On August 11, 2014 I went to ER after getting off my midnight shift at work due to a relentless Charlie Horse in my left calf that was debilitating.

They ordered what’s called a CT Angiogram where they pump contrast dye into an IV to get a good look at my abdomen and leg arteries to see if they were blocked.

After they put dye in my abdomen and legs, they quickly rushed me by ambulance to a bigger hospital and straight to the operating room because of the findings.

Blood clots throughout my abdomen and my legs.

The doctor told me that if we would’ve waited until morning to treat the artery blockages they found, I would’ve been dead.

He told my husband, at the time, that his first goal was to try to save my life.

After he felt comfortable my life wasn’t on the line, he would then try to save my legs.

He did both.

But my journey didn’t stop there.

I develop thousands of clots about every month.

But no one can figure out why I keep developing blood clots despite multiple variations of blood thinners.

I have gone through seven different hematologists and 13 different vascular surgeons.

Yet, still no answers.

I am a former smoker.

But all agree that something more is going on in my body than the effects of that on my arteries.

I’m about to have my 67th surgery to clear my left leg.

I have killer collaterals and that’s probably the only reason I still have 2 legs!

Why?

Yes, I WALK AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE!!!!!

I push through that wretched pain to just get one more step in and wake up a collateral vessel to help get just that much more blood flow re-route around my blockages.

So, I would say that if you are in a situation like me, walk as much as you can.

And ALWAYS get a 2nd,3rd, even 4th or 5th opinion!!!

In my case, 13 different vascular opinions!

When one threatened to chop off my legs, I found another with more advanced skills to give me another day standing on two feet.

It is SO important to get to advanced skilled surgeon and to walk to keep that blood moving.

I, myself, have Kym McNicholas as a health advocate and she’ll be one for any of you.

I wouldn’t have my leg or probably even be alive if it wasn’t for her.

Please reach out to her for help through the Leg Saver Hotline.

If you ever just need a ear to listen to you for anything, my inbox is ALWAYS open.

You can find me in the Facebook group at www.padsupportgroup.org.

Just tag me once you are there!

Always remember that YOU ARE A WARRIOR, and if you fall, that’s why we are all here, so we can hold you up when you need us.