In October 2023, I was 25 years old and in the final stretch of training for the NYC Marathon. I was a Division I athlete in college and have been active and healthy for my entire life, and I was excited to run the marathon while raising money for lung cancer research.
Three weeks before the race, I came down with what I thought was a stomach bug, but I became increasingly sick to the point where I couldn’t eat, drink, or sleep due to pain and discomfort.
A CT scan revealed a number of blood clots in my lungs and near my liver, with doctors saying they had never seen anyone as young as I was with that many clots. I was taken in for emergency surgery a few days later, which ultimately led to a seven-week stay in the ICU, where I had multiple other complex surgeries related to both the blood clots and resulting complications.
After a final emergency surgery where doctors removed four feet of my small intestine, I was told that I was lucky to be alive. I was finally released from the hospital in December 2023, and I’m extremely grateful for the life-saving care I received from the doctors and nurses during that time period.
The road to recovery has been long, with a number of setbacks along the way. The first few months after I was released, I was focused on regaining the strength that I had lost and slowly transitioning back to a normal schedule.
Since then, I’ve been taking a blood thinner and have had to be more aware of how I’m feeling on a daily basis. I’ve had a few follow-up surgeries and hospital stays since I was released, but I’m feeling better and have focused on making small improvements every day.
Unfortunately, doctors have not been able to provide a diagnosis or any reason why these clots developed. While discouraging, I likely survived the ordeal because I was active and led a healthy lifestyle. I’m looking forward to continuing my recovery and educating others on the dangers of blood clots, even for those who don’t believe they’re immediately at risk.
I’ve learned that there isn’t a single factor that can lead to blood clots, and in some instances, they can occur without any pre-existing conditions. It’s been important to focus on things that I can control – staying hydrated, being active, and staying positive even though I’ve had setbacks.
Even if you don’t think you’re at risk for blood clots, they can impact anyone. It’s also important to be grateful for your health while you have it, you never know when your life can change suddenly for the worse.
Resources
Athletes and Blood Clots
PEP Talk: Unpacking the Male Blood Clot Experience
How is a PE Diagnosed?
