For several months, I had been dealing with high blood pressure, but otherwise felt mostly okay. One morning, I woke up early as usual and started doing chores around the house. After emptying the dishwasher, I felt unusually tired.
My daughter noticed I was struggling and had me sit down. That’s when I realized how short of breath I really was. She immediately called 9-1-1.
At our local hospital, the doctor ordered a CT scan with contrast. After reviewing it, he told me that I was lucky to be alive. I was diagnosed with a massive saddle pulmonary embolism.
Because we live in a rural area, I had to be life-flighted to another hospital in our state for treatment. That night, doctors performed a thrombectomy through my groin. After surgery, I was moved from the ICU to a step-down unit and eventually fell asleep.
Later that night, I woke up surrounded by more than 10 people asking rapid-fire questions: my name, where I was, why I was there. I was terrified. I later learned that a code blue had been called — I had nearly died a second time.
This all happened on September 1, 2025. I am now 71 years old. I remain very tired, though I also live with chronic pain from a spinal fusion several years ago that did not heal well.
I am grateful for each day I have. I believe God was not ready for me to go yet, but I am at peace, whenever that time may come. What still surprises me most is that I had no warning signs. No leg pain, no swelling, no cramps. It just happened suddenly and without warning.
