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Patient Stories

Never Let Embarrassment Stop You From Getting Help: Briar’s Story

I am a healthy 23-year-old woman and had never experienced any real health concerns. I walk the same route every morning to work, but on this particular morning, I was out of breath almost instantly. When I sat at my desk, I was still unable to catch my breath. It felt like the air was…

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I Just Dealt With the Pain and Swelling: LaVon’s Story

After leaving the gym in 2017, I experienced the worst pain imaginable in my right leg without having an injury. I thought maybe the pain would leave after icing and elevating it. But, as the day went on, the pain and swelling worsened to the point I couldn’t stand or walk on it. I went…

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I’m Grateful For My Team of Doctors and My Dog Kiko for Saving My Life: Esmaralda’s Story

I had my first DVT and PE almost five years ago at 21 years old. My leg was hurting, but I kept ignoring it. When my dog Kiko started sniffing my leg and whining, I felt that something was wrong because that was unusual behavior for him. I went to urgent care, and they sent…

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Honoring My Daughter’s Memory Through Advocacy: Amara and Megan’s Story

As told by Amara’s mother, Megan. My story is about my daughter Amara. She was a vibrant, free-spirited 14-year-old artist full of aspirations. Her life was tragically cut short on January 9, 2020 by a pulmonary embolism just three weeks after she was prescribed birth control pills to control her acne. When Amara was prescribed birth…

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Blood Clot Survivors Can Do Anything: Charles’ Story

In the summer of 2012, I was training hard, running, lifting weights, and eating clean. My goal was to be in my best shape for my best friend’s bachelor party in Las Vegas on Labor Day Weekend. My wife and I also took a trip to Europe. I was running along cobblestone streets and swimming.…

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Trust Your Instincts and Advocate For Your Loved Ones: Christian and Leah’s Story

On January 19, 2024, I received a call from my 13-year-old son, Christian. He was struggling to breathe. He’d been unwell for weeks, starting with an unknown virus that had progressed to pneumonia. Just the day before, he was diagnosed and treated in an ER. We took him back, assuming his breathing issues were a…

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My Pain Was Ignored For Almost a Year: Caitlin’s Story

I was diagnosed with my clot in February 2022 after a period of immobility recovering from a torn hamstring. I was unaware of any underlying health conditions, and the blood clot was seemingly out of nowhere. The medical professionals where I was living at the time placed me on blood thinners and left me to…

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I Took Estrogen-Based Birth Control For More Than 20 Years: Megan’s Story

I am a healthy 44-year-old mom, wife, and professional who has never had any health issues. But 2024 was an extremely busy year, and I was having a lot of stress and anxiety. In October, I started experiencing some minor pain in my shoulder. Within a few days, the pain had moved into my side…

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Another Minute of Waiting Could Have Killed Me: Paige’s Story

A week before everything took a drastic turn, I had fallen and broken my foot. I was placed in a boot and told to rest. A few days later, I noticed the back of my knee hurting. Not just a regular ache, but one that felt like a cramp and the pain meds didn’t touch…

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I Was Described as Neurotic: Caroline’s Story

In April 2022 here in New Zealand, my first pulmonary embolism was detected by chance. I mentioned a fluttery heart while having a routine flu vaccine. This prompted the nurse to check, and she discovered an irregular rhythm. The doctor then ordered a few tests, including a D-dimer. By that night I was in the…

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