I never thought a blood clot would be part of my story.
I was a former Division I athlete, a college football executive, healthy, active, and someone who had always been accustomed to pushing through pain.
August 2024
In August 2024, I was 23 weeks pregnant with our first son — the baby my husband and I had waited eight years for.
My husband is a football coach at USC, and we were preparing for our first game of the season in Las Vegas against LSU.
Life felt incredibly full and exciting.
Then, something didn’t feel right.
Dismissed
I began experiencing pain in my left groin, shortness of breath, and swelling in my left leg.
I told my OB/GYN about my symptoms, but I was told it was pregnancy-related pain.
Because of the demands of my work environment, I was placed on bed rest.
But my symptoms continued to get worse.
Looking back, this is the part of my story that I wish I could change.
I wish I had known then what I know now.
I wish I had felt empowered to keep pushing for answers.
And most importantly, I wish my symptoms had been recognized for what they were.
I knew my body, and I knew that the pain, swelling, and shortness of breath I was experiencing felt different from normal pregnancy discomfort.
As someone who was young, healthy, athletic, and accustomed to pushing through pain, I questioned myself and wondered if I was simply being overly concerned.
Advocating for yourself isn’t being difficult or dramatic — it can be lifesaving.
The ER
My husband returned home from coaching a Big Ten opponent in the Midwest and found me in excruciating pain.
My left leg had swollen to nearly twice the size of my right.
He took me to the emergency room.
Almost immediately, the nurse recognized what was happening: this looked like a textbook blood clot.
The sonogram confirmed it.
The clot had grown from my calf all the way up to my abdomen and required immediate intervention.
We were transferred to UCLA, where an incredible interventional radiology team performed an emergency thrombectomy.
The Fear
Because I was pregnant, the procedure came with its own challenges.
I could not receive the anesthesia I otherwise would have — making an already terrifying experience incredibly painful.
And through all of it, there was one thought that consumed me:
Would we lose our baby?
This was the baby we had prayed for and waited eight years to meet.
Six Weeks
For the next six weeks, I was essentially wheelchair-bound.
I spent countless hours in bed, often in excruciating pain, terrified for my health and terrified for my baby.
The Diagnosis
Eventually, we learned that I had Factor V Leiden and May-Thurner Syndrome — a combination that significantly increased my risk for blood clots, particularly during pregnancy.
I was diagnosed with Factor V Leiden, along with May-Thurner Syndrome, after my blood clot during pregnancy.
My entire family has since been tested — and we now know my father also carries the gene.
Our Son
Our story could have ended very differently.
Thankfully, it didn’t.
Our son was born healthy.
And today, I am incredibly grateful to be his mom.
But I also can’t stop thinking about what could have happened if my husband hadn’t come home when he did.
What if we had waited another day?
What if that nurse hadn’t recognized the symptoms?
What if we hadn’t advocated for ourselves?
What This Changed in Me
My experience has changed my life in many ways.
Before my blood clot, I considered myself extremely healthy and active, and I never thought I was someone who needed to worry about blood clots.
Now, I am much more aware of my personal risk factors and the situations that can increase my risk.
I am currently on Lovenox and am intentional about preventative measures, especially during pregnancy, travel, periods of immobility, or other high-risk situations.
It has also changed the way I advocate for myself medically.
I no longer hesitate to ask questions or seek another opinion when something doesn’t feel right.
Most importantly, it has given me a passion for educating other women — especially pregnant women — about recognizing the signs and symptoms of blood clots and understanding their individual risk factors.
What I’ve Learned
I have learned that blood clots can happen to anyone, including people who are young, healthy, active, and have no previous history of clotting.
I have also learned how important it is to recognize the warning signs and advocate for yourself.
Looking back, I had several symptoms that should have prompted further evaluation, including significant swelling in one leg, pain in my groin, and shortness of breath.
I learned that being an athlete and having a high pain tolerance doesn’t make you immune to serious medical conditions.
Sometimes the symptoms that seem like something minor can be a warning sign of something much more serious.
Most importantly, I learned that you know your body better than anyone.
If something doesn’t feel right, it is okay — and incredibly important — to keep asking questions until you get answers.
The education and resources provided by the National Blood Clot Alliance have been incredibly meaningful to me, particularly because I wish I had had access to this information before my blood clot.
I am passionate about using my story to raise awareness and hopefully help another person recognize a clot sooner than I did.
Why I’m Sharing This
That is why I am sharing my story.
Not to place blame. But to create awareness.
Because I was the patient who didn’t know what she didn’t know.
I trusted that my symptoms were simply part of pregnancy.
I trusted that someone else would recognize when something was wrong.
And because I had always been healthy, athletic, and accustomed to pain, I didn’t realize just how dangerous those symptoms could be.
Looking Forward
Today, I am on Lovenox and much more aware of my individual clotting risks.
I know what symptoms to watch for, what preventive measures I can take, and what questions I need to ask when I enter a high-risk situation.
And now, as I prepare to welcome our second baby, I carry that knowledge with me.
I am incredibly grateful to the medical team and our football family that stepped in and cared for our family when we needed them most.
I am grateful for the grace God gave us through the darkest moments.
And I am endlessly grateful that I get to raise the beautiful, healthy little boy we fought so hard to protect.
My greatest hope in sharing this story is that someone else will recognize the warning signs sooner.
That another mother will trust her instincts.
That another patient will feel empowered to advocate for herself.
And that another family will get the chance to experience the happy ending that we were so blessed to receive.
If sharing my story helps even one person recognize a blood clot before it becomes life-threatening, then every difficult part of telling it is worth it.
What I Want Others to Know
Education can change outcomes.
Recognition can change outcomes.
Listening to patients can change outcomes.
And sometimes, early intervention can mean the difference between a terrifying chapter and a tragedy.
Listen to your body. Advocate for yourself. And don’t assume that because you’re young, healthy, or active, a blood clot can’t happen to you.
If you experience symptoms such as unexplained swelling or pain in one leg, shortness of breath, or other concerning changes — don’t ignore them.
Ask questions and make sure your concerns are taken seriously.
Learn your individual risk factors before you find yourself in a high-risk situation.
Pregnancy, surgery, prolonged immobility, travel, certain medical conditions, and inherited clotting disorders can all affect your risk.
You are your own best advocate.
If something doesn’t feel right, speak up.
Keep asking questions.
And don’t be afraid to get a second opinion.
We have to keep educating.
We have to keep listening.
And we have to Stop the Clot.
