After my blood clot in my leg (DVT) and blood clot in my lung (PE) in the summer of 2012, I felt pain, fear and isolation with a degree of finality that I had never felt before. Physically, I had never felt as much pain as I did then and after losing all normal aspects of my life, I had never felt as hopeless and alone. I spent my days worrying about my health, my career, my ability to do the things I loved again and ultimately, my future. I did not know what I would be able to do with my life after blood clots, but I knew in regards to my personal and professional endeavors, it was always been important to me make a difference in the lives of others.
In searching for a way to get my life back on track after my diagnosis, I began working at Make-A-Wish Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana in hopes of finding a place where I could once again make a difference, this time in the lives of children facing life-threatening illnesses. From the beginning, I found I could relate to the Make-A-Wish mission to provide hope, strength and joy to those families going through unspeakable hardship, because I had been through a similar experience in my own life. Make-A-Wish gave me hope when I had all but given up on my future, strength to stand on my own two feet again, and joy in the opportunity to bring happiness to others.
When I launched Blood Clot Recovery Network in the early 2013, it was my goal to create a place where people could come together to share, learn, discuss and ultimately gain hope that, as a Survivor of blood clots, there is life and wellness. That while the pain, fear and isolation was the worst I had ever encountered, these feelings wouldn’t last forever and even more importantly, they didn’t have to be endured alone. While I hoped to make a difference once again in the lives of others, I feared that no one really cared about blood clots at the end of the day. Still, I said to myself, if I could help just one other person out there, I had done my job and I continued to pursue my advocacy work through BCRN.
Since that time, I know from your emails, posts, messages and tweets that I have reached countless people – far more than I ever thought possible. In fact, it was this community that gave me hope through some of my darkest days when I realized that I wasn’t going to be well in a week or two, or even six. Through it all, I kept writing and as this community expanded, so did my desires and dreams for raising even more awareness and elevating my work to another level that would give me the opportunity to reach an even greater number of people or make an even greater impact in the VTE community.
In light of those dreams, it is with great excitement that I have accepted a full-time position with the National Blood Clot Alliance as part of the Communications and Health Marketing team. In this role, I am excited to now be able to fully dedicate my days and my work to what I enjoy most, raising awareness about VTE. I am able to better pursue my passion and focus singularly on raising awareness and making sure people get the information they need to know about blood clots. Working with the National Blood Clot Alliance, and given the organization’s resources and unparalleled reach in the VTE community, I am confident I have an amazing opportunity to reach an optimal number of people, both those already affected by blood clots and those who don’t know what a blood clot is or how it might affect them.
It is without doubt that BCRN and the community you have helped create will continue. I look forward to continuing to blog and interact with you here. Your support, encouragement, stories and thoughts have made a difference, not only in my life, but in the lives of one another — in the lives of those who have survived, those who have lost a loved one, those who are scared, those who are recovering, those who are in pain, lonely and afraid, and those who are learning to live again. While I have provided the resources, it is you who has nurtured this community to make it what it is today.
To you I am grateful, and I hope you will continue on this journey of hope and healing with me, both here at BCRN and in my wonderful new relationship with the National Blood Clot Alliance.
There is hope for healing and you are not alone,
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Living The Life You Describe……Know Those Feelings REAL Well!
Thanks for reading and being a part of this community. It is good to know we are not alone.
Congratulations, Sara! You do good work, and I know that the National Blood Clot Alliance will benefit from your smarts, your spirit, and your commitment. Good going!!!
Thank you so much for your support and kind words, Martha. I am glad to have you here as a part of this community.
Congratulations Sarah! Thank you for all the hard work you do building awareness and community!
Thank you, Rory. And thank you for being a part of this community.
Sara — all of us here at Make-A-Wish are excited for this next step for you! You helped make such a different in the lives of thousands of wish kids and their families and we are thrilled that you will continue your life-changing work, only this time on a bigger stage. Thank you and good luck!
Hi Doug. Thank you so much for your support! I look forward to when our paths might connect again in the future. My best to you and all at Make-A-Wish.
Congratulations on your position with the National Blood Clot Alliance, what a great opportunity. I’m also glad that you will continue with BCRN.
Thank you very much, Kimberly! I am glad to have you as part of the community and look forward to continuing this journey with you.
Dear Sara, You’re such an amazing Lady!! Your work, here and with National Blood Clot Alliance will no doubt, be an inspiration and create a solid vision for those who follow!! I’m PROUD of you Sara!! God bless you as you follow your dream, your Mission to help, support and educate others!! Much love! Many prayers!! ❤️
Hello Miss Sue! Thanks so much for your support, it really means a lot to me, and I am so grateful we have connected. I look forward to many more conversations I know we will have in the future. Thank you for being a part of my journey – both here and with the NBCA. <3
Sara, How the heck did I miss this! I have been so preoccupied with my own group, Illnesses, kids, etc…I guess. I sincerely am so happy for you my dear sweet sis♡ What an exciting new journey that I am looking forward to traveling alongside you♡ What am incredible inspiration you have been in my life and so many others! ♡ good luck! 🙂
Hi Lisa. Thank you so much, sweet friend. You have been with me here at BCRN since very early on, and I have admired your tenacity, desire, drive and commitment to help others on this recovery journey we are both on. Don’t worry – you didn’t miss it – we have had a lot going on in the VTE world these past few days. 😉 I am looking forward to where this journey takes us. Talk soon and take care.
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