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Home / Share Your Loved One’s Blood Clot Story

Share Your Loved One’s Blood Clot Story

About 100,000 Americans die every year from blood clots, and their lives deserve to be remembered and celebrated. If you have a loved one who has experienced a fatal pulmonary embolism, we would be honored to share their story.

Questions? Contact tpatrikis@stoptheclot.org

Loved One's Story Submission Form

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Current News

National Blood Clot Alliance red and white polka dot bus parked in Mississippi

National Blood Clot Alliance Launches Blood Clot Awareness Bus Tour Across Mississippi; Tour Lays Groundwork for Amy Dew Dornbusch Blood Clot Prevention Bill

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE JACKSON, MS, UNITED STATES, May 14, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ — The National Blood Clot Alliance (NBCA) is proud to announce…

Get the full story »

Women's Health Month NBCA logo_IG

National Blood Clot Alliance Launches Women and Blood Clots Virtual Institute During Women’s Health Month

PHILADELPHIA, PA, UNITED STATES, May 1, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ — The National Blood Clot Alliance (NBCA) today announced the upcoming launch of the…

Get the full story »

Get more news »

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stoptheclot

Advancing blood clot awareness, prevention, diagnosis & treatments to #stoptheclot. Submit your story @ link below ⬇️ Our podcast: Taking a Breath 🎙️

🚨 HISTORIC ADVOCACY WIN FOR BLOOD CLOT PREVENTION

🚨 HISTORIC ADVOCACY WIN FOR BLOOD CLOT PREVENTION 🚨

Today, Oklahoma took a major step forward in helping prevent blood clots and save lives.

Governor Kevin Stitt has officially signed the Blake Burgess Blood Clot Prevention Act into law.

The legislation is named in memory of Blake Burgess, a young Oklahoman whose life was tragically lost to a blood clot — a heartbreaking loss that became the catalyst for change.

Because of the courage and advocacy of the Burgess family, Blake’s legacy will now help protect countless other patients and families across Oklahoma through stronger awareness, education, and prevention efforts surrounding blood clots.

Blood clots affect up to 900,000 Americans every year and remain one of the leading causes of preventable death — yet far too many people still don’t receive the education or preventive care they need.

This victory belongs to every advocate, survivor, family member, clinician, policymaker, and supporter who refused to let this issue remain overlooked.

Oklahoma is helping lead the way in recognizing that blood clot prevention is a public health priority.

💜 Thank you to everyone who shared their story, contacted lawmakers, and helped make this moment possible.

#StopTheClot #BloodClotAwareness #PatientAdvocacy #PublicHealth #VTE #DVT #PulmonaryEmbolism #Oklahoma @governorkevinstitt

⚠️ "The medicine I took daily was actually the per

⚠️ "The medicine I took daily was actually the perpetrator."

Courtney Munis was 28 and healthy when she was diagnosed with a DVT and 4 pulmonary emboli. Her hematologist identified high-estrogen birth control as the cause.

💊 No one had ever told her that the pill she took every day carried a blood clot risk. Now, three years clot-free, Courtney is using her story to make sure other women get the information she never did.

Women face unique challenges when it comes to blood clot risks. Too many are never informed about their risk factors — and far too often, their symptoms are minimized, dismissed, or missed entirely.

That’s why the National Blood Clot Alliance is working to change that through education, awareness, patient advocacy, and life-saving resources for women across every stage of life.

This Women’s Health Month, your support helps us reach more women with life-saving information.

❤️ Support the mission: stoptheclot.org/whm2026donate/

#womenandbloodclots #WomensHealthMonth26 #womenwelove #stoptheclot

Providing healthcare where it matters most. 🏥✨ Th

Providing healthcare where it matters most. 🏥✨

The Jackson Medical Mall was established with a powerful mission: to transform a former shopping space into a world-class healthcare hub dedicated to serving Jackson’s underserved communities. Today, that mission continues with a special visit from the National Blood Clot Alliance (NBCA)!

As part of our Mississippi Blood Clot Awareness Bus Tour, NBCA will be on-site to provide life-saving information on how to prevent, recognize, and treat blood clots.

📍 Event Details:
• When: Monday, May 18th 9am-3pm
• Where: Jackson Medical Mall
• What: Free educational resources, signs & symptoms checklists, and expert insights.

Blood clots affect 900,000 Americans every year, and knowing the signs can mean the difference between life and death. Don't miss this chance to empower yourself and your family with the knowledge to #StopTheClot.

Help us spread the word! Tag a friend or family member who needs to see this. ⬇️

#JacksonMS #HealthEquity #BloodClotAwareness #JacksonMedical Mall #StopTheClot #CommunityHealth #MississippiHealth @JacksonMedMall

A new blood clot diagnosis can feel overwhelming —

A new blood clot diagnosis can feel overwhelming — and many patients leave the hospital with more questions than answers.

Join us for our next PEP Talk (“Patients Educating Patients”), where we’ll discuss what to expect after a blood-clot diagnosis, including how to navigate medications, follow-up care, where to find reliable resources and a supportive community.

📅 Tuesday, June 9 at 7 p.m. ET

Whether you were recently diagnosed or are supporting someone who was, you are not alone.

👉 Register: https://bit.ly/June2026PEPTalk
(or at the link in bio)

Can't make the live event? Register anyway to get the recording sent straight to your inbox.

#StopTheClot #PEPTAlk #BloodClot #VTE #NewDiagnosis #BloodClotAwareness #PulmonaryEmbolism

Young. Healthy. Division I athlete. None of that

Young. Healthy. Division I athlete.

None of that protected her from a life-threatening pulmonary embolism.

⚠️ For more than a week, Chelsea was told her worsening breathing pain, light-headedness, and inability to walk were just tired muscles — or in her head.

After things got worse, she made it to the ER where doctors found a multiple pulmonary emboli. She had to spend a week in the ICU and was later diagnosed with CTEPH.

Pulmonary embolism symptoms can overlap with many other conditions — especially in athletes — which can sometimes delay diagnosis.

👉 Read Chelsea’s full story and others: bit.ly/YourBloodClotStories

#womenandbloodclots #stoptheclotstory #WomensHealthMonth26 #womenwelove #stoptheclot

Did you know that estrogen-containing birth contro

Did you know that estrogen-containing birth control — like the pill, patch, and ring — can increase a woman's risk of blood clots?

While blood clots are still relatively uncommon in young healthy women, estrogen-containing contraceptives can raise the risk several-fold compared to women not using them.

If you have a personal or family history of blood clots or certain clotting disorders, that risk may be even higher.

The good news: there are estrogen-free contraceptive options that don't carry the same increased clot risk. Swipe to learn more — and talk to your healthcare provider about what's right for you.

Women’s Health Month 2026
🔗 Learn more: https://www.stoptheclot.org/womenandbloodclots/

#WomensHealth #BloodClotAwareness #StopTheClot #BirthControl #KnowYourRisk #WomensHealthMonth

🩸 Melissa thought she knew the warning signs of a $🩸 Melissa thought she knew the warning signs of a blood clot: warmth, redness, swelling. So when her leg cramped during recovery from an ankle fracture — but had none of those classic signs — she moved on. What followed was sudden, severe shortness of breath and a diagnosis of saddle pulmonary embolism — a clot blocking both pulmonary arteries. She underwent an emergency thrombectomy and felt the exact moment blood returned to her lungs. ❤️ "Surviving a pulmonary embolism is not only a physical recovery but an emotional one." Melissa's story is a reminder that blood clots can follow routine injuries — and that the signs don't always look the way we think they will. Share your story with us: 👉 https://www.stoptheclot.org/share-your-story/ #womenandbloodclots #WomensHealthMonth26 #womenwelove #stoptheclot$

Elle thought she had strained a muscle after a lon

Elle thought she had strained a muscle after a long run. A colleague suggested it might be a blood clot — and she almost ignored the idea entirely.

At Urgent Care, her symptoms were initially dismissed as anxiety and falling for "Dr. Google. She recounts the experience as “dehumanizing”. Thankfully, her partner helped push for further evaluation and asked to see the Physician Assistant. The ultrasound found a DVT in less than a minute.

Had she gone home without advocating for additional testing, the clot could have progressed into a pulmonary embolism — a potentially life-threatening blood clot in the lungs.

Stories like Elle’s are a reminder of how important education, self-advocacy, and supportive healthcare conversations can be. Too often, women’s symptoms are minimized, misunderstood, or attributed to less serious causes, which can delay diagnosis and treatment.

This Women’s Health Month, help protect more women through education, awareness, and advocacy: 👉 stoptheclot.org/whm2026donate/

@ellecarolan
#womenandbloodclots #WomensHealthMonth26 #womenwelove #stoptheclot

The National Blood Clot Alliance is proud to be pa

The National Blood Clot Alliance is proud to be part of the 5th Annual Brooklyn Community Board 2 Health Fair: “Elevate Your Mind, Body, & Soul.”

This event is about more than screenings and resources. It’s about access. Connection. Prevention. And making sure families have the information they need before a medical crisis happens.

Blood clots affect nearly 900,000 Americans every year and remain one of the leading causes of preventable death — yet awareness is still far too low. We’re honored to join an incredible lineup of healthcare providers, wellness organizations, educators, and community leaders working together to improve health outcomes across Brooklyn.

If you’re in the NYC area, stop by the NBCA table to:

🩸 Learn the signs and symptoms of blood clots
🩺 Understand your personal risk factors
📚 Pick up free educational materials

📍 Fort Greene Park
(Corner of Myrtle Ave & St. Edwards St.)
🗓️ 12 PM – 4 PM

We hope to see you there!

#stoptheclot #CommunityHealth #HealthEquity #Brooklyn

🏃‍♀️ With less than 6 months until the 2026 TCS Ne

🏃‍♀️ With less than 6 months until the 2026 TCS New York City Marathon, training for Team Stop the Clot® is officially in full swing! Over the coming months, we’ll be introducing you to the remarkable individuals taking on 26.2 iconic miles in support of the National Blood Clot Alliance.

Meet Melisa.

A veteran of the Minnesota Army National Guard and lifelong runner, Melisa has always used running to navigate life’s challenges—from the stresses of deployment to the realities of everyday life.

But last January, everything changed.

After months of calf pain and swelling, she attempted to head out for a run one cold Saturday morning—only to make it less than a block before severe pain stopped her in her tracks. Her leg had become dangerously swollen from hip to ankle.

At the emergency room, she received a frightening diagnosis:
A significant Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT).

“I thought my running was over.”

For Melisa, running wasn’t just exercise. It was healing. It was mental health support. It was part of reclaiming herself after military service.

Thankfully, her healthcare team encouraged her to keep moving forward safely. Over the past year, she’s learned to listen to her body, prioritize her health, and lean on the support around her.

And now?

She’s preparing to run the 2026 TCS New York City Marathon.

“Every run is a gift. I’m not going to let a DVT stop me from sharing my love of running.”

💙 We are incredibly grateful to Melisa and every member of Team Stop the Clot® for turning their miles into awareness, advocacy, and hope for others impacted by blood clots.

Support Melisa’s journey and fundraising efforts here:
🔗 https://donate.stoptheclot.org/fundraiser/7050804

@melisamae74
#TeamStopTheClot #TCSNYCMarathon #StopTheClot #BloodClotAwareness #DVT #RunForACause #MarathonTraining

In this clip, hematologist Dr. Caroline Cromwell e

In this clip, hematologist Dr. Caroline Cromwell explains:

- Why the postpartum period is one of the highest-risk windows for blood clots
- What symptoms to watch for
- How long the risk lasts
- Why warning signs are so often dismissed as "just part of new motherhood"

But this conversation goes far beyond postpartum recovery.

The full discussion explores women’s blood clot risks across every stage of life, including pregnancy, IVF, hormone therapy, diagnosis delays, advocacy, and recovery.

Because some of the most important conversations happen after the appointment ends.

🔗 Link in bio for the full discussion.

@kthoff7 @lesliellake @bloodclotbuddha
#WomenAndBloodClots #BloodClots #IVF #PregnancyAfterPE #HRT #DVT #PulmonaryEmbolism #StopTheClot

Kakneka was home cooking dinner, picking her kids

Kakneka was home cooking dinner, picking her kids up from school — a completely ordinary day. Then came the chest pain with every breath, the feeling she couldn't get air. She kept thinking it was bad indigestion. It was a blood clot.

A two-time survivor and medical science liaison, Kakneka knows firsthand what it means to feel dismissed by the people who are supposed to help you. Her message this Women's Health Month:

"If one doctor doesn't listen, go to another one.”

Trust your instincts. Don't let anybody turn you away from getting the answers you need or deserve.

This Women's Health Month, share this post with a woman you love and dedicate a gift in her honor:
👉 stoptheclot.org/whm2026donate/ (link in bio)

@ka.kne.ka
#womenandbloodclots #WomensHealthMonth26 #womenwelove #stoptheclot

A woman's blood clot risk doesn't start and end in

A woman's blood clot risk doesn't start and end in one place — it follows her through her entire life. 💗

From birth control and family planning, to pregnancy, IVF, menopause, and beyond — there are moments across a woman's lifespan where her risk quietly increases. Most women never know until it's too late.

This Women’s Health Month, help us change that. Tag a woman you love and share this post — it could help save her life.

#womenandbloodclots #WomensHealthMonth26 #stoptheclot #womenwelove

These are just a few of the REAL questions women s

These are just a few of the REAL questions women submitted ahead of tonight's Women & Blood Clots PEP Talk. 💗

“Can I safely get pregnant after DVT or PE?”
“What IVF protocol is safest after blood clots?”
“Can I use HRT if my clot was caused by birth control?”
“Can you still get blood clots while on blood thinners?
“How do I stop living in fear of another clot?”

For too long, women navigating hormones, pregnancy, menopause, fertility treatment, anticoagulation, and clotting disorders have struggled to find clear answers — or even know where to start asking the questions.

Tonight, hematologist Dr. Caroline Cromwell and 3X Olympic medalist swimmer, PE survivor, and soon-to-be mom, Katie Hoff will join us to discuss the nuanced realities of women’s VTE risk across the lifespan.

This conversation is for patients, survivors, caregivers, and clinicians alike.

📅 TONIGHT, Tuesday, May 12 • 7 PM ET
🔗 Register: bit.ly/MayPEP2026 (or link in bio)

#WomenAndBloodClots #BloodClots #IVF #PregnancyAfterPE #HRT #DVT #PulmonaryEmbolism #StopTheClot

Amanda had been on birth control since she was 15.

Amanda had been on birth control since she was 15. What no one knew — including her — was that she also carried a genetic clotting disorder called Prothrombin G20210A, inherited from her father. That combination quietly elevated her clot risk for nearly two decades before multiple clots in her leg finally triggered the discovery.

A year later, she faced a high-risk pregnancy requiring daily injections—336 to be exact.

Today, she now lives with chronic clots and ongoing monitoring, but is grateful for every step of a journey that could have ended very differently.

⚠️ It’s so important to be aware of blood clot risks. Women face particular challenges with things like birth control and pregnancy, and too often they are misdiagnosed.

This May, help us change that!

Honor a woman you love by supporting the work that gets life-saving information into the hands of women who need it most.
👉 stoptheclot.org/whm2026donate/ (link in bio)

#womenandbloodclots #WomensHealthMonth26 #womenwelove #stoptheclot

BREAKING NEWS 🚨🩸 On May 18th, Governor Stitt will

BREAKING NEWS 🚨🩸

On May 18th, Governor Stitt will sign the Blake Burgess Blood Clot Prevention Act into law in Oklahoma.

Blake's name. Oklahoma law. Forever.

To the Burgess family — your courage changed everything.

To Rep. Stinson and Senator Hines — thank you.

To everyone who contacted their representatives — it worked. 💙

#BlakesBill #StopTheClot #BloodClotAwareness #Oklahoma #PatientAdvocacy #VTEprevention #BloodClot #HealthAdvocacy #NeverGiveUp

@oksenate

Julie left her house thinking she had sciatica. Te

Julie left her house thinking she had sciatica. Ten hours later, doctors were working to save her life. 💗

What felt like leg pain and fatigue turned out to be a massive pulmonary embolism — and like so many women, Julie had no idea what was happening until it was almost too late.

This Women's Health Month, “Trust your instincts. Don't let anybody turn you away from getting the answers you need or deserve."

Honor a woman you love by supporting the work that gets life-saving information into the hands of women who need it most.
👉 stoptheclot.org/whm2026donate/ (link in bio)

#womenandbloodclots #WomensHealthMonth26 #womenwelove #stoptheclot

Blood clot risk doesn't look the same at every sta

Blood clot risk doesn't look the same at every stage of a woman's life — and it doesn't look the same for women as it does for men. 💗

Women face a set of blood clot risk factors that are entirely unique to them — hormonal birth control, pregnancy, postpartum recovery, IVF, and hormone therapy. For too long, women have been under-informed and under-served when it comes to blood clot awareness, prevention, and care — with important gaps still remaining in research, education, and sex-specific clinical guidance.

That's changing — and clinicians like Dr. Cromwell are leading the way.

As a hematologist at Weill Cornell Medicine and a specialist in women's health and the long-term care of DVT and PE patients, Dr. Cromwell knows firsthand that the conversation has moved from blanket restrictions to individualized, evidence-based risk assessment. Join her and fellow panelists tomorrow for NBCA's May PEP Talk: Women & Blood Clots — a free online discussion covering birth control, pregnancy, IVF, HRT, and what women and their doctors should actually be asking.

This conversation is for patients, caregivers, and clinicians alike.
📅 Tuesday, May 12 at 7 PM ET
🔗 Register free: bit.ly/MayPEP2026 (link in bio)

#WomensHealthMonth #womenandbloodclots #StopTheClot #BloodClots #DVT #PulmonaryEmbolism #HRT #Thrombosis #WomensHealth #ClinicalEducation

From all of us at the National Blood Clot Alliance

From all of us at the National Blood Clot Alliance — Happy Mother's Day. 💗

To every woman who has carried life, we see you. We know that during pregnancy and up to three months postpartum, a woman's blood clot risk is elevated. It's a risk most mothers never hear about, taken quietly, for the people they love most.

At NBCA, we fight every day to make sure women have the information they deserve. Today, we simply want to say: we honor you, we celebrate you, and we are grateful for you.

Happy Mother's Day. 💗

#womenandbloodclots #WomensHealthMonth26 #womenwelove #mothersday #stoptheclot

💕 This Women's Health Month, the National Blood Cl

💕 This Women's Health Month, the National Blood Clot Alliance is elevating women’s voices and sharing powerful stories like Olivia’s.

At 17 weeks pregnant, Olivia knew something was wrong. The breathlessness wasn't like her previous pregnancies. The tightness in her chest wouldn't go away. And when an overwhelming feeling of impending doom set in, she told her doctor: "I think I am dying and I'm not going home without help."

She was right. 🩸 The diagnosis was a pulmonary embolism at 24 weeks pregnant. Despite being repeatedly dismissed as an over-anxious mother, Olivia trusted herself — and that instinct kept her alive for her three sons.

⚠️ Blood clot risk rises significantly during pregnancy — and too often pregnant women are misdiagnosed.

This May, help us change that.

Honor a woman you love by supporting the work that gets life-saving information into the hands of women who need it most.
👉 stoptheclot.org/whm2026donate/ (link in bio)

#womenandbloodclots #WomensHealthMonth26 #womenwelove #mothersday #stoptheclot

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