1 person will die every 6 minutes in the US due to a blood clot.

274 people in the US will die every day due to a blood clot.

Blood clots kill more people every year than AIDS, breast cancer, and car accidents combined.  

When I was a sophomore in college I woke up at 4am one night with an intense sharp pain in my abdomen and chest. Thinking I was having a muscle spasm  from  a  work  out  earlier  that  day, I loaded up on Advil and tried to sleep it off. A day later I found myself in the emergency room and after  a few ultrasounds, x-rays, and cat scans, I was admitted to the ICU with a pulmonary embolism. For those who do not know, a pulmonary embolism is a condition where one or more arteries in the lungs are blocked by a blood clot. At 19 years old, I didn’t understand why this was happening. I was a healthy, fit and young college student and overnight found myself to be the youngest patient on the ICU floor. 

After further testing, I was diagnosed with Factor V Leiden, a genetic blood disorder, which makes me prone to clotting. The combination of flying for spring break trips, birth control pills, and my unknown blood clotting gene created the perfect storm. I am thankful for my parents who pushed me to go to the ER and for my doctors whose immediate attention and care is why I am still here today. I feel compelled to share my story with others and help educate those, like me, who knew so little about blood clots until I experienced first hand.

Tragically, too many lives are affected by blood clots, and too many lives are lost because public awareness about life-threatening blood clots is so low.  Numerous studies have shown that fewer than 1 in 4 people are aware of the signs and symptoms of blood clots.

Blood clots don't discriminate.  Regardless of age, race or gender, we are all at risk.   No matter how young or physically fit you may be, you can still be affected.  Blood clots can be prevented. Understand the risks. Know the signs and symptoms.

I invite you to support me as I run this year’s NYC Marathon in honor of a cause I feel so close to. Please donate today to help NBCA save lives as we continue our mission to advance prevention, early diagnosis and successful treatment of life-threatening blood clots such as deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, and clot-provoked stroke. No donation is too small as all donations will help make a difference. Thank you so much for your support!