Unprovoked
Take Care of Yourself: Kara’s Story
November 2 is a day that will forever haunt me. The previous day I got up from my work desk and was extremely lightheaded. It was almost as if I couldn’t walk, I was so dizzy. I grabbed a snack thinking maybe my blood sugar was low, but it didn’t help. I chalked it up…
You’re Not Too Young: Amy’s Story
Everything started when I was 16 years old, which was six years ago. I couldn’t breathe, and even while walking a few steps, I was out of breath. I was taken to the hospital for what they thought was a chest infection. They did not think it was blood clots because I was so young.…
The Death of Prince Helped to Save My Life: Michele’s Story
One spring morning in 2016, I woke up from a long, deep sleep in my California apartment. I turned on the morning Los Angeles news and saw that the musician Prince had died. I also simultaneously realized, in that moment, that I could not feel my toes in my right foot. I had been limping…
Making a Full Recovery: Paul’s Story
One year ago, I was diagnosed with a massive blood clot in my lung. It occurred when I was away for the long Martin Luther King Jr. weekend on a ski trip in New York. Early that weekend, on a Saturday, I had a minor fall getting off of the lifts. I injured both of…
Caught Off Guard: Olanna’s Story
March 2015 was the start of a health journey that would impact the rest of my life. Earlier that month, I was experiencing a slight, nagging pain in the back of my calf. After a few weeks of dealing with the symptoms, I made an appointment with my primary care doctor. Later that afternoon, I…
Knowing Blood Clot Signs & Symptoms Makes A Difference: Sylvia’s Story
In May 2015, I was wrapping up a day at work. I was short of breath and coughing badly. I told my husband to take me to the emergency room (ER) because I had been dealing with it for a week, and I was running out of my asthma medication. I went to the ER…
I Survived PE at Age 70-Something: Joan’s Story
This photo was taken before I went to the ER, but I was already having shortness of breath upon exertion. That was my only symptom. I saw so many doctors and had three CT scans without dye and nothing was found on my lungs. One week in March 2015, my breathing got worse and one…
One in A Million: Kyle’s Story, as Told by his Mom, Stacy
I am sharing my son Kyle’s story for two reasons: To bring awareness to how children are affected by blood clots and in hope of finding others who may suffer from similar conditions. In August of 2010, my son was eight years old, healthy, and extremely active, playing baseball, football and hockey. That summer he had…
I Don’t Know Why This Happened: Sydney’s Story
My life changed drastically on November 15, 2012. I was diagnosed with an Acute Pulmonary Embolism (blood clot in the lung) in my right lung. I remember the day before. I was walking from my college class to my car and running out of breath. This was unusual for me because I was always…
In Memory of Jamie Lee Gravley: His Blood Clot Story
My name is Melanie Gravley, and I am 23. This story is about my husband, Jamie Lee, who lost his life due to a pulmonary embolism (PE) in June 2012 at age 22. We were together since June 20, 2007, married on Sept 3, 2010, and welcomed a son on May 20, 2011. We…
