A rider who spent three weeks in hospital with severe blood clots has warned others to be aware of the life-threatening condition.
Becky Read suffered deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism some six weeks ago and was lucky she did not lose her leg — or her life.
My name is Benita Percival, I am 26 years old and I am a scientist at DeMontfort University, Leicester. After submitting my PhD thesis, I was ready to undertake my viva voce on the 18th March 2020. I am a netball player and play with two awesome teams, Blaby Netball Club and Turner’s Tornadoes. Never for a second, did I think for I would have any medical problems having been active and healthy all my life.
I've worked in administration all my working career, from emergency services to local authority, to local press and more recently in the NHS.
My story starts in March 2020 when I underwent a medical termination in hospital. The termination went wrong and I ended up needing medical intervention and two blood transfusions.
I was 16 at the time so just starting my GCSE’s. One Morning I woke up for school, and my left leg felt very strange and sore, so I got out of bed and tried to put weight on it which made me feel even worse. I tried to carry on as normal thinking that I may have twisted or sprained it in the night.
An East Lancashire sportswoman is urging people to look out for the symptoms of Deep Vein Thrombosis after suffering a life-changing episode of the condition.
The people who were really saved that day, was my family.
All thanks to the Medical Team in Critical Care ward 6 in the New KOC Hospital in Ahmadi, Kuwait.
It’s still strange looking back. I’ve never smoked, no family history, genetics are negative, protein and minerals were all good. Walking around 5-13km a day for the two weeks before. It was unprovoked and no signs or symptoms to make me think.
In the end, I was able to see my oldest Daughters graduation.
I was 9 weeks pregnant with my fourth child, I was suffering from hyperemesis gravidarum (extreme morning sickness) and began to develop a headache on the right side of my head. Assuming it was due to the side effects of the anti-sickness medications I carried on as best as I could with my young children.
Tragically, in the final days of completing the novel, Gio passed away due to a pulmonary embolism.
Ken shares their story, and his decision to launch the novel in memory
of Gio, with all proceeds raised being donated to Thrombosis UK.
Later that evening she thought she must have pulled a muscle in her shoulder… in fact this was the start of an agonising twelve months.
Despite trauma and loss, Jenny’s message is inspiring, “Stay strong, listen to your body, express your feelings and get the support needed to get through this! We can do it together!”