Injury
A Broken Ankle Became a Blood Clot That Changed My Life: Isabelle’s Story
8 months ago, my world stopped. What started as a simple ankle fracture turned into a deep vein thrombosis (DVT) — a blood clot that changed everything. From Running to Unable to Walk I went from running and training to being stuck in a boot, unable to walk, my leg swollen and heavy. The pain…
A Torn ACL Led to a Life-Threatening Pulmonary Embolism: Dawn’s Story
Luckily They Found The Clots in Time It all started back in 2024 when I injured my knee. I came to find out I had torn my ACL with my right knee. Not knowing that clots were forming in my leg and traveling, I had my MRI appointment. Something Was Wrong My heart was racing.…
I Insisted on Getting an Ultrasound Test — It Saved My Life: Wajahat’s Story
I am a 30-year-old active man. I was riding my bike at night. I had my lights lowered and there was a big machine sitting on the road. I ran into it and got a head injury which was immediately treated with stitches. The stitches came off after 11 days but soon after the accident,…
“I Never Expected a Blood Clot as a D1 Athlete:” Matthew’s Story
Around late February 2026, a few days after one of my collegiate rugby games, I started to feel a cramping feeling in my calf. I thought it was just cramping from the game or dehydration. I was having shortness of breath doing just basic things like walking up a flight of stairs. I went to…
Your Body Remembers How to Fight, and Your Spirit Knows How to Rise: Isabelle’s Story
Nine months ago, my world stopped. What started as a simple ankle fracture turned into a deep vein thrombosis (DVT) — a blood clot that changed everything. I went from running and training to being stuck in a boot, unable to walk, with my leg swollen and heavy. The pain was physical, but the fear…
My Risk Factors Created a Perfect Storm: Amelia’s Story
On December 15, 2022, I sprained my ankle and was checked at urgent care for a possible break. I was told that I had no break, but that I should not put any weight on my ankle for five days. After that, I was able to put some weight on the ankle, but I started…
I’m Not Taking My Life For Granted Anymore: Chelsea’s Story
I ran my first 5K in years the Sunday before all this happened. During the race, I injured my right knee. On Monday, I went to the doctor and was told to try rest, ice, compression, and elevation, and to use crutches for a few days. The first day on crutches wasn’t bad, but by…
Blood Clots Symptoms Mimic Other Things, So Be Careful: Hope’s Story
This May, I tore my calf muscle playing soccer. It was the same injury I had only three months earlier, so I thought I knew what to expect. Three days later, I had a massage and then left for Cuba that evening on a three-hour flight. My calf was sore and I had bought a…
I Learned to Love My Body Again: Andreea’s Story
Two weeks after a 68-mile bike ride, I couldn’t straighten my leg, and my veins bulged. “It’s just a bruise,” the ER doctor said, looking at my leg. He dismissed it the same way that the sports doctor and physical therapists did. But weeks later, my leg looked blue with spider veins. I sent a…
I Suddenly Felt Like My Leg Was Dying: Kailea’s Story
I was living in Arizona and going to school. I was in a very minor car accident where my knee hit the dashboard. It was bruised, and about two weeks later, I started feeling a painful cramp behind my knee, similar to a charley horse. When I told my primary care doctor, he ordered an…
