As told by her mother Nicole.
Our daughter Madison started high school on August 12, 2024, and was excited for the next chapter of her life. Two weeks later, she was in the pediatric intensive care unit with a massive blood clot that stretched from her abdomen down to her ankle.
Her initial symptoms were sudden: extreme pain/swelling/discoloration of her entire left leg that developed within hours.
After an ultrasound in the ER, she was diagnosed with a DVT and transferred to pediatric intensive care, where she was released on enoxaparin three days later. Her coloration was normal, but she still had swelling.
Over the next two weeks, despite being on enoxaparin, her pain became significantly worse. We returned to the hospital, where she received a CT scan, which showed what the ultrasound had missed: a massive blood clot blocking the iliac vein. She was diagnosed with May-Thurner syndrome, a condition where the right iliac artery compresses the left iliac vein, increasing the risk of blood clots in the left leg.
Despite excellent care in the PICU at our local hospital in Louisiana, her team of physicians had done all they could and referred Madison to a bigger hospital in Texas. A cardio thoracic medical transport plane flew to Louisiana and picked us up in the middle of a hurricane.
Madison spent time in the PICU stabilizing and getting many additional tests before undergoing a successful surgery that removed her clots. She remained in Texas for a little while before returning safely home to Louisiana.
We have much respect now for the blood clot community of survivors after this traumatic experience. Madison’s story would have ended entirely differently if it had not been for the devoted physicians who treated her.
She returned to a fully functioning teenager a few months later and has adapted well to living what she happily calls “the blood thinner life” to manage her MTS.
Madison is a carefree, beautiful girl who loves music, art, books, and has a big heart for animals. We did not realize the depths of her resilience until we watched her trek through this treacherous journey at a young age with such grace and dignity. In the midst of debilitating fear, our child handled her diagnosis and treatment with a strength that rivals adults. It’s a vast testament to her character.
My advice to others is to listen to your inner voice about your child. No one knows your child better than you. We knew something was wrong, and if we hadn’t sought help when we did, Madison may not be here today.
