I experienced death because of my pulmonary embolism.
On March 17, 2025, just one hour after my C-section, I suffered a pulmonary embolism. I had been completely fine. Then, all of a sudden, I felt very cold — freezing. I started shivering so badly that my teeth wouldn’t stop chattering, and my mouth began to hurt. I told my nurse I was cold, and she kindly brought me a heated blanket. But it didn’t help. The shivering continued. I didn’t realize my body was going into shock.
I looked up at my husband, and he told me I was losing a lot of blood. The nurse called for the doctor. The bleeding wouldn’t stop. I began to feel weak — overwhelmingly tired and sleepy. I remember turning onto my right side to lie down, thinking I was just going to rest.
Instead, the worst happened. My heart flatlined. I had a seizure and died shortly after.
Doctors rushed in and brought me back to life. Within seconds of waking up, I was given four liters of blood. A chest scan revealed two blood clots in each lung. I was immediately placed on blood thinners and underwent surgery to have a filter placed inside my body to help prevent additional clots from reaching my lungs.
Afterward, I had to regain my strength and prove I could walk steadily before I could be discharged. Two weeks later, I was finally able to return home.
I am blessed to have been given a second chance at life. I know I’m not alone. Today, I proudly call myself a warrior — a survivor of pulmonary embolism.
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