlier in the day as just…
I Thought It Was From Bad Air Quality — My Lung Was Filled With Clots: Shawna’s Story
Listen to Your Body During fire season in Southern California, I was experiencing shortness of breath that I attributed to bad air quality. It Got Worse As the week progressed it got worse and I began to feel pain in my back. By Friday, I felt a sharp stabbing pain in my back anytime I…
I Assumed It Was Normal Recovery Pain. It Was a Blood Clot in My Lung: Breighdun’s Story
Every Day Is a True Blessing On April 7, 2024, I experienced an aching pain in my side that I believed was a pulled muscle. A week earlier, I had undergone a hysterectomy — so I assumed the discomfort was part of the normal recovery process. My Aunt Recognized the Risk When I mentioned my…
“Don’t Wait or Gaslight Yourself. You Have One Life:” Alexus’s Story
Don’t Wait or Gaslight Yourself. You Have One Life. I had a pulmonary embolism in December 2025. It Started With a Fever A couple of days before, I was sick with a fever. My left leg started to hurt so bad — like a Charley horse. No matter what I did, nothing helped. Day Three…
“I Instinctively Knew Something Was Seriously Off. It Took Begging to Get the Diagnosis”: Jennifer’s Story
Turning My Mess Into a Message In 2004 I spent three and a half months — 112 days — in the hospital after being diagnosed with Autoimmune Protein S Deficiency, a rare, acquired form of Protein S deficiency in which the body’s immune system interferes with Protein S. It Started With Abdominal Pain Prior to…
After 8 Hours of Brain Surgery, a Blood Clot Almost Killed Me: Nicole’s Story
The Perfect Storm I was diagnosed with Long COVID in August 2025. In October 2025, I underwent an eight-hour surgery for Chiari Malformation — an experience that ultimately improved my quality of life. However, about a week and a half after returning home, I developed a pulmonary embolism in my right lung — something that…
A Dull Pain on a Flight Home That Almost Cost Me Everything: Caden’s Story
My Experience with a Pulmonary Embolism I’m 23, a college athlete, and I’ve always considered myself healthy and strong. I play baseball and was finishing up my senior year — just about a month and a half from graduation. I never imagined that something like this could happen to me. It Started on a Flight…
