Le Keisha’s DVT started after the birth of her daughter.
Risk Factors:
- Pregnancy
- Major Surgery
- Family History of DVT
I cannot stress the importance of making sure you go the doctor right away if something isn’t right, it can make all the difference.”
When seven-pound newborn Caitlyn Lei’ Lana Ruffin was placed in her mother’s arms, 31-year-old Le Keisha Ruffin was overcome with an instant feeling of gratitude and love at becoming a mother. She had no idea that her harrowing experiences over the next several weeks would overshadow her feelings of joy.
Le Keisha was home from the hospital only a short time when she started to feel extremely ill. Her husband Craig made several trips to the emergency room with her, only for her to be sent home after being told she was having pain as a complication from her Cesarean section. As her pain increased, she began to experience stabbing sensations in her chest and side. Her husband took her back to the emergency room, but once again, Le Keisha was sent home.
On January 9th, her pain intensified to the point where she was having difficulty walking. Another trip back to the ER uncovered that Le Keisha had a blood clot or deep vein thrombosis (DVT). The reason Le Keisha was experiencing so much pain was because the clot had broken loose and had traveled through her heart into her lungs, causing a pulmonary embolism (PE).
“The ER doctor then informed me that, if I had not come into the hospital when I did, I would not have lived through the rest of the night,” said Le Keisha. “She said I was the miracle patient because this clot had probably been parading around in my lungs for weeks!”
Now clot -free, Le Keisha says that she’s getting stronger every day and feels very grateful to be alive and able to walk.
“I am so blessed that I’m doing as well as I am,” said Le Keisha. “I cannot stress the importance of making sure you go the doctor right away if something isn’t right, it can make all the difference.”
