Woman
I Went to Yoga With 15 Blood Clots in My Lungs and Didn’t Know It: Laura’s Story
What I thought was a regular day led to a nightmare. The Vacation My husband and I decided to go on vacation — a very short flight (1.5 hours) to Mexico. During the flight, I felt the chills that wouldn’t go away, even once we arrived at our destination. I had to stand in the…
They Told Me I Have Factor V Leiden 15 Years Ago, But Was Told Not to Worry: Karen’s Story
Live Your Life 15 years ago my mom had surgery for lung cancer. Two weeks later she had a clot in her leg and a PE. They found out she had Factor V Leiden. They told all 5 of her children to get checked. I was the only one and found out I have it…
Being So Young and Not Understanding How This Was Possible, It Was Difficult for Me to Process: Abigail’s Story
Don’t Let It Control Your World Two weeks after having fractured my fifth metatarsal in my foot, with a non-weight bearing treatment plan, I began to have a cramping sensation in my calf — pain and tightness that was so intense and persistent for hours. I first dismissed it earlier in the day as just…
I Thought It Was From Bad Air Quality — My Lung Was Filled With Clots: Shawna’s Story
Listen to Your Body During fire season in Southern California, I was experiencing shortness of breath that I attributed to bad air quality. It Got Worse As the week progressed it got worse and I began to feel pain in my back. By Friday, I felt a sharp stabbing pain in my back anytime I…
I Assumed It Was Normal Recovery Pain. It Was a Blood Clot in My Lung: Breighdun’s Story
Every Day Is a True Blessing On April 7, 2024, I experienced an aching pain in my side that I believed was a pulled muscle. A week earlier, I had undergone a hysterectomy — so I assumed the discomfort was part of the normal recovery process. My Aunt Recognized the Risk When I mentioned my…
“Don’t Wait or Gaslight Yourself. You Have One Life:” Alexus’s Story
Don’t Wait or Gaslight Yourself. You Have One Life. I had a pulmonary embolism in December 2025. It Started With a Fever A couple of days before, I was sick with a fever. My left leg started to hurt so bad — like a Charley horse. No matter what I did, nothing helped. Day Three…
“I Instinctively Knew Something Was Seriously Off. It Took Begging to Get the Diagnosis”: Jennifer’s Story
Turning My Mess Into a Message In 2004 I spent three and a half months — 112 days — in the hospital after being diagnosed with Autoimmune Protein S Deficiency, a rare, acquired form of Protein S deficiency in which the body’s immune system interferes with Protein S. It Started With Abdominal Pain Prior to…
After 8 Hours of Brain Surgery, a Blood Clot Almost Killed Me: Nicole’s Story
The Perfect Storm I was diagnosed with Long COVID in August 2025. In October 2025, I underwent an eight-hour surgery for Chiari Malformation — an experience that ultimately improved my quality of life. However, about a week and a half after returning home, I developed a pulmonary embolism in my right lung — something that…
“Would We Lose Our Baby?” — A DVT Diagnosis at 23 Weeks: Annie’s Story
I never thought a blood clot would be part of my story. I was a former Division I athlete, a college football executive, healthy, active, and someone who had always been accustomed to pushing through pain. August 2024 In August 2024, I was 23 weeks pregnant with our first son — the baby my husband…
“My God. I Could Have Died:” Cheryl’s Story
Listen to Your Body I’m 68 now. I’ve had asthma most of my life. It’s under control most of the time. February 2025 The first of February 2025, my breathing was not good. I thought it was my asthma. My nebulizer was doing nothing. I went to urgent care. They did a chest x-ray and…
