Every Breath Is a Gift
It started with a shortness of breath I couldn’t explain.
At 39, you expect to be tired — but you don’t expect your lungs to fail you.
There was no injury, no long flight, and no history of blood clots.
It was “unprovoked” — the medical term for a nightmare that comes out of nowhere.
My Doctor Said Asthma
My regular doctor told me he thought I had asthma.
After going into his office multiple times, instead of doing a CT scan, he kept piling on the inhalers.
I kept going back. Something was wrong and I knew it.
At the hospital, the same kind of treatment initially followed — instead of immediately wanting to do a CT scan, I was almost sent home.
I advocated for myself. That decision saved my life.
The Numbers Told the Story
When the CT scan was finally done, the numbers told the story before the doctors did.
A normal D-Dimer test result is typically below 500.
Mine was over 3,000.
The scans confirmed the worst: four pulmonary emboli, including a saddle pulmonary embolism, and clots in both lungs.
I wasn’t just sick.
I was in a life-or-death crisis.
The Thrombectomy
I spent over a week in the hospital, but the most pivotal moment was the thrombectomy.
Watching a surgical team work to physically remove the clots from your body is a surreal experience.
It’s the moment you realize how fragile life is — and how incredible the science is that keeps us here.
That procedure didn’t just clear my lungs.
It gave me back my future, and it got me back home to my family.
Life After
Since coming home, my diet and exercise have changed drastically.
I now walk at least 5,000 steps a day and am on a sugar free diet.
I’ve learned that advocating for myself is key to receiving help.
I will also be undergoing testing for clotting disorders.
What Recovery Taught Me
Recovery isn’t just about the physical healing. It’s about processing the “why.”
Being 39 and surviving a major cardiovascular event changes your perspective.
- Advocating for yourself is vital. If I hadn’t gone in for that shortness of breath, and been steadfast that something was wrong, I wouldn’t be writing this.
- “Unprovoked” means always being vigilant. Without a clear cause, the mystery is part of the journey.
- Every breath is a gift. After a week in a hospital bed, you never take a deep breath for granted again.
What I Want Others to Know
Know the signs and symptoms.
You know your body best.
If it doesn’t feel right, speak up.
