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Mr. Adkins. My name is Drew Medcalf. I am the executive director of the Florida Association of State Troopers. Several years ago I suffered a near deadly PE that broke loose from a blood clot in my right leg. It is still there! Any way. I came across an article about your daughter Emily and corresponding legislation signed last year and was wondering if I could reprint it in our newsletter, FAST Forward. Troopers sit in patrol cars for multiple hours each day greatly increasing their chances of developing blood clots. Thanks very much for your consideration. My condolences and best wishes!

-Drew

I appreciate all of the coverage the News-Leader has given to Emily’s Promise, The Emily Atkins Prevention Act, and blood clot awareness. Earlier this year I was diagnosed with extensive blood clots in my lungs and fortunately, thanks to my physician, I had a positive outcome. 

My story is as follows.  In December 2022, I fell while on vacation injuring my right hip making my long flight home (RISK) miserable, and without much movement (RISK) for several weeks. In April I went to my see my PCP, Dr. Gerald Burford, for my annual physical. When he asked me the first general question of how I was doing, I told him I would get out of breath when walking fast and climbing stairs, likely because I was out of shape. He went over my history of having a hip replacement the previous June and a bad fall in December. Dr. Burford ordered several tests, including a D-dimer blood test. The D-dimer test, which can indicate blood clots, came back elevated. A CT scan quickly followed, and I was told I had extensive blood clots in my lungs requiring hospitalization. Immediately I was started on Heparin, and was sent home with a prescription for Eliquis, a blood thinner. If I didn’t have that physical scheduled, I would not have gone to see my doctor, and chances are that I wouldn’t be writing this letter.  I was very lucky. 

Thank you Dr. Burford for not buying into my statement, “I think I’m just out of shape.” He knew my risks and took action.  He saved my life.

According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), blood clots affect about 900,000 Americans a year, and about 100,000 people a year die from blood clots.  Please take time to know your risks. 

- Eileen M

I saw your story after coming home from the NEFF on the westside Journal; anyway, I had no idea someone could get blood clot from a broken ankle. I am having surgery on my achilles tendon on October 31, 2023 and i am now going to ask more questions!"

- Lisa H

I'm truly sorry to hear about the loss of Emily, I have been diagnosed with blot clots and have been on both Warfarin and Eliquis since 2017. My sister also passed from blood clots in 2013 . Despite being treated and diagnosed  I've never been given a reason why or how I developed them. I truly don't want to bring up race, however I'm a black female that has educated myself to the best of my abilities on blood clots. I have also had an unfortunate experience of having two blood clots in my lungs, while on Eliquis. I went to St. Vincent's ER, with concerns of a blood clots and I asked the Doctor to please check me for a blood clots, because of symptoms that I was experiencing. Sometimes a sonogram or blood test will not detect them in my experience. I have gastric intestinal problems due to a rare tumor on my pancreas called a Gastranomia tumor at the time I was diagnosed very little was known about them. So while at the ER, the doctor ran text and did a CT on my abdominal region and told me that I was constipated, despite me telling her that my bowels was regular including that day. I asked her did she text me for blood clots? " she replied no! I all but begged to be tested and she refused and stated that she didn't think that I had a blood clots despite my concerns and symptoms. And indicated that the CT showed hard stool. After 8 surgeries on my abdominal area, and always during research on my illnesses, I knew that I was suffering from a blood clot. I don't know if it was because I have Medicare and Medicade Medical needy with a high financial responsibility before the Medicare kicks in or if it was close to 11pm time for her to leave. She signed an order for me to have an injection of Relistore to produce a bowel movement and to be discharged after . Obviously I had concerns and fear at that point. I asked the nurse if I could Please speak to the Doctor, IT was approximately 11:02om. She indicated that she was gone and that I could wait to speak to another doctor because it was shift change, however it would be a while. So, I took the shot, barely moved by bowels, because thankfully this is one of the times that I knew that I didn't have a bowels blockage and I had been there for several hours. Fast forward the next morning, I was sitting in bed Indian style and felt a thumping in my thigh, I noticed it, ignored it. About 3 hours later I started experiencing pain near my right upper rib cage , under arm area. Since the Doctor the night before pretty much had me convinced that I wasn't experiencing a blood clot and it was gastrial, I thought perhaps it was a gas bubble, so I started drinking hot tea and walking to pass gas. The more I walked I became out of breath, ( I live alone, thank God I wasn't alone that morning), within it seems like minutes I couldn't breathe, my friend called rescue. The firemen quickly checked my heart rate and all I remember was we have to go now ! They rushed me to Memorial Hospital in Orange Park, there was no time to take me to St. Vincent's which is where most of my Doctors are. After being rushed to different blood work and x-rays and CTs, I remember laying in the ER in the room with the lights off. The Doctor came in and touched my toes and then my shoulder, I could tell that he was concerned. He said to me " I'M SO GLAD THAT YOU GOT TO THE HOSPITAL WHEN YOU DID, YOU HAVE TWO BLOOD CLOTS , ONE IN EACH LUNG" and that I would have surly died. I began to explain the same story that I just shared with you. This obviously wasn't my first time having a blood clots, I was already on a blood thinners. Also, each I've I've had a blood clots it presented differently. Once I my stomach was distended to the point that I looked 8 months pregnant and had very little difficulty breathing. 

So, again I'm sincerely sorry for your loss because, I experienced the loss of my sister and this particular incident occurred in 2020. So not only does their need to be awareness , also Doctors having time and compassion without prejudice or considering a patients color, creed or gender and insurance and ability to pay. Even though I have insurance. I've served in the U.S. Army always had salaried jobs before becoming disabled and present myself very well and friendly to everyone. I've never told anyone other than my friends and family. I tried to file a complaint with St. Vincent's after my discharge and went to the administration office and was given the run around. No one should be denied treatment or access to treatments of this Silent Killer or any preventive services. Even to this day, I do not get any specialized treatment for my blood clots, I get blood work done regularly for other medical issues and take my Eliquis daily. So, this is bitter sweet for me. Because, I don't feel like little people have a voice or the resources or support or where to get support. I don't know if I would fit or benefit from your organization however I'm would participate and help in any manner. I'm happy to see Emily's Promise Organization   . It didn't save our love ones, however this is a positive and much needed light on a Killer that had taken many lives. Blessings and my condolences to you and your family. Thank you for taking the time to read my story and my journey.

I survived a PE in 1999. I spent 13 days in the hospital. Anything I can do to help I would do. Please let me know three days in the hospital and I had to administer shots to my belly for 14 days. I was so close. I count my blessings now.

-Chris M.

I'm a law enforcement officer in FL now, but back in 2008, when I used to do the same for work in Colorado, I got hurt on the job in I had a knee surgery. Two days later I was very uncomfortable with cold sweats and confused. I wife drove me to the emergency hospital. A nurse argued with me and stated that it was noting wrong with me. After I refused to leave the hospital she called the police. A doctor showed up and after a quick examination, he proceeded to do tests. Some time later they found two blood cloths in my lung. I spent three days in the hospital and I had to administer shots to my belly for 14 days. I was so close. I count my blessings now.

-Tony T.

Good afternoon! I came across this story because I work at Centene Corporation. I was in my Monday meeting and one of the managers mentioned it and the contributions that was given. It really excites me because there does need to be more awareness of this silent killer. I too have experienced this same thing. I broke my leg, my tibia. All was going well and when I was able to come out of the cast, I started feeling horrible cramps in my leg to the point where I was in tears. I went to my doctor the next day after being up all night. He immediately sent me to the hospital for an ultrasound. Next thing I know, I was being wheeled to ICU. I had a blood clot in my leg from the immobilization of the cast. A huge clot! I was immediately started on blood thinner injections. I was released a few days later. Well in less than 24 hours, my 7 year old found me passed out on the floor as I was trying to make breakfast. When I got to the hospital, I had 6 clots that had travelled to my lungs. I was admitted again. I’m so blessed to be alive and I always want to make every effort to advocate for this. I have had several blood clots since then and each time I alway think, is this it? It never gets easy. I have done work with Bristol Myers Squibb to spread awareness of this disease. Please let me know of any events you have and I would love to come support. I am located in Tampa, FL. I have you website so I can start to donate as well. I wish you all the blessings and have a great day!

-Tabitha

I know not only because of Emily, but because it almost took me, and it did take the daughter of a life-long friend who I grew up with and who now lives on Marco Island.

My PE was silent and painless. I just started needing to breathe faster and faster. I called my primary care doc, Gerald Burford and told him my symptoms. He said Tish should drive me from our home on Amelia to the Nassau Baptist hospital. He called ahead and the E.D. team (nine of them!) had me on a gurney in a treatment room, doing x-rays, blood tests, and shots in my belly. I was in ICU for a couple of days. It was a ‘Double-Saddle Pulmonary Embolism’ that flopped two jelly-bean sized clots linked together onto the veins that feed blood to the lungs. Double Saddles are not common and apparently kill most who have them. When I left the hospital, Dr. George Le-Bert said that based on the odds, Tish should have been preparing my funeral, not picking me up to go home. By the grace of God, I survived.

The 35- year old daughter of my lifelong friend on Marco also died from a clot that had formed after she broke her ankle and had surgery to fix the break.

We both had DVT. I survived, she didn’t. In 2016. I knew it should have been old out of shape me who died, not this young, funny 35 year old girl Kara.

Embolisms are the bullets that are fired into the bloodstream and travel to heart, lungs or brain. They call it an ischemic heart attack or a stroke. In reality, it’s usually a clot.

I pray for Emily, Kara and unknown others. I’m thankful that I survived. But there are people dying every day from what might be the root cause of so many deaths. We should focus on the formation of the BLOOD BULLET, not where the bullet ends up."

-Harvey Slentz