Shop The Clot – J Wells Brewery Event

Lisa

Wishing I was in Colorado at my friend Lisa ‘s and her husband’s brewery tonight to help celebrate and pay forward everything she’s overcome and then the amazing achievements she’s accomplished this past year. I can honestly and wholeheartedly say that she is one of my Sister Strong Survivors who, without having met, my current recovery would not have been the same. Instead of letting me be ‘me’, she looked past that and was determined I was to be her friend and she didn’t let me stop her even though I did my best to. Despite my many warnings, massive moodiness, lengthy self imposed alone times, social ‘everything is fine’ mask wearing routine desperate attempts at not allowing anyone into the inner circle to see or know the ‘real’ me, she didn’t give up. For that, I’ll always be indebted and grateful. Congratulations!!! You deserve every moment tonight and remember… Take a moment… Breathe in…. Breathe out… REPEAT…

P.S. For all those who were concerned regarding how I would cope with recovery after my PE both mentally and physically having known how difficult it had been previously, this is one of the Sisters you should thank for the complete 180 this time. — feeling hopeful with Lisa Cowan Wells at J Wells Brewery.

Now for the shameless plug…. J. Wells Brewery didn’t end their fundraising efforts when the party did. They will continue to raise charitable funds for the National Blood Clot Alliance with a portion of their proceeds from the sales of Lisa Red Beer and T-Shirts. T-shirts can be purchased online at

I WANT MY T-SHIRT!!!

and information on how to purchase Lisa Red check out

J Wells Brewery – Boulder, CO

Lisa Red Beer T-Shirt

Also, whether you are a Survivor, family member, caregiver, or just want more information given by survivors themselves, be sure to check out the Facebook survivor group that was founded, continues to be operated, and lead by Lisa at Surviving The Silent Killer or follow the link on my Facebook page at Living~Not Just Surviving.

The Clot Must Be Fought – Our Stories

So many lives….so many stories… Other survivors share:

Our Stories @ The Clot Must Be Fought

Affairs Of The Heart

Blood Is Thicker Than….

As we celebrate love’s ‘holiday’ tomorrow, remember that it’s all an affair of the heart and blood is thicker than water….

and for some, our own lifesourcefights our very existence it supports.

We are strong!We are SURVIVORS!!! ♥

 

Go Red For Women ♥ American Heart Association

Power To End Stroke

Stop The Clot

 

Ain’t Got Time For That

Today was one of those ‘Wow! I’ve changed!’ days. This last episode of blood clots really has changed my perspective and attitude regarding how I deal with things. Today was a day of disgruntled clients, IT/computer issues (my lifeline for getting my job completed), bickering coworkers, and more. Previously this would have driven me into complete and overdrive bitchiness in which I would follow suit with griping, complaining, and thinking everything was out to get me. This time was different. When the tensions and stresses mounted, I did exactly what I resolved to do with my New Years resolution. I breathed in….then I breathed out…and repeated…. By taking on one issue at a time in order of importance, I started working through them. I actually looked at the problem…not one sidedly, but from different perspectives. While with the clients, I listened, not just heard, but really listened to what was being said. What I learned was that by taken a little bit of extra time, I could almost actually see what could be done and was able to honestly say I would do my best to do what would satisfy the situation. It wasn’t just lip service, I actually meant it moreso than I have in the past. We all are guilty of ‘yes’ing people. Its done for so many different reasons and we do it so out of routine that we may not even be aware of it. Today…..I realized it. Today….I learned it. Today….I changed it! Take a moment to… Breathe in… Breathe out…. Repeat!!!

I’m A Survivor!!!!

My current battle with my genetic clotting disorder..I survived!!!

Christmas Day 2012:

Just barely three weeks ago…I cheated death by surviving the coroner’s ‘bread and butter’. I threw a saddle clot which stopped my heart for an unknown amount of time…but merely seconds on a clock. This disease/disorder/deficiency will eventually kill me unless human accident gets me first. I’m trying to find others to gather with me in searching for more answers to many unknown questions and alternative preventative treatments. If not a cure in my lifetime, than a cure for my son and his unborn children….Please help me in the fight against this silent killer

Post PE precautions where in order ESPECIALLY when the Orkin man showed up for his monthly visits at my work facility…

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This is my original story:

 I am 2nd generation ATIII Congenital having my first DVT/VTE at age 19 which wasn’t diagnosed immediately as I was pregnant at the time. It wasn’t until after the delivery of my son and only after the insistent urging of my mother, that the possibility of my having this at that age was grudgingly given in too and after a very painful venogram, was finally diagnosed and was not just venous, but arterial. Why was my mother so insistent about what it was? It was because she had lived with recurring DVT/VTE’s for over half her life with her first being diagnosed directly after having given birth to me. My mother was the first generation, having skipped a generation through my grandfather. My sister is also an active ATIII Congenital. As of two weeks ago, I thought the only worry or concern I would have would be that any future granddaughters of mine would someday become active through my son, as in the years that I have researched ATIII the most common and recurring thread is that, usually, men are carriers not actively diagnosed. That has all now changed as of June 6, 2011 when my 22 year-old son was rushed to the emergency room for the third time in just as many days. He, once again, had a CT scan done of his head which revealed something perplexing to the physicians. The doctors were stumped until I arrived at the hospital where he had been taken and told them about our family genetic disorder. The final diagnosis was cerebral sinus venous thrombosis and accompanying brain bleed concurrent with stroke and  seizures secondary to ATIII Congenital. He too has now been tested and diagnosed with ATIII Congenital.