PE
Paramedics Assumed It Was Anxiety: Christina’s Story
As told by her mother, Darla My daughter, Christina, suffered a broken foot on January 6, 2015, just two weeks after her 30th birthday. The podiatrist put her in a walking boot and gave no restrictions. Christina then developed calf pain and went to the ER on January 10, 2015. The ER sent her home…
Do Not Ignore Anything, Even if You Feel Like it’s Nothing: Eilidh’s Story
A few days before my collapse, I felt a little out of breath when moving around. However, I had just got back from travelling around Thailand and I also had a sore throat, so I assumed I was just a little run down. I was wrong. On March 22, 2023, I walked down the stairs…
I Developed Two More PEs While Hospitalized: Sarah’s Story
I took poorly at the end of March 2018 with what I thought was a chest infection. I was prescribed antibiotics, but I was gradually getting worse. The doctor then started me on treatment for pneumonia. I was still feeling very poorly, though, and when I coughed up blood, I went to A&E (emergency room…
It’s Better to be Safe Than Sorry: Kyarra’s Story
As told by her mother Star My beautiful daughter knew she wanted to be a mom when she was in kindergarten. In May 2022, when she 23 years old, she gave birth to her daughter. Due to some medical issues, she had she ended up having an unplanned C-section. Three weeks to the day of…
Recognize the Signs of a Blood Clot: Othello’s Story
As told by his wife Tonia. On July 20, 2017, my husband Othello died from two big blood clots in both lungs (pulmonary emboli). We went to the hospital thinking he had developed adult asthma because his oxygen was lower and he had shortness of breath. The doctor advised that Othello would have to be…
My Mental Health Has Suffered More Than My Physical Health: Denise’s Story
In May of 2019, I began experiencing a dry cough. It continued to progress to the point where I could no longer hold a conversation without coughing every four words or so. I went to a family doctor who brushed it off as adult-onset asthma and allergies, gave me a chest X-ray, and sent me…
She Had No Known Risk Factors: Shelby’s Story
As told by her mother, Noelle. My daughter passed at age 27 from a saddle pulmonary embolism on February 28, 2024. She stayed home from work with a headache. She got up after a nap, came downstairs and passed out. She came to and was clammy and sweaty. She said she was fine but we…
The Staff Was Unable to Restart His Heart: Joel’s Story
As told by his brother, Brandon. My brother Joel was sick with the flu for a couple of days at Marietta College where he was a freshman linebacker on the football team and a petroleum engineering major. He woke up one morning and told my mother by phone he was having difficulty breathing. No one…
Blood Clots Kicked Me When I Was Already Down: James’ Story
I woke up one morning in the summer of 2011 with nausea and pain in the left side of my torso/abdomen. At first, I wrote it off as a stomach bug and called in sick at work. After a couple of days, I was feeling worse so went to an urgent care clinic. The doctor…
My PE Triggered a Seismic Shift in My Lifestyle: Wendy’s Story
In Paris, during my second night, searing pain tore through my right lung. I hurried to the hospital and straight into the ICU. Reality hit hard. Blood clots besieged my lungs, diagnosed as a pulmonary embolism (PE), stemming from a larger clot in my left calf—deep vein thrombosis (DVT). The cause? Not a mere muscle…