February Athlete of the Month

As the snow and ice are coming down with no mercy here in Ohio today I am thinking warm thoughts...

I think even more warm thoughts when it is time to go outside and face the snow either shoveling or hitting the slopes sledding. Soon enough it will be warm again but for now I embrace the fun with the white stuff and layer up as much as I can.

But warm thoughts only get me so far when attempting to train... I still the need the BLOOD CLOT SURVIVOR INSPIRATION POWER... #STOPTHECLOT @TeamSTOPTHECLOT

This month's featured athlete sure is bringing some warmth and much needed inspiration to keep us going. 

Thank you to ALICIA for her willingness to share her story. 

Every story is unique which is what I love the most from this effort. Everyone has a different blood clotting incident, different diagnosis, and a different story of returning to action. Every story has a message that someone will find useful to help them with their journey. 

Please read on and find that part of this story that resonates with you and may help you along the way!

What is you sport/activity of choice? Why do you enjoy it? 

Stand-up Paddleboarding and long distance running (really jogging but running sounds better)

How did you get started in that sport?

I took a contract job that put me in Hawaii for a year, and in my free time I joined a paddle club and a running club. 

 

What is the latest milestone you achieved or plan to achieve?

Milestones - After my massive clot in April 2021, my milestones have been much smaller than before

1. October 2021 I jogged for the first time since March
2. November 2021 I jogged a mile for the first time in over a year
3. I have signed up for the Lincoln Nebraska National Guard Half Marathon in May 2022, and my ambitions goal is to complete the half marathon with as little walking as possible

 

Tells about your clotting episode.  Are you on blood thinners now? How long were you out of commission?

Clotting history

1. I had a many moderate sized Bilateral PE’s in December 2012, seemingly unprovoked. My mother had a similar PE episode 8 years prior. In 2013 both my mother and I, and my Maternal Grandmother were diagnosed with Illiac Compression (May Thurner) Syndrome.  A few years later my half sister was also diagnosed, although she managed to avoid any PE’s. All four of us had stents placed in both Illac Veins. 
2. While pregnant with my 2nd son, I had a small DVT in my left lower leg that was resolved with Lovanox 
3. When my 2nd son was 6 weeks old in March 2021, I pulled a muscle in my back that inflamed all of the muscles in my back and my abdomen. I also had serious waves of spasms that rolled through all of my back muscles. Even walking was excruciating. By April 2021 I was barley walking 50 steps a day. On April 8th, I noticed my left leg was painful and turning purplish - went to the DR and discovered I had a 3 1/2 ft long clot that stretched from my ankle to my Illiac Stents.  Important to note, is i was taking subcutaneous Heparin as a clot prophylactic, and still I clotted. I had two surgeries to remove the clot above my knee, and TPA administered to begin dissolving the clot below my knee. The clot was easier to remedy than the back pain (which I am still fighting, a year later)

When were you able to get back into your activity?  How did it feel that first time?

My most recent clot occurred we suspect as a direct result of my back pain, not allowing me to walk without extreme pain. After the hospitalization and surgery for the clots, I started a new approach to healing the back pain. The clot was in April. At the time of the clot, my back hurt so bad I couldn’t even pick up my 9 lb son. By June I was able to pick up the baby, and to some extent, I was able to pick up my other son who just turned 2. I was still having waves of spasms though. By September, the last of the spasms had come and gone, and walking was easier. In October I was able to jogg for the first time since April. In November, I jogged 1 mile for the Thanksgiving Turkey Trot. I am hoping to begin a whole body workout program in February, to slowly increase strength and stamina. There is a sense of freedom in overcoming a hurdle that I once thought was impossible. 

   

What is your favorite piece of gear for your favorite activity?

I have a new pair of shoes that count steps, cadence, distance, and even posture, that I am excited to use and learn from! I am very excited to getting back to running!

How much are you getting out doing your sport?

I expect to be able to run or jogged 2/3 times per week, and in the summer once a week paddle boarding

What is your favorite food?

Chocolate Milk - I have compared the nutrition on many post workout supplements, and nothing is as easy, or simple, or tasty as a nice cold glass of chocolate milk!, paired with a delicious banana!

If you could go some place to visit and explore, where would like to go? 

My very first night in Hawaii for my contract job placed me on a hotel on the beach in Kailua-Kona Big Island, HI. My hotel was around mile 20 of the Iron Man Championship - (2+ mile open ocean swim, immediately followed by 112 mile bike ride in the Hawaii desert with little shade, followed immediately by a full 26+ mile Marathon). I have a dream someday of participating and completing this race! Even if i’m the very last competitor that crosses the finish line!

What would like to say to someone who is going through a clotting episode, perhaps very similar to yours?  How can people return todo what they enjoy? Tells about your concerns and what you look out after as you returned to action.

Don’t give up, and always be your own advocate! Clots are hard to detect, and hard to treat. I was on a therapeutic dose of subcutaneous Heparin when I had my big clot. All of the physicians I have met with have said the past physical activity I have been involved in served me well during my clots and are testament to why I need to remain active. Set your goals high, and if you have to, measure your accomplishments in baby steps… big steps and baby steps all lead to the same place - finish line!

THANK YOU again Alicia for sharing your story!

Someday, like you, I would love to compete on the Ironman in Kona. That would be an incredible adventure... Perhaps someday we will get to race that event together in our respective CLOT BUSTER #TeamSTOPTHECLOT polka-dots...! 

May your return story continue to blossom and you get to complete your upcoming half-marathon without any walking. Never stop going forward until you accomplish your goals. Every step counts! 

Thank you for reading,

The Clot Buster

January Athlete of the Month

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Here we go 2022 - Who is ready? 

There is not question that it is time to start fresh and see what we can do in this new year. Although it may not seem that way right now WE ARE going to make it and return to some sense of normalcy. We just need to be ALL together in this for the good of the cause.

Do you have any new year's resolutions? 

I have a very simple one... To wear my CLOT BUSTER #StopTheClot polka-dots as much as possible. There are many things that I want to this year so planning is on going now to give the polka-dots a ride that will get them places so that we can spread the word and create awareness about blood clots and blood clot survivors but also celebrate all blood clot survivors. 

2022 will also see the arrival of some new CLOT BUSTER #StopTheCLot polka-dot gear... You will want to get your hands on some of this stuff for sure... Here is a sneak peak of what we have coming... Stay tuned for me...

Speaking of going places... Did you know that the CLOT BUSTER #StopTheClot polka-dots were at the London Marathon in 2021? How about that? Yes! January's Athlete of the Month took the polka-dots to London as she participated in the event and did well enough to qualify for the Boston Marathon...! CAN YOU BELIEVE IT!!!

BLOOD CLOT SURVIVORS CAN DO ANYTHING!!!

I am incredible lucky to have cross paths with KIM who is a blood Clot Survivor as you will see and a big time runner... So very thankful that she is willing to share her story so that others can overcome the challenges of blood clots just like she did. This is definitely a GREAT start to the 2022 series of blog posts that NO DOUBT WILL INSPIRE US ALL!!!

Read on and get going!

What is you sport/activity of choice? Why do you enjoy it? 

I prefer to run as my activity of choice. I have been running since middle school all the way through college. I stopped for about 6 years and took up road cycling and have now gotten back into running again. During my cycling is when I ended up having my DVTs and PEs.

How did you get started in that sport? 

Middle school cross country.

What is the latest milestone you achieved or plan to achieve?

Qualifying for the Boston marathon in my age group during the London Marathon

Tells about your clotting episode.  Are you on blood thinners now? How long were you out of commission? 

I ended up being diagnosed with 7 DVTs in my leg and 3 PEs in my lungs. I was misdiagnosed multiple times by my PCP. I ended up having to push for self advocacy for someone to listen to me. I drove myself (mistake-don't do this) to the ER and forced someone to listen. I was diagnosed that night and was told if I did not come in I most likely would not have woken up the next morning. I clotted again after a couple months on Coumadin and was placed on "life long" lovenox at that time. New oral medications came out and I was hesitant to try them based on the reclotting episode. I tried an oral medication a few years ago with rapid hair loss as a side effect and was taken off of it within a couple weeks. I am now off of blood thinners unless traveling, and on a daily aspirin for management. 10 years post clots total and 2 years on aspirin instead of injecting myself daily. 

When were you able to get back into your activity?  How did it feel that first time?   

I was able to start back to walking and light bike riding within a few months. My leg swelled a lot and turned blue/purple forcing me to stop. I'd say it took months of going slow and doing what my body allowed before getting back into the swing of things. Probably 2 years before getting back to more normalcy in regards to exercise.

What is your favorite piece of gear for your favorite activity?

On running shoes have turned into my favorite gear for running. Love these things!

How much are you getting out doing your sport?

5-6 days a week now

What is your favorite food?  

I have a gluten sensitivity but am willing to take on a pizza after a long hard workout or after a race. Luckily, it is not an allergy for me. 

If you could go some place to visit and explore, where would like to go? 

We love traveling. My favorite place to go is Mallorca, Spain. I'd go back in a heartbeat. Lots of running and hiking there. 

What would like to say to someone who is going through a clotting episode, perhaps very similar to yours?  How can people return to do what they enjoy? Tells about your concerns and what you look out after as you returned to action.

Advocacy is 100% the most important thing to remember. It is always ok to ask questions. Make sure you find a doctor that is willing to listen and explain your diagnosis and options. I am in the health field and know how hard this can be. But if I didn't fight for myself, I wouldn't be here right now. I still had symptoms for up to 2 years after my diagnosis and probably went in for 6 ultrasounds that showed nothing new the first year out. Better safe than sorry. If you don't feel you are listened to, then find a new doctor to go to. Life is too short as is. 

 

I learned a lot about clots and how bad they can be for patients in graduate school. I remember the night I read about them. I had about 300 pages to read that night alone. Impossible task. So you read what you can and skip the rest. I am beyond grateful that I decided to read that chapter. I did not have the typical blood clot symptoms (i.e. pain in the calf, warm to touch, etc). I had severe pain in my back that would not go away. It was unrelenting for a few days and I felt like I was going to die. I could barely walk to my car. As someone who was riding 2 hours a day on a bike this was scary. After being misdiagnosed I followed what my symptoms could be based on my education and went to the ER. I found that self advocacy is the most important thing someone else can learn from my story. It saved my life. 

Indeed we need be ready to advocate for ourselves if we don't believe that we are diagnosed properly (because your symptoms persist) and/or your treatment is  not yielding results. I have nothing but admiration for Health Care professionals and their challenging task to care for us but ultimately not always get it right and at times being your own advocate can end up saving your life.

There is no doubt that Kim will rock it in Boston just like she did in London. "The power of the polka-dots" is with her every step of the way. So proud and inspired to see Blood Clot Survivors being able to overcome. 

NEVER STOP GOING FORWARD!

Thank you for reading,

The Clot Buster

December Athlete of the Month

And we made it to December... 2021 almost in the books.

GOOD WORK EVERYONE in navigating the challenges and obstacles of this year.

Just like Blood Clot Survivors we all have done some sort of overcoming this year to make it through.

This year TEAM STOP THE CLOT did incredibly well at the NYC Marathon which is so inspiring... I can't get enough of seeing people finishing the grand challenge of completing 26.2 Miles.

December's Athlete of the Month will also inspire you.  MIKE is not strange of challenges and battling through to overcome and come back. Thank you Mike for your willingness to share your story. Your story is going to make a difference to get blood clot survivors going when their journey gets difficult. For my my part I am inspired to get out and do something today and everyday...!

I am eternally THANKFUL for the opportunity to meet so many incredible people through this medium, share these amazing stories, and be able to keep it up for another year... 13 years and counting!

Please read on for Mike's story and get inspired to NEVER STOP MOVING FORWARD because BLOOD CLOT SURVIVORS CAN DO ANYTHING!!!

What is you sport/activity of choice? Why do you enjoy it?    

I am an avid triathlete.   I enjoy the camaraderie of training in groups for the swim, bike and run.  Triathlon training is a mixture of solo training and team training and it all comes together on race days when everyone is cheering you on and you get to realize all that you’ve been training for.

How did you get started in that sport? 

I got started later in life, about 10 years ago.   I had gone through some life challenges, decided to get back into good physical shape (I was a former Division I football player) and I missed the competitive nature of sport.  I started small.  I started without having swam in over 20 years.   I hadn’t run more than a 5k in probably 15 years.    As a Clydesdale sized athlete (Age 59, 6’ 1”, 225 lbs.), I am not the size, nor age of the normal little skinny triathlete.  However, I routinely finish before my younger, lighter competitors do.   I am a mid-pack age grouper.

What is the latest milestone you achieved or plan to achieve?

I am fortunate to have done 2 full distance Ironman races in the last 3 years, probably 6 or 7 half Ironman distance and a bunch of Olympic and Sprint distance races over the last 7 years.   I was training for my 3^rd Ironman when I experienced my clotting episode.    My goal for 2022 is to compete in the USA Triathlon Athena/Clydesdale championships and do well enough to place in my age category.

Tells about your clotting episode.  Are you on blood thinners now? How long were you out of commission? 

I am the luckiest guy I know.   I had a bike crash in June 2021 that caused me to have a torn thumb tendon and casted for 5 weeks.   Kept working out but on bike trainer and running w/ a cast on.   Within a week after the cast came off, I started having difficulty breathing on my workouts.   My partner Jennifer told me to go to the Urgent Care on Sat AM to get it looked at rather than wait to see my family doctor on Monday.  She saved my life.  The CT scans showed I had 10 blood clots in my lungs.   Had I waited, I probably would have either had a heart attack or died in my sleep that weekend.  On blood thinners now through March as they try and figure out what caused the clots and a path forward as every test has come back as normal or negative.   The pulmonologists and hematologists have no idea what caused the clots and what happens if/when I go off blood thinners.

When were you able to get back into your activity?  How did it feel that first time?  

 I got released two weeks after my episode to begin working out and gradually increase my level and duration of exertion.   It felt weird and I was a little scared at first but things seem to be coming back but its going to take a while to get there as my lungs recover and my fitness rebounds.   As my pulmonologist said “while on blood thinners, your veins and arteries are virtually coated in WD-40 so nothing is going to happen to you” so I’m going to work on getting back to my Ironman level of fitness.

What is your favorite piece of gear for your favorite activity? 

I am a product junkie to help me be faster, stronger, more healthy, safer.   I have a Scott Plasma 6 Tri-bike, I love my DeSoto tri-suits and New Balance 860 running shoes.  I also have a Road ID that the EMS and medical staff used when I crashed earlier this summer.   I plan on getting a Polka-Dot tri-suit from DeSoto to go along with my Red Polka-Dot technical t-shirt to bring awareness to everyone about blood clots.   I also swear by Maurten mix and gels along with Skratch for hydration and nutrition during workouts and races.

How much are you getting out doing your sport?  

I train almost everyday and sometimes as I’m ramping up in IM training, its twice a day workouts.  Probably 10-16 hours a week. Its always a balancing act as I have a day job as an human resources executive for a big company and a personal life.   However, working out is a stress reliever for me and I get a lot of satisfaction trying to remain “a year younger each year”.  It’s a game to me and I love looking at my workout data during and after a workout.  My favorite workouts are 8-10 mile runs along the river in my community and 40-60 mile bike rides outside in the far western Chicago suburbs and beyond.  Swimming is necessary but not a discipline I’m very good at nor have the body shape for it.

What is your favorite food?  Either generally or after a workout.   

My favorite food is a good steak paired with a Pinot Noir.    After a workout, I often crave carbs and salt – so it sometimes is cheese and crackers and a beer or two as I rehydrate.  😊

If you could go some place to visit and explore, where would like to go?  

I’d love to explore the coasts of the Eastern Mediterranean countries of Greece, Turkey, Croatia, and Montenegro.    Someday I will get there.

What would like to say to someone who is going through a clotting episode, perhaps very similar to yours?  How can people return to do what they enjoy? Tells about your concerns and what you look out after.

My advice is listen to your body.   Know what feels right and what doesn’t and act upon those perceptions.   Talk to your medical advisors and ask lots of questions.   Questions don’t mean you’re challenging their knowledge or direction, rather looking to clarify and confirm.   Don’t be afraid to stop and assess.   Don’t just work through the discomfort or pain.   Be smart so you can live for tomorrow.    And once you get treated for clots, teach your body and mind how to get back at it – smartly.   Don’t be afraid but don’t be reckless either.   Discretion is often the better part of valor.

Can't wait to see Mike in his CLOT BUSTER #StopTheClot polka-dots racing triathlons out there.  Who knows maybe someday we will be racing together out there and since you will beat me then I will be buying the "recovery beers"... Never stop going forward.

Thank you for reading,

The Clot Buster

November Athlete(s) of the Month

 RUN!

RUN FAST!

RUN AS FAST AS YOU CAN!

RUN and ENJOY ALL THE VIEWS!

RUN and ENJOY THE SWEET PAIN OF WHAT YOU ARE ABOUT TO ACCOMPLISH!

THANK YOU for RUNNING TO STOP THE CLOT!

BLOOD CLOT SURVIVORS along with FRIENDS and FAMILY CAN DO ANYTHING!

BEST OF LUCK to all of the @TeamStopTheClot Runners this weekend while they run the NYC Marathon!

The first weekend in November is always a very exciting time because we have runners representing TEAM STOP THE CLOT for 26.2 Miles at the NYC Marathon.

For 2021 we have one of our largest teams since we got this thing going in 2013... and I am so thrilled for all them.  This is going to be an incredible experience and I can't for them to toe the line on Sunday.

Please take a moment to read through the profiles our athletes have prepared for their respective fundraising pages.  Please consider donating to their campaigns even if they reached their goals.  Your donation can and will make a difference

Here they are... The 2021 Team STOP THE CLOT NYC Marathon Runners = 

BRITTANY >>> https://fundraisers.hakuapp.com/brittany-bogdan

TERESA >>> https://fundraisers.hakuapp.com/teresa-bordeaux

JULIE >>> https://fundraisers.hakuapp.com/julie-butterfield

ROBYN >>> https://fundraisers.hakuapp.com/robyn-chessman

THOMAS >>> https://fundraisers.hakuapp.com/thomas-geraghty

SANDY >>> https://fundraisers.hakuapp.com/sandy-nelson

ERICA >>> https://fundraisers.hakuapp.com/erica-saccoccio

GRETCHEN >>> https://fundraisers.hakuapp.com/gretchen-piller

NATALIA >>> https://fundraisers.hakuapp.com/natalia-siman

COURTNEY >>> https://fundraisers.hakuapp.com/fundraisers/385e4c18d13168277fc4

BILAL >>>  https://fundraisers.hakuapp.com/fundraisers/cee3f85801fd53e4eb52

This is truly an incredible group of individuals taking on one of the most amazing events in the marathon calendar.  There is no race like the NYC Marathon and I am very excited for them to get to experience it.

Cheer for them near and far because they are an inspiration to all of us.

RUN UNTIL YOU FINISH - NEVER STOP GOING FORWARD!

Thank you for reading,

The Clot Buster

October Athlete of the Month

Inspiration can come at you from many different directions. You never will know what will hit you that will get you inspired.

If you read any of the previous post from this blog you will find some inspiration from these blood clot survivors there is no question about it.

The month of October has in it a very VERY especial day for the community of blood clot survivors... OCTOBER 13th is WORLD THROMBOSIS DAY!!! For me this is a day in which we celebrate awareness, survivors, and remember all those we lost along the way.  This year STOPTHECLOT.org is celebrating World Thrombosis day with a virtual run.  Checkout all the details here >>> https://runsignup.com/Race/PA/Philadelphia/RunWalktoStoptheClot 

You know that I will be running in my CLOT BUSTER @TeamStopTheClot polka-dots and I hope that you will consider joining us as well!

And speaking of running... October is also the month in which preparations intensify in order for blood clot survivors and friends/family of blood clot patients to get ready to participate as runners for the NYC Marathon in November.  This is without a question one of the coolest things that we get to do and to me it is always a thrill to meet these runners who are about to have an unbelievable experience running this marathon.  There is nothing like it.

So lets go ahead and meet on of our runners for this year's edition of Team STOP THE CLOT. 

Please allow me introduce to you NATALIA... but instead of me rambling here go ahead and read on to learn more about this blood clot survivor who is going to dominate the NYC Marathon!!!

What is your sport/activity of choice? Why do you enjoy it?

I primarily run - I really enjoy the stress relief it provides and having my body be constantly challenged.  I find that running really helps with my mental health and really jump starts my day.  It is a sport that rewards consistency and to me that is very important. 

How did you get started in that sport?

One of my friends from back home in El Salvador challenged me to run a half marathon before I turned 25. I said sure - ran that race maybe 10 days before my birthday and then finished knowing I could do better. I have said the same every single race since then.

What is the latest milestone you achieved or plan to achieve?

I am running the NYC Marathon fundraising for team stop the clot! This will be my 3rd marathon (first post PE) and I am very nervous and very excited.

https://fundraisers.hakuapp.com/natalia-siman

Tells about your clotting episode.  Are you on blood thinners now? How long were you out of commission?

A week after my 29th birthday, I was training for CIM in California and I had a run that was very very hard. (It was a 20 miler so granted, that is never easy) I had never before felt that out-of-breath feeling, especially on an easy paced run. I chalked it up to a bad day, but then when I felt out of breath dancing at a wedding a couple of days later, I knew there was something off. I remember I couldn’t take a complete deep breath on the way back from the wedding. 

I went to the urgent care the next day and because I had traveled, they wanted to check for blood clots and sent me to the ER. They told me that it was most likely bronchitis but wanted to check. 

I thought they were crazy!! That blood clots only happened to much older individuals. I went to the ER anyways because I had a Disney half marathon that weekend and wanted to get better.

I ended up having a double pulmonary embolism, every doctor that came in to see me kept telling me that my life was a miracle, that I only felt good because of how much I run. I was never really scared until my parents showed up from El Salvador and then I realized how serious this was and could have been.

My boyfriend ran the half instead of me, and I was still doing blood thinners via injection/needles. It was completely surreal to me to be at Disney having to inject myself with blood thinners and feeling weak after being marathon training a week before!! 

I went to the hematologist, described what I was taking before. I was very dehydrated, took approximately 5 flights in two weeks (this is very normal for me because I travel for work), was on birth control, so I really don’t know exactly what caused my episode, but doctors think it’s a combination of all of the above. 

 

I was on blood thinners for approximately 8 months, I was out of commission for about a month, but then it took a while to get back my running fitness. Maybe 6 months.  The mental hurdle was so much harder to deal with, even almost two years later when it is hard to breathe I panic. I went to the urgent care once for what ended up being nothing. Also with COVID wearing a mask and going up stairs gave me that same out of breath feeling that is now extremely scary to me. 

When were you able to get back into your activity?  How did it feel that first time?

My hematologist told me I could run a couple of weeks after the episode, but to take it very easy. That first time it felt scary and it was hard to breathe. I ran for only a couple of minutes and then did some walking intervals. I remember feeling so happy once I got back to a mile.

What is your favorite piece of gear for your favorite activity?

I love my aftershokz! I also got myself a roadID bracelet for when I was taking blood thinners and for safety after knowing I could have passed out during my clotting incident. (I never used to run with any kind of ID)

How much are you getting out doing your sport?

Right now I am running 4-5x a week. I am doing way lower mileage than before, both to prevent injury and I am not as fit as before!

What is your favorite food?  Either generally or after a workout.

I LOVE a cold chocolate milk after a run.

If you could go some place to visit and explore, where would like to go? 

I really want to go to Japan and spend a whole week just exploring and eating.

What would like to say to someone who is going through a clotting episode, perhaps very similar to yours?  How can people return to do what they enjoy? Tells about your concerns and what you look out after

This is scary, and it sucks, and you are not alone. I did not know anyone who had a pulmonary embolism at a young age (to be honest, I didn’t even know the word embolism in English). It gets better. After a while you start to feel better and you start to trust your body again. It is a process and like any process you have to take it one day at a time. Forward is forward, and though sometimes it feels like you are treading water - you are alive, and you are making progress!! 

Can't wait for Natalia to experience the Marathon in NYC. 

No question that "it is a process" and you have to work at it every single day.  Blood Clot Survivors do this all the time and so can we. 

Thank you so much to Natalia for her willingness to share her story.  Here is wishing her all the best while she finalizes her training and prepares for race day.

Thank you for reading,

The Clot Buster

September Athlete of the Month

BLOOD CLOT SURVIVORS CAN DO ANYTHING!!!

You have seen me write this more times that I can count but it is the absolute truth.

Every story that I see about blood clot survivors overcoming the challenges related to blood clots inspires me everyday to keep the effort going about spreading awareness and celebrating all blood clot survivors.

Over the past weeks I also saw another source of inspiration in watching the coverage of the Tokyo Paralympics. I am was so proud that my boys wanted to see the coverage about the various events and what people are capable to overcome. If you have not seen Paralympic Athletes in action you should definitely make it priority because there is nothing like it. The determination to overcome by those athletes is truly remarkable.

While watching these coverage I came across a familiar face that I have known about  for many years from her participation and success in the Paralympics but also because she is a formidable long distance/endurance athlete.  I have seen her perform and win at the highest levels of the wheelchair division of famous marathons but I never really knew about her battle with blood clots (diagnosed blood clotting disorder) and how that incident almost derailed her sports career when she was at her highest level.

TATYANA certainly has a story to tell that is very much worth learning about.  She has been able to overcome the challenges of her condition to continue to be a world class athlete.  It is truly impressive to read about her tenacity, dedication, and mental fortitude.

The link below will lead you to a video in which TATYANA speaks about her experience... check it out!

https://olympics.com/tokyo-2020/en/paralympics/news/videos/tatyana-mcfadden-blood-clots-almost-killed-me

"Anything is possible for those who believe"

There is no question that Tatyana believes in herself and that is what ALL Blood Clot Survivors also do in order to overcome.

For sure we will continue to see Tatyana on the biggest stage showing everyone that BLOOD CLOT SURVIVORS CAN DO ANYTHING.

Never Stop Trying and Going Forward.

Thank you for reading,

The Clot Buster

August Athlete of the Month

Can you believe it? 

The CLOT BUSTER @TeamStopTheClot polka-dots are everywhere...At the end July I got the opportunity to race at the OHIO Ironman70.3 Triathlon and because we are growing I got the chance to race with the February 2020 Athlete of the Month... Michael "The Thunder"... https://clot-buster-triathlete.blogspot.com/2020/02/february-athlete-of-month.html on a truly wonderful day to suffer and display the Clot Buster @TeamStopTheClot polka-dots. Michael inspired me to fight through the pain and finish to the best of my abilities. Here is wishing him well as he is getting ready to double the distance and throw down in September with a Full Ironman in Chattanooga, TN.  BLOOD CLOT SURVIVORS CAN DO ANYTHING!!!

Speaking of Blood Clot Survivors being able to do anything... We are raising the bar for the August edition of the Athlete of the Month Series. In fact that bar is so high you can hang from it and swing from it to another obstacle all while being suspended over tanks of water.  These obstacles are truly insane and only a few individuals have what it takes to overcome them.

Please allow me to introduce to you CALEB... he is unreal... Why? 

Well because he is one of a kind. He is a Blood Clot Survivor but also a competitor in AMERICAN NINJA WARRIOR...!!! CAN YOU BELIEVE IT?!?!

I am trying very hard to think of something else to write here but I don't have the words...

We have been fans of American Ninja Warrior for many years. We have been to a variety of ninja gyms and very much enjoyed the challenges of this sport. But to learn of a Blood Clot Survivor being good enough to be on the National Qualifiers is truly mind blowing. This is very cool and I am super thrilled that  Caleb has been kind enough to share his story with us.

This is so amazing... Go ahead and read on!

What is you sport/activity of choice? Why do you enjoy it?

Ninja Warrior! It is an absolutely great way to stay in shape. I prefer to "play" to keep physically fit. Whether it's ninja, mountain biking, hiking, or acrobatics, I prefer exercise to be a by-product of fun!

How did you get started in that sport? 

Prior to ninja I was in the US Coast Guard for 10 years and was medically discharged (honorably) after being diagnosed with narcolepsy. When I was looking for things to do I stumbled upon a ninja warrior gym, had a ton of fun, and opened one of my own!

What is the latest milestone you achieved or plan to achieve?

I made it to the LA city finals on American Ninja Warrior, and was only 1 spot away from the Vegas finals.

Tells about your clotting episode.  Are you on blood thinners now? How long were you out of commission? 

Just a month after having our baby (at 33 years old), I started having burning in both of my lungs one evening. A year prior I had a condition called Pleurisy, where your lung lining is inflamed, after a backflip incident bruised my ribs. I figured that was happening again, but the pain kept getting worse so I finally went to the ER after I was unable to sit down. I told the ER it was probably just Pleurisy and I needed something to help with the inflammation. Luckily, they ran a gambit of tests on me and after a CT scan found a small PE in each lung. They kept me for a bit to monitor the situation and put me on blood thinners. I then went to a clot specialist and was put on Eliquis and told not to train for a few weeks or do anything ninja related because of falls. I was of course devastated because that's what I love! The specialist ran through the spectrum and what felt like 1000 blood vials to find the cause, but nothing was determined, which is a little scary. After getting an ultrasound and being on Eliquis for about 8 months I was cleared to switch to a daily aspirin and resume training.

When were you able to get back into your activity?  How did it feel that first time?

8 months. It was a struggle. I lost hope and wanted to quit several times. Before my clot I was at my peak athletically, recently finishing top 10 in the world finals. When I finally got my mind right and committed to the process I felt like myself again!

 

What is your favorite piece of gear for your favorite activity?

My water bottle. I am big on staying hydrated and tell everyone I can on the importance of fueling your body with what it needs to perform or recover.

How much are you getting out doing your sport? 

Off season is about 3 times a week, and when I get after it I'm training 5-6 days. Some days are active recovery, you can't out train your body's need to repair. Rest is important!

What is your favorite food?  Either generally or after a workout. 

I take a whole foods approach. If it's real and unprocessed it's in my diet. Date/nut bars and mixed nuts are my go to snack. I do have cheat days once a week or every other week where I eat junk food and regret it the next day LOL. 

If you could go some place to visit and explore, where would like to go? 

I want to hit the mountain bike trails of Whistler Mountain in Canada. 

What would like to say to someone who is going through a clotting episode, perhaps very similar to yours?  How can people return to do what they enjoy? Tells about your concerns and what you look out after as you returned to action.

It sucks. Your feelings of loss and being depressed are normal. Recognize them and feel them, but don't let them become who you are. Give yourself grace on difficult days. I almost gave up on ninja several times, and that's okay. Set small goals and work on your mindset. Remember to listen to your doctor, recovery is a marathon, not a sprint and listen to your body! 

Thank you Caleb for sharing your story with us!

You are AN INSPIRATION!!! Never stop going forward and pushing the envelope. Your success as a Blood Clot Survivor on the Ninja Warrior course  will inspire all those who are looking to overcome just like you have.

Someday I hope to make it to your Gym (https://flipsideninja.com/) and try to hang on some of the obstacles. I am not sure I will be able to do much else other than just "hang" on the obstacles... I will let professionals like you workout all the tricks!  

BLOOD CLOT SURVIVORS CAN DO ANYTHING!

Thank you for reading,

The Clot Buster

July Athlete of the Month

Are you feeling the heat...?!?!?

Love, LOVE summer time.  No better time of the year as the CLOT BUSTERs #TeamStopTheClot polka-dots are out there training and racing.

I am very fortunate to be able to do what I can do swimming, biking, and running.  But even more fortunate is to get the chance to engage with folks as they see the polka-dots and they ask about them. Getting to talk about the polka-dots opens up the flood gates to talk about the work that NBCA is doing in many fronts, as well as the celebration of blood clot survivors being to do what they can in their come backs, and lastly the remainder that along the way we do lose folks because of blood clots when those clotting incidents could have been prevented.  There are plenty of reasons why we need to wear the polka-dots and all of them are greatly important.

Everyday I learn something new from this community that keeps me inspired and will inspire you as well.

Summer is also the season of Golf.

Definitely not for me but for many others it is. I truly admire the skill required to get that white little ball going where you want it to go.  I also admire the level frustration I have seen from some people when the shots don't go as planned. Just like any other sport dedication, talent, and some luck are all keep components to any success. I have tried my hand a few times and I ended up drinking more cervezas than hitting the ball with any sort of accuracy. Perhaps it is time to consider getting the CLOT BUSTERS #TeamStopTheClot polka-dots on to a polo shirt so that the polka-dots can also get on the golf courses of the world!

Well, I bring up golf on this post because I just learned through our network of blood clot survivors that an active PGA Professional Golfer is in fact a blood clot survivor.  How about that?

In fact this Blood Clot Survivor also came close to a victory in the Rocket Mortgage Classic that was played from July 1st through the 4th.  TROY MERRITT came in second on this tournament which is truly remarkable considering what he went through back in 2018 when his clotting incident took place.  He is definitely a picture of consistency despite some of the hurdles he had to overcome.

I found a couple of articles that explain in pretty good detail the extent of his clotting incident and what he had to do recover.

ARTICLE FROM THE GOLF CHANNEL 

ARTICLE FROM OTBSPORTS.com

In the more than 13 years of doing this blog I don't recall ever getting the opportunity to feature the story of a professional golfer. It is great to read that he has been able bounce back from his clotting incident and continues his professional career at the highest level. 

For sure I need to consider the polka-dots for a polo shirt at some point in the future. They will have to be subtle so that they wont distract your opponents at the golf course...

Keep on enjoying the summer as much as you can while doing what you love. At the golf course or anywhere else... BLOOD CLOT SURVIVORS CAN DO ANYTHING!

Thank you for reading.

The Clot Buster

June Athlete of the Month

Time is flying...

I blinked a few times and the school year is over + May is gone + and I have been enjoying the fires in our backyard a lot.

Racing in the CLOT BUSTER #TeamStopTheClot polka-dots is coming into focus and June, July and August will have me doing some serious triathloning... the only problem is that I have not been in a pool since last September... I am going to be scrambling to get ready for my first race in 2 weeks time... I just need for our local pool to open PRONTO!

The inspiration to race in the #TeamStopTheClot polka-dots is there and growing every day.  Getting the opportunity to meet more Blood Clot Survivors and learning about their stories keeps the fire going so that I can get the polka-dots out racing to Celebreate and Remember ALL BLOOD CLOT SURVIVORS.  

Very excited to share with your LINDSAY's story for the June Athlete of the Month post.  She does two of the sports I enjoy a great deal and that I am getting to race more and more.  Certainly Lindsay's story will bring along a great deal of motivation and inspiration to get out there because she is a perfect example of the fact that BLOOD CLOT SURRVIVORS CAN DO ANYTHING!  Many Thanks to Lindsay for sharing her story.

Please read on and enjoy!

What is you sport/activity of choice? Why do you enjoy it?

Cycling & Kayaking! I love that I can take my bike out and ride anywhere in nature and I love kayaking because it's a fun activity on the water! I get to explore different areas either by bike or kayak! 

How did you get started in that sport? 

I begged my uncle for my first bike while on a camping trip when I was really young! I saw so many kids riding their bikes around the campground and it looked so fun. I just started kayaking a few years ago when a friend of mine invited me to try their kayak on a lake near our house. I was scared at first but was instantly hooked! 

What is the latest milestone you achieved or plan to achieve? (Long bike ride, some race coming up or that you did).

I just completed my second PeloFondo event since my clotting episode. The first one I rode a total of 38 miles just 5 weeks after being cleared to get back on my bike. I set a goal to ride 50 miles 3 months later during the second event and I did it!

Tells about your clotting episode.  Are you on blood thinners now? How long were you out of commission? 

I ended up in the ER the evening of Oct 5, 2020 with severe shortness of breath, after blacking out. My imaging showed both lungs full of clots with severe right heart strain/pulmonary hypertension. I was taken to emergency surgery for 5 hours to remove as many clots as possible. After a short stay in the ICU and a couple of nights in the CCU I was discharged home. I am currently on blood thinners and will likely remain on them for the rest of my life. I was off work for 3 months and returned Jan 4, 2021. 

When were you able to get back into your activity?  How did it feel that first time?   

My cardiologist and pulmonologist cleared me to start riding my bike at low intensity/short duration on Dec 7, 2020 - 2 months after my clots/surgery. I started off on my indoor spin bike (Peloton) doing 5 min rides. I felt so weak, which was frustrating, but I was thankful to be on the bike and was determined to improve and get stronger! 

What is your favorite piece of gear for your favorite activity?

I love my Peloton and Trek hybrid bike. My favorite kayak is my Perception Tribe! 

How much are you getting out doing your sport? 

I have not been kayaking since my clotting event - yet. But plan to asap! I am biking 4-5 days/week both indoor and outdoor! 

What is your favorite food?  

I love Thai food and sushi! :) But Mexican food is a favorite as well! 

If you could go some place to visit and explore, where would like to go?

I'd love to go to Switzerland! 

What would like to say to someone who is going through a clotting episode, perhaps very similar to yours?  How can people return todo what they enjoy? Tells about your concerns and what you look out after as you returned to action.

Be patient with yourself. Your body has experienced trauma and it will take time to heal. Find what you can do comfortably and start there, and build slowly as you start to feel stronger. I wear a heart rate monitor and have my target heart rates calculated so I know what my safe zones are (and the zones to avoid/when to back off or slow down) and I discussed those numbers with my medical team. I always wear my heart rate monitor for all activity. Stay hydrated, drink lots of water and stay active as much as you can - even if you can only walk a few steps starting out. And always discuss with your medical team - your plans, how things are going, what you're seeing/experiencing, how you're feeling, and any concerns. Blood Clot survivors are warriors!! 

So glad that when you were treated adn diagnosed properly right from the start. So many times we have seen that it has taken several attempts at a diagnosis before the appropriate determination is made. It gives me hope that we are improving in our diagnosis of clotting events so that treatments can be started when needed.

Very cool that you are back on your bike CRUSHING IT and soon enough ready to get back in the water with your Kayak. No doubt that it will feel incredible when you get back in the boat and cruise along. Can't wait to hear about where you will be able to go exploring because YOU CAN!

Thank you for reading,

The Clot Buster