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 control, I asked her pediatrician about the risks of blood clots. I don’t know why, I just have always heard it can cause them.
The doctor laughed, made a light hearted joke and said, “Yeah, if you’re over 35 or a smoker. Mara, you don’t smoke do you? Nah? I think we’re good here, Mom.”
After waiting for what felt like an eternity, her autopsy results came back six months later to reveal that her death was caused by a combination of taking birth control and having an underlying blood clotting disorder known as factor V Leiden.
Unaware of Mara’s genetic predisposition, we had no reason to suspect a life-threatening risk would occur from taking the birth control pill.
I was tested for factor V Leiden and so was my other daughter. We are both negative.
Amara’s untimely death was a profound loss, not only for our family but to everyone who knew her. A loss like this highlights what in my opinion is a significant gap in our healthcare system: there is an absence of mandatory screening for genetic clotting disorders before prescribing medications known to increase clotting risks. This gap left Amara vulnerable and continues to leave many others susceptible to preventable tragedies.
I’m very passionate about advocating for change. I aim to honor Amara’s memory through advocacy by turning the painful parts of my grief into powerful forces that get positive results toward change! I know that with the right people, the right policies and practices in place, countless lives can and will be saved.
I strongly believe that mandatory blood clotting disorder screenings should be implemented, especially before prescribing medications with known clotting risks to minors and adolescents. By raising awareness and pushing for proactive testing, we can work to bring change and prevent other families from experiencing the same heartache and loss!
