Family history
I’m Hyper-Vigilant Regarding My Body: Alison’s Story
On January 13, 2025, I was diagnosed with an unprovoked pulmonary embolism lodged in the main artery on the right side of my lung, blocking and restricting blood flow. I also have right-sided heart strain due to the clot. Just before Christmas, my right leg behind my knee became swollen and extremely painful. I have…
He Spread Kindness Everywhere He Went: Finley and Veronica’s Story
As told by Finley’s mother, Veronica Finley had been diagnosed with factor V Leiden homozygous in May 2023. I asked for him to be tested due to family history. No one explained his diagnosis to us, nor was it given any credence when brought up at doctor appointments. In June of 2024, in the height…
Continued Shortness of Breath Two Years After My PE: Shara’s Story
On New Years Day 2023, right as I was getting ready for bed, I started experiencing what felt like a strained muscle in the middle of the right side of my back. I briefly mentioned it to my partner as we were going to sleep but I didn’t think much of it until the next…
I Suspected a Clot, But I Was Told It Was a Pulled Muscle: Paula’s Story
I went to the emergency room last year over what I thought was a blood clot in my leg. My D-dimer was elevated, but they still told me it was a pulled muscle and sent me home. So when I woke up in June 2024 and had the same pain in the same leg, I…
Misdiagnosed With a Pulled Muscle: Dominique and Michelle’s Story
As told by her mother, Michelle Dominque, known to her friends and family as “Meeka,” loved the Maine outdoors and spent as much time as possible at camp on Moosehead Lake. Growing up, she enjoyed playing soccer, basketball, and softball. Meeka was a member of the Windsor Historical Society and volunteered at the Windsor Fair…
I Don’t Believe They Ever Knew in the ER That He Had a Blood Clot: Mike’s Story
As told by his wife Mendy My husband Mike was a healthy, active 50-year-old who suddenly passed on December 19, 2024, due to an unprovoked pulmonary embolism. His autopsy listed a saddle and bilateral main and right and left pulmonary thromboembolism, with complete 100% occlusions within the main right and left pulmonary arteries. The night…
My Symptoms Were Dismissed: Sophee’s Story
In April 2020, at the peak of COVID, I started experiencing pain in my lower back. During a walk with friends, a sharp pain would shoot down my right leg with every step. I tried to ignore the pain and continued the walk. Later that evening, my leg started to swell, and the pain got…
I Keep Worrying That It Will Happen Again: Michael’s Story
One day at work, I suspected that I had malaria. I went to the hospital and had a rapid test done, and the results showed that I was negative. But I went ahead and started taking malaria drugs for three days because I was feeling terrible. I sought treatment again, but at a different hospital,…
Stay Positive and Keep Pushing Through This: Elizabeth’s Story
I fully tore my ACL and partially tore my MCL and meniscus in March of 2024 playing volleyball. I first started developing blood clots in mid-April 2024 before my knee surgery. I started feeling nauseas, but ignored it, thinking it was from my menstrual cycle. The signs started coming one after the other: purple discoloration…
I Was Blown Away By the PTSD I Felt: Donna’s Story
On Christmas Eve 2023, I slipped on ice and broke my kneecap. I spent eight weeks in a splint and kept my leg elevated. Two weeks later, I experienced shortness of breath and chest pain suddenly. I went to the ER and was diagnosed with a submassive bilateral PE with right heart strain. I spent…
