PE
At 3:00 a.m., I Woke Up in Terror: Meredith’s Story
My Scan Lit Up Like a Christmas Tree We had just come home from watching my husband coach basketball — a completely ordinary night. Nothing felt significant. 3:00 a.m. At 3:00 a.m., I woke up in terror. I couldn’t move. I could barely speak. Every breath sent a stabbing pain through the back left side…
I Had No Chest Pain — and Three Pulmonary Embolisms: Tammie’s Story
Just Because You Don’t Check the Boxes Doesn’t Mean You Don’t Have a PE In October 2020, I survived 3 pulmonary embolisms. It Started as Something Familiar It started with feeling unwell with some problems breathing. Because I had asthma, I thought it was that. However, it got much worse the next day. No Chest…
My 14 Year Old Child Saved My Life From a Massive Clot: Cheryl’s Story
My 14 Year Old Child Saved My Life It was 9:30am on 9th December 2022. I was sat on my bed. I had been well the previous fortnight, though I did have a bad cough and a slight niggle in the back of my leg that I thought was a pulled muscle from wearing a…
Given a Baby Aspirin Instead of Blood Thinners — Keri’s Story
But I’m Here. I Survived. In April 2024, I underwent ACL reconstruction surgery after rupturing my ACL. About a week after surgery, I started feeling pain in my back. I brushed it off, assuming it was from sleeping differently since I had to keep my leg straight and had been sleeping on my back. The…
I Was 72, Flying Cross-Country, With No Idea What a Blood Clot Was: Gail’s Story
I Didn’t Listen to My Body Two years ago, after traveling and flying across country with my 8 pound dog on my lap, I came down with what I thought was the flu or bronchitis. I had a nagging cough that wouldn’t go away. I got a script for cough medicine. The Pain Began Almost…
I Was Awake During My Thrombectomy — Sara’s Story
There Are Moments That Divide Your Life Into a Before and an After I’ve only heard the words “pulmonary embolism” a handful of times in my life. It was a term really reserved for the unthinkable — the kind of thing that happens to other people, not me or my loved ones. February 2nd On…
A Three-Hour Flight and a Genetic Mutation I Didn’t Know I Had — Amanda’s Story
Better Safe Than Sorry In February 2022, I took a quick trip to Florida from New York — a simple three-hour flight each way. A few days after I returned home, I started to notice a pain in my upper back. I assumed I had pulled a muscle. My doctor agreed it was likely muscular,…
May-Thurner Syndrome, Two PEs, and a Month in Athens: Lefkie’s Story
Health Is a Privilege, Not a Guarantee At 18 years old, I was an incoming college freshman, excited to open a new chapter of my life filled with exciting experiences and people. Everything changed when I was diagnosed with two massive pulmonary embolisms and DVT in my left leg. It Started in Greece I was…
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.…
“It Felt Like an Elephant Was Standing on My Chest” — Nicolle’s Story
I am writing to share my story with you and to express my gratitude for the guidance the NBCA has provided during my journey and recovery. After a life of travel, excitement, activity, and adventure — most recently zip lining in Costa Rica, traveling the Caribbean seas, exploring the mountains of Aspen, and actively playing…
