View allAll Photos Tagged BirthDefects,
February 7, 2016: Everyone is invited to participate in, or simply spectate this family-friendly spectacle showcasing our local personality and creativity. Asheville's Mardi Gras downtown celebration is rapidly growing as more and more sparkles, feathers, and beads show up each year to march in the annual parade. The parade, led by this year's King and Queen, will be full of dancers, roller skaters, drummers and krewes of colorful characters. The theme for 2016 is Saints vrs Sinners (since it's on Super Bowl Sunday). The high energy parade starts at 3:05 PM and marches down Wall Street, Battery Park Avenue, Haywood Street, and Page Avenue by the Grove Arcade. This parade is an exuberant and irreverent downtown event in the dead of mid-winter. Zaniness, political satire, and amazing displays of populist art appreciated! This is fun for the entire family - no alcohol and nudity at this celebration. You are also welcome to join the Line-Up Party on Wall Street, 11 AM-3:04 PM. Asheville Mardi Gras is a social aid and pleasure club as well as an arts and culture group. Their purpose is to strengthen Western North Carolina’s community connections through promoting creativity, frivolity and celebration, based on the traditions of Mardi Gras. They show up at many Asheville events throughout the year to add plenty of fun and personality.
A mentally disabled boy plays with his shadow on the floor of the Go Vap orphanage.
The Go Vap orphanage is one of the largest orphanages in Southern Vietnam. The orphanage provides food, housing, and education to about 200 children in the outskirts of Ho Chi Minh City. Many of the children, aged from newborns to eighteen years old, have mental or physical disabilities and the orphanage raises and educates them. The people who care for the children are loyal, caring and diligent, but sadly their resources are limited. The orphans' rooms are often filled to maximum capacity leaving little room for playing or personal space."
Source: Discover ELT Vietnam
Big Bear Alpine Zoo - Rescue, Rehab and Release is their motto. They DO NOT collect specimens from the wild.
These sisters were born up in Seattle and had a birth defect that caused them to lose sight in their right eyes. Here is their story:
Sometimes it can feel like the weather mirrors your life. On this morning I was a day away from finding out the sex of our child, so seeing those pink clouds light up was a powerful moment. In early 2016 my first chance for dedicated photography as an approaching storm lined up with sunrise. This spectacular phenomena occurs when tule fog breaches the Diablo foothills and streams through the Valley.
Today is the day the reality that she will never be able to experience this world. So I dedicate this to my daughter. My daughter who never had a chance, who I will never get to see. :( I love you so much my heart bleeds
Image from the Brockhaus and Efron Encyclopedic Dictionary, published in Russia,1890-1907.
The book copyright has expired, and the contents are now in the public domain.
Best viewed in the original (largest) size.
Handmade, OOAK art doll. 10.75 inches tall.
Mixed media including fabric and Paperclay.
Copyright © 2009, Shain Erin. All rights reserved.
One of the things that amazed me most about Iran is that so much of it is home to nomadic peoples, currently @ 1.5 million. "By 1920 nomadic pastoral tribes were over 1/4 of Iran's population. Their numbers declined sharply as a result of forced settlement in the '20s and '30s. Continued pressure as well as the lure of the cities and settled life have resulted in a further sharp decline since the '60s".
- What concerns me most now is the contamination of their grazing lands in Western Iran (and the land of all peoples there and in Iraq and Afghanistan) with radioactive uranium dust blowing in from Iraq where the US and Brits have been using nuclear-waste coated munitions, and which has seen a huge increase in cancers and birth defects. (One scientist quoted by Project Censored calculates the amount of radiation these have released in Iraq is roughly equivalent to 250,000 Nagasaki bombs, recalculated since at 400,000, and the amount in Afghanistan to 83,000.) : www.projectcensored.org/top-stories/articles/4-high-urani... . I assume everyone in W. Iran, particularly nomads like the Lors, now face a huge increase in cancers, birth defects and stillbirths. The 1/2 life of the radioactive dust is in the billions of years (ie. forever). Here's an interview with an independent scientist re the history and use of these weapons. She stresses that the nano-size of the particles are a greater threat than their toxicity or radioactivity. www.youtube.com/watch?v=2iSF9HyF7bw . Another good video: www.youtube.com/watch?v=3MfNGHnuZLQ . One of the recent reports re the refusal of women in Fallujah to get pregnant because of the great number of deformities there (DU's not mentioned in these new reports. The cover-up continues. Skynews refers to white phosphorous, how could that be the cause?): www.youtube.com/watch?v=--zQPty6b2Y&feature=related Here's a good Al Jazeera report from Jan 2010: www.youtube.com/watch?v=S-u2VW4XymA
- A list and description of Iranian nomadic peoples: www.bestirantravel.com/culture/history/nomads.html
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My blind commentary reaction to "Teenage Pregnancy_2016"
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Hi everyone, thanks for watching, I hope you enjoyed this video, please subscribe for more, thanks for the support, love you all xxx
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Teenage Pregnancy_2016
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Teenage Pregnancy
Most teenage girls don't scheme to get pregnant, but many do.
Teen pregnancies carriage extra health risks for both mother and baby.
They have a higher risk for pregnancy-related high blood pressure and its complications.
Also baby may in risk include premature birth and a low birth weight.need regular antenatal care Taking your antenatal vitamins for
your health and to prevent some birth defects Avoiding smoking, alcohol, and drugs. Using a condom, if you are having sex, to prevent
sexually transmitted diseases that could hurt your baby.
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Keywords:
Teenage,Pregnancy,teenage,girls,scheme,Plan,Teen, pregnancies,carriage,health
risks,mother,baby,antenatal,problems,blood,pressure,complications,premature birth,low birth weight,vitamins,birth defects,Avoiding,
smoking,alcohol,drugs,condom,having sex,sex,sexually,transmitted,diseases,hurt,2016,
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"Teenage Pregnancy_2016"
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All is Well!
Brayton Point is one of the worst-polluting coal-fired power plants on the east coast. It's been shut down in 2017 and hopefully we can transition it to something for renewable energy.
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This morning I was checking on the date of the MOD walk in my area. { Something I do every year.} Decided to dedicate today's 366 image to this organization. This is my favorite charity and one I support regularly. Here is a little history and info.
The March of Dimes Foundation is a United States nonprofit organization that works to improve the health of mothers and babies. It was originally founded by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1938 to combat polio. Once this mission was accomplished the M.O.D. Foundation switched its focus to improving the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality.
The March of Dimes provides mothers, pregnant women and women of childbearing age with educational resources on baby health, pregnancy, preconception and new motherhood, as well as supplying information and support to families affected by prematurity, birth defects, or other infant health problems.
If you are in the U.S. and would like to walk for babies please click here to find an event.
If you would like to help sponsor the March of Dimes please click here
All images were downloaded from:
archive.org/details/vlyssisaldrouan00aldra/page/n45/mode/2up
This masterpiece was actually published posthumously in 1642
This is David, he was born without thumbs.
David grew up in Chicago, where he was a high school basketball star. At 18 he wrote his Congressman, who helped him enlist in the U.S. Army.
His pick to win the Superbowl is the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Will Kirkpatrick
Sixteen-year-old Will Kirkpatrick, born with spina bifida, walks with the support of a cane or crutches, but most of the time he uses a wheelchair. Will’s disability doesn’t interfere with his busy schedule. When he’s not in school, he enjoys spending his time fishing, hunting, swimming, playing basketball and hanging out with family and friends. He and his brother like to watch TV together and surf social media sites such as Facebook. In the summer, he spends his time at two recreational camps.
More information about living with disabilities:
•CDC’s work in Disability and Health www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/disabilityandhealth/index.html
•Lakeshore Foundation www.lakeshore.org
•United Nations International Day of Persons with Disabilities (December 3) www.un.org/disabilities/default.asp?id=111
•CDC Video: Bernard Baker - “What’s Disability to Me?” www.cdc.gov/NCBDDD/video/bernard/index.html
•CDC Feature Article: “People with Disabilities: Living Healthy” www.cdc.gov/Features/Disabilities/
•CDC Feature Article: “Twentieth Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)” www.cdc.gov/Features/ADAAnniversary/
All images were downloaded from:
archive.org/details/vlyssisaldrouan00aldra/page/n45/mode/2up
This masterpiece was actually published posthumously in 1642
The infants of obese women are more likely to have congenital defects, and they are at greater risk of dying at or soon after birth. Babies who survive are more likely to develop hypertension and obesity as adults. To be sure, most babies born to overweight and obese women are healthy.
While on a errand today we spotted this TARC bus parked, idling, both to and from our destination. aka Running. No driver at the wheel. For at least 1/2 hour.
Transit Authority of River City
1000 W Broadway, Louisville, KY 40203
Phone: (502) 585-1234
This stop is the "end of the line" (or the beginning however one looks at it). When I was attempting to learn the bus lines a while back (didn't turn out well) there was a lady driver who'd sit at the driver's seat having her lunch. If you went near the bus while she was having lunch she'd bark your head off. Once I dropped a nickel and could not find it, she said, "Honey, you need full fare to ride on this bus" - I needed to be in court - I missed the court date - I have a warrant out for my arrest. I no longer care. I do see that lady is no longer driving this bus.
All images were downloaded from:
archive.org/details/vlyssisaldrouan00aldra/page/n45/mode/2up
This masterpiece was actually published posthumously in 1642
GIMPY is a very special young Canadian Goose (Branta Canadensis), who was born early in 2014 with a severe disability.
My wife's company moved into new premises in Dartford in July this year and that's when she first became acquainted with Gimpy and his three sibliings and single parent who looked after them all. As can be seen in the photograph, both his wings are deformed, no more than stumps that sit at a permanently jaunty angle, and are unable to move, develope or aid flight. My wife started feeding Gimpy and his siblings and watched them all grow and develope into young adults, before doing what comes naturally and taking to the wing, leaving little Gimpy alone in the lake to fend for himself.
Against the odds, Gimpy has survived, making friends with any Geese or Swans that frequent the lake, (he seems to think he is a Swan himself despite their persistant nips and abuse telling him otherwise), as well as becoming a much loved feathered celebrity with locals and pasers by, and staff at my wife's workplace who all feed him. Today, Sunday 12th September, my wife drove me to meet the Gimp Meister in the flesh, and I have to say I fell in love with the little fella. Such a cutie with a great determination and tenacity amidst the feisty swans and other wading birds, first to the food handouts, standing on your feet as he grabs both the food and your affection.
Gimpy, you are an extraordinary character, and a little beauty as well.
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Photograph taken at 10:25am an altitude of ten metres on Sunday 12th September 2014 off Bob Dun Way and Marsh Street in Dartford, Kent, England.
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Nikon D800 22mm 1/1600s f/2.8 iso100 RAW (14 bit) Hand held. Manual focus. Manual exposure. Matrix metering. Auto white balance.
Nikkor AF-S 14-24mm f/2.8G ED IF. Nikon MB-D12 battery grip. Two Nikon EN-EL batteries. Nikon DK-17M Magnifying Eyepiece. Nikon DK-19 soft rubber eyecup. Digi-Chip 64GB Class 10 UHS-1 SDXC. Lowepro Transporter camera strap. Lowepro Vertex 200 AW camera bag. Nikon GP-1 GPS unit.
LATITUDE: N 51d 27m 36.59s
LONGITUDE: E 0d 14m 13.19s
ALTITUDE: 10.0m
RAW (TIFF) FILE SIZE: 103.00MB
PROCESSED (JPeg) SIZE: 15.02MB
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Processing power:
HP Pavillion Desktop with AMD A10-5700 APU processor. HD graphics. 2TB with 8GB RAM. 64-bit Windows 8.1. Verbatim USB 2.0 1TB desktop hard drive. Nikon VIEWNX2 Version 2.10.0 64bit. Adobe photoshop Elements 8 Version 8.0 64bit
All images were downloaded from:
archive.org/details/vlyssisaldrouan00aldra/page/n45/mode/2up
This masterpiece was actually published posthumously in 1642
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***** Selected for sale in the GETTY IMAGES COLLECTION on April 16th 2015
CREATIVE RF gty.im/548736003 MOMENT OPEN COLLECTION**
This photograph becomes my 484th to be included for sale in the Getty Images 'Moment' collection and I am very grateful to them for this amazing opportunity.
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GIMPY is a very special young Canadian Goose (Branta Canadensis), who was born early in 2014 with a severe disability.
My wife's company moved into new premises in Dartford in July this year and that's when she first became acquainted with Gimpy and his three sibliings and single parent who looked after them all. As can be seen in the photograph, both his wings are deformed, no more than stumps that sit at a permanently jaunty angle, and are unable to move, develope or aid flight. My wife started feeding Gimpy and his siblings and watched them all grow and develope into young adults, before doing what comes naturally and taking to the wing, leaving little Gimpy alone in the lake to fend for himself.
Against the odds, Gimpy survived, making friends with any Geese or Swans that frequent the lake, (he seems to think he is a Swan himself despite their persistant nips and abuse telling him otherwise), as well as becoming a much loved feathered celebrity with locals and passers by, and staff at my wife's workplace who all feed him.
UPDATE 16th April 2015: Well, the little fella has now been missing for almost a week, my wife reporting that he has not been around when she feeds the birds since Monday. I know that several people had spoken to my wife about trying to rescue Gimpy and take him to a bird sanctuary, and I can only hope that this is the case, and not that he fell prey to the foxes in the area. Fingers crossed he is safe somewhere and being loved and pampered as he was during his time here on the lake.
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Photograph taken at 10:25am an altitude of ten metres on Sunday 12th September 2014 off Bob Dun Way and Marsh Street in Dartford, Kent, England.
.
.
Nikon D800 22mm 1/1600s f/2.8 iso100 RAW (14 bit) Hand held. Manual focus. Manual exposure. Matrix metering. Auto white balance.
Nikkor AF-S 14-24mm f/2.8G ED IF. Nikon MB-D12 battery grip. Two Nikon EN-EL batteries. Nikon DK-17M Magnifying Eyepiece. Nikon DK-19 soft rubber eyecup. Digi-Chip 64GB Class 10 UHS-1 SDXC. Lowepro Transporter camera strap. Lowepro Vertex 200 AW camera bag. Nikon GP-1 GPS unit.
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LATITUDE: N 51d 27m 36.59s
LONGITUDE: E 0d 14m 13.19s
ALTITUDE: 10.0m
RAW (TIFF) FILE SIZE: 103.00MB
PROCESSED (JPeg) SIZE: 16.26MB
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Processing power:
HP Pavillion Desktop with AMD A10-5700 APU processor. HD graphics. 2TB with 8GB RAM. 64-bit Windows 8.1. Verbatim USB 2.0 1TB desktop hard drive. Nikon VIEWNX2 Version 2.10.0 64bit. Adobe photoshop Elements 8 Version 8.0 64bit
This is BB. She was born without the use of her body behind the shoulders. But she doesn't care! She gets around just fine, both with and without her little cart. The cart was paid for her by a very special veterinarian and custom made for her by Pet Mobility Rehab Center, in Langley, WA. She and I traveled there, 8 hours each way, to have it fitted. Go, BB!
Pathological fetus with the Mermaid Syndrome in a jar.
At the NMHM (National Museum of Health and Medicine) in Washington DC.
Mallerie Badgett
(pictured left to right: Maggie Graham, Kristina Heuman, Mallerie Badgett)
Mallerie was born with cerebral palsy. When she was about three or four years old, she traded her crutches for a wheelchair. Shortly after, Mallerie began participating in sports and fitness at the Lakeshore Foundation recreation and education center. Today her favorite sports include basketball and track. She recently picked up rugby and hopes to play full-time soon.
Now, at 23 years old, she is finishing her bachelor’s degree in recreation at Birmingham’s Jefferson State Community College. Mallerie hopes to work for the Lakeshore Foundation someday.
More information about living with disabilities:
•CDC’s work in Disability and Health www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/disabilityandhealth/index.html
•Lakeshore Foundation www.lakeshore.org
•United Nations International Day of Persons with Disabilities (December 3) www.un.org/disabilities/default.asp?id=111
•CDC Video: Bernard Baker - “What’s Disability to Me?” www.cdc.gov/NCBDDD/video/bernard/index.html
•CDC Feature Article: “People with Disabilities: Living Healthy” www.cdc.gov/Features/Disabilities/
•CDC Feature Article: “Twentieth Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)” www.cdc.gov/Features/ADAAnniversary/
Caleb’s Story—Written by his mom, Stacy
There are many different emotions a mother and father go through when their child is born with a disability, but the emotion that most often gets stymied in the midst of tests and uncertainties is the simple beautiful joy of having a baby. Our son Caleb was born with Down syndrome a few months ago, and I did not wish to hide or ignore the diagnosis, but I found it difficult to celebrate as countless tests and pending results kept knocking at the door. Each time I looked at my baby boy, all I could see was a marvelous creation. He was not like any other baby—he was uniquely himself and he was altogether mine. Having a child with disabilities gives you a new cup by which to measure; a simple smile is no longer simple, it is a triumph and a glorious sight, and a common milestone on the doctor’s chart becomes the very corner stone of great hopes. We do not know how far our children will go, but we do know the depth of our love. I cherish my little boy each day and don’t waste the present worrying about the future.
Learn more about birth defects:
Disclaimer: Linking to a non-federal site does not constitute an endorsement by CDC, HHS, or any of its employees of the sponsors or the information and products presented on the site.
A preserved fetus with anencephaly, a fatal defect where the fetus develops without a brain and dies shortly after birth.
National Museum of Health and Medicine, Washington DC
Oliana, 13 years old, learns with her teacher to sew with her mouth because she can't move her arms and legs. She lives with other children in the orphanage of Zaluchya where children with birth defects abandoned by their families live, Ukraine. After the Chernobyl disaster the birth defects have increased in the contaminated areas of Ukraine, Belarus and Russia.
It was 60 degrees outside.
Transit Authority of River City
Address: 1000 W Broadway, Louisville, KY 40203
Phone: (502) 585-1234
Another cropped headshot. The snow can't be too much fun for her, when she can't protect her tongue from the snow and cold like all the other ducks...
More about her, if you haven't seen it already...
Zum 25-Jahr-Jubiläum spielte die HeimatBühne-See dieses Drama von Seimon Dreist.
© HeimatBühne-See, Bilder: Christian Lenz, Albert Tschallener
Katie
At 19 weeks of her second pregnancy, Julie and her husband, Andy, were excited because they were having an ultrasound to learn the sex of their second child. They never imagined the test would reveal anything more dramatic; however, they were told their baby would be born with spina bifida.
Their daughter, Katie, was born December 26, 2001. She is now 10 years old and has enjoyed "dancing" with the help of her wheelchair since the age of 3, inspiring other children with disabilities to dance as well. Katie is a straight "A" student who also plays baseball, soccer, takes music classes, sings in the church choir, and goes to a spina bifida camp each summer. “There is nothing she has wanted to do, that we haven't been able to get her to do with some modifications,” says Julie.
"Do I wish she did not have spina bifida and could run and play like other children? Yes. Life is tough for her. Simple things like pulling up her own pants can take a half-hour. She has had 15 surgeries and numerous hospitalizations because of infections," says Julie. "But our family has learned to appreciate the small things in life more. She has been a blessing to our family."
"I encourage other women to take 400 micrograms of folic acid if you are able to get pregnant, even if you are not planning a pregnancy. Studies have shown that it can help prevent spina bifida in many cases," said Julie. "If you've already had a child with a neural tube defect, it is recommended you take 4,000 micrograms of folic acid. That's what I did, and my next two children were not born with spina bifida."
Learn more about birth defects:
Disclaimer: Linking to a non-federal site does not constitute an endorsement by CDC, HHS, or any of its employees of the sponsors or the information and products presented on the site.
All images were downloaded from:
archive.org/details/vlyssisaldrouan00aldra/page/n45/mode/2up
This masterpiece was actually published posthumously in 1642
Handmade, OOAK art doll. 10.75 inches tall.
Mixed media including fabric and Paperclay.
Copyright © 2009, Shain Erin. All rights reserved.
Keaton’s Story—Written by his mom, Paula
My husband and I were both 40 years old with three beautiful daughters who were quickly becoming teenagers. Something possessed us to think that if we had another child, our nest would not be empty as soon and therefore we would not be “old.” So we did just that, well, the having the child part.
After 36 REALLY long hours we delivered our son at home with the help of midwives. My main concern was that his feet were turned in, but my husband was concerned that he looked like he may have Down syndrome. The midwives along with a family physician who was a member of our church assured us that we didn’t have anything to be concerned about, because he had good muscle tone, a strong cry, and did not have the single crease across the palm of his hands, which most babies with Down syndrome do. They pointed out that he did not look like “a typical Down syndrome baby.”
After 7 long months of denial, we submitted to a blood test, and it confirmed that our handsome little boy indeed had Trisomy 21. We were blessed with an amazing geneticist who encouraged me to raise my son in the same way I had his 3 older sisters, to expect great things. I remember asking “what do you think of my son?” and his reply was “he is a great little guy.” I countered with “no, I mean, what will he be able to do?” His reply to that was “he is the only one who will be able to show you that, he will be able to do anything any other kid can do, it will just take him a little longer.”
Keaton required surgery to repair club feet and open heart surgery to repair a heart defect, all before he was 2 years old. I can remember wondering at times if he would ever walk or talk. He is now 13 years old and keeps us all entertained with his dancing and singing. He sings the Star Spangled Banner every year for his school musical and anytime he receives an invitation, whether for a school board meeting or a high school volleyball game. He will tell you he is a “rock star.” He is happiest when he is making someone else happy by helping or serving.
Each phase of Keaton’s life has brought new challenges, and God has given us the wisdom to get through each one. As we ease in to the teen years, it brings a brand new bag of questions and forces this mom to think once again about how I will survive an empty nest. I have to tell myself we have made it this far, God will get us through the rest.
Learn more about birth defects:
Disclaimer: Linking to a non-federal site does not constitute an endorsement by CDC, HHS, or any of its employees of the sponsors or the information and products presented on the site.
Justin Thompson
As a 16 year-old high school junior, Justin is busy studying for the SAT exams. He’s excited about college and all the opportunities that come with it. On a typical day, he would be outside playing soccer – he’s known for his skills as a right defenseman. However, Justin has been in a wheelchair for the last year.
Justin was injured in 2011 in his home town of Brooklyn, New York. He was leaving a party with some friends when a group of armed men wearing hooded jackets approached them. One of the men fired at Justin and shot him in the back. The bullet grazed his spine, bruising the bone. Justin’s doctors are hopeful that he could have a full recovery. For now, he is paralyzed from the knees down.
Justin still hasn’t returned to school full-time. When he’s not studying for the SAT or worrying about driver’s education courses, he enjoys playing video games with his friends, seeing movies and watching TV.
More information about living with disabilities:
•CDC’s work in Disability and Health www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/disabilityandhealth/index.html
•Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation www.christopherreeve.org
•United Nations International Day of Persons with Disabilities (December 3) www.un.org/disabilities/default.asp?id=111
•CDC Video: Bernard Baker - “What’s Disability to Me?” www.cdc.gov/NCBDDD/video/bernard/index.html
•CDC Feature Article: “People with Disabilities: Living Healthy” www.cdc.gov/Features/Disabilities/
•CDC Feature Article: “Twentieth Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)” www.cdc.gov/Features/ADAAnniversary/
Rick’s Story
I am a 47 year old male, and am a DVT survivor. I rolled my ankle in January of 2012 playing tennis. I went directly to the emergency room, and they put me in a boot. I wore the boot for 4 weeks, then removed it and began wearing an ankle brace. It was uncomfortable, and swollen, but the swelling seemed to go down each night. After 6 weeks, my ankle and calf were extremely swollen during the day; about 250% the size of my other leg. I showed it to some friends, who have had multiple sprains before, and they immediately told me that it wasn’t right. I called and set an appointment with my doctor for the next day.
Upon seeing my leg, the doctor immediately sent me to the hospital for an ultrasound. I sat out in the hospital parking lot, and did a webinar and conference call for a prospective customer before going in; I did not yet understand the severity of my condition. When the technician did the ultrasound, she informed me that I had blood clots up and down my entire leg, and proceeded to show me the screen and explain what it meant. They then had me check into the hospital. At this point, I thought they'd give me a shot, and I would still be able to make it to my friend’s house to watch the NCAA basketball tournament. He was cooking up steaks, and I purposely skipped lunch so as not to ruin my appetite. I had been walking on it, and had been flying for work, for the past six weeks. How bad could it be? Well, after having 3 or 4 nurses tell me that it was a miracle I was still here, and after talking to the doctor later that evening, the severity of the situation began to set in.
The doctor strongly urged me to have a procedure called catheter-directed thrombolysis. What happened to the magic shot and some medicine, so I could go eat my steak and watch basketball with my friends? The doctor said that the interventional radiologist had reviewed my ultrasound, and suggested we do the surgery Sunday morning. I spoke with a doctor friend of mine, who called a hematologist friend of his, who stated that if the interventional radiologist was willing to come in on a weekend for surgery, I had better say yes; apparently they do not normally come in on weekends. I read up on the topic all I could, and then said let’s go through with the surgery. While it was a little uncomfortable, as I had a catheter in the vein in my calf for 24 hours and could not move, it was well worth it! The procedure cleared up almost all of the clots, and they inserted an inferior vena cava (IVC) filter to keep any remaining clots from getting to my lungs and causing a pulmonary embolism (PE).
I had no idea that I could get a blood clot from having a sprained ankle. I guess if I had gone to the doctor for a two week checkup, it may have been caught sooner. Nonetheless, within a week after being released from the hospital, I was walking on the treadmill; albeit at a much slower pace than I am used to. I had read on several internet sites that walking was the best thing for healing, and I am used to walking on the treadmill every morning. After 4 weeks, I was walking on the treadmill at the same speed as previous, and after 6 weeks I started playing tennis again. After 3 months, they removed the IVC filter. While I am now wearing a compression stocking on the one leg, and am on blood thinners, I am back to all the activities in which I engaged before DVT, and at the same level; not that I was any good before. Also, my leg is barely swollen. I feel so blessed that God was watching over me. I guess He has more work for me to do here.
CDC would like to thank Rick for sharing his personal story.
To learn more about deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism, visit the following sites:
www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/dvt/facts.html
www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/dvt
“This Is Serious” is a campaign that promotes awareness of how to prevent deep vein thrombosis, or blood clots, in women. For more information: www.ThisIsSerious.org
Stop the Clot is a program of the National Blood Clot Alliance, a non-profit, voluntary health organization dedicated to advancing the prevention, early diagnosis and successful treatment of life-threatening blood clots such as deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism and clot-provoked stroke. For more information: www.StopTheClot.org
www.stoptheclot.org/spreadtheword
Clot Connect is an education and outreach project of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Blood Clot Outreach Program. For more information: www.clotconnect.org/