PE
Blood Clots are Invisible, But We Are Not: Maarib’s Story
I had my first pulmonary embolism in 2021 and my second PE along with deep vein thrombosis in 2025. The first time around, I experienced sudden chest tightness, shortness of breath, and coughing up blood. The second time, I had woken up to severe calf pain. Both times, my symptoms were constantly invalidated by doctors…
Everyone Was Drawn to her Positivity: Angela and Mallery’s Story
As told by Angela’s daughter, Mallery. My mom passed unexpectedly in September 2024. She had been sick for a few days and finally decided to go to the ER. They did scans and found massive blood clots in her lungs. They were about to med-flight her when she passed away within 1.5 hours of arriving…
Everything Can Change in the Blink of an Eye: Courtney’s Story
On September 30, 2023, I was driving up a mountain to a fall festival near my home in West Virginia with my husband and parents when I began having difficulty breathing, and my heart started racing. By the time we stopped, I could not breathe deep enough and almost passed out. I had to sit…
Listening to Your Body Could Save Your Life: Kamisha’s Story
I’ve been living with DVTs and PEs since the age of 15 when my calf pain was misdiagnosed as arthritis. I’ve never taken birth control and, to my knowledge, there is no family history of clotting disorders. I’m now 46, and honestly, I’ve lost count of how many blood clots I’ve had—including a saddle PE.…
I Had to Learn to Trust That the Medication is Working: Kacey’s Story
I took oral birth control starting at age 18 until 33, when I got pregnant. I delivered twin boys by C- section in May 2024 and resumed taking the same birth control shortly after. In September 2024, I noticed my left leg was swollen and began turning a dark red/purple color. I went to the hospital…
Leg Pain Was Mistaken For an Injury: Karlie and Celina’s Story
As told by Karlie’s mother, Celina. Last June, my 17-year-old daughter Karlie mentioned pain in her left leg. She was a dancer, and dancers always have pain: a pulled muscle, a pinched nerve, or sciatica. The pain increased and moved into her groin area. We treated it as the internet said: heat, ice, and elevate.…
I Waited Until the Pain Was Unbearable: Taylor’s Story
It started on a Tuesday with mild lower back pain. I assumed that I’d strained something somehow. By Wednesday, the pain was slightly worse, and I felt weak, short of breath, and dizzy when standing—something definitely wasn’t right. By Friday, the pain spread to my left groin and down my left thigh. I convinced myself…
This Made Me a Better Person Because I Value My Life: Julia’s Story
I had suffered with a sore knee for quite some time and eventually ended up needing keyhole surgery on it. I was on the combined pill at the time and was not told of any clotting risk factors before my surgery. The operation was successful, and I went home with crutches, thinking that my knee…
Fight For Yourself Until You Get an Answer That Makes Sense: Kristina’s Story
My story began in late 2018. I was on oral birth control for a few weeks in October 2018 and stopped as it caused mental health symptoms. A short time later, I experienced sudden increases in heart rate every time I got up to move, and progressed to sudden shortness of breath and a feeling…
Her Life Was Just Beginning, Then It Ended: Faith and Heather’s Story
As told by her sister, Heather. I experienced a blood clot. I survived. My sister didn’t. Around Thanksgiving of 2020, my 18-year-old sister Faith began complaining of chest pain and shortness of breath, and then she passed out at work. Over the next three days, my parents took her to the doctor three times, where…
