PE
Nurses Say I’m a Miracle: Marcus’ Story
I am a 39-year-old Native American. I have had 23 pulmonary emboli (PE) and 31 incidents of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) starting at age 22, caused by the factor V Leiden mutation. I also have congenital protein C and S deficiencies. Nurses say I’m a miracle and call me a medical anomaly. Doctors ask…
Be Careful of What You Put Inside Your Body: Ioana’s Story
I was diagnosed with a massive bilateral pulmonary embolism (PE) on November 5, 2021, three weeks after my 23rd birthday. Everything started as a pain in my calf. The funny thing is that the pain began mid-workout, making me believe it was a pulled muscle. After a few days, the pain started to travel upwards…
The Symptoms May Be Subtle: Bill’s Story
Everything felt normal, but I was left gasping after walking up a hill carrying a bucket of water. Something was wrong. I was subtly winded after golfing and climbing stairs, but I paid no attention. I thought it could be allergies. The next day, walking up that same hill with the bucket, I was out…
I Had Clots in My Lungs the Size of Baseballs: Demetrius’ Story
I was first diagnosed with pulmonary emboli (PE), or blood clots in my lungs, on October 23, 2017. Doctors told me it was a miracle that I did not go into cardiac arrest and die because the clots in both lungs were the size of baseballs. I was rushed into emergency surgery to remove the…
Know the Risks of Estrogen-Based Birth Control: Melissa’s Story
After giving birth to my daughter by emergency c-section due to preeclampsia, I started to feel very ill. My right leg was throbbing and my chest hurt. I followed up with the doctor on this, and a quick scan showed blood clots in my leg (deep vein thrombosis) and my chest (pulmonary embolism). I was…
Awareness Saves Lives: Patrick & Meredith’s Story
In 2020, my daughter, Meredith (Mer for short), complained that she was having difficulty breathing. My wife and I dismissed it as perhaps a sinus condition or allergies. The next morning, Mer called us from school telling us she had passed out. She was rushed to the hospital where the physicians asked if she was…
This Completely Changed the Way I Regard My Health: Chelsey’s Story
My name is Chelsey. I am 31 and have no prior health issues. On October 26, 2022, I went downstairs to my basement and felt a heaviness in my chest. I reached the bottom step and I felt like I had just run a marathon. I tried to sit down, but the next thing I…
It Could Have Been Prevented: Andrea’s Story
On November 7, 2020, I received a phone call from my stepson Conner. I could tell by the fear in his voice that something was terribly wrong. I remember his exact words, “Dad is conscious, but you need to meet us at the hospital now! Dad is in an ambulance they’re taking him to the…
My PE Stemmed From an Accident: Terry’s Story
My story begins in May 2019 when I was paying for gas inside a kiosk and a car crashed through the window, barreling into me and nearly running me over. Months later in December, I had a surgery to repair a torn labrum in the hip. Ten days later, on January 5, 2020, I nearly…
A Nagging Cough and Shoulder Pain Were My First Symptoms: Mike’s Story
I had a nagging cough for a few days, which later became shoulder pain on Friday, March 18, 2022. I went to a local urgent care center to get checked, and the X-ray showed that I possibly had pneumonia. Despite antibiotics, my condition worsened over the weekend. By Tuesday, March 22, I had shortness of…
