ETIWANDA, Cal. – My, how things can change in a year! I remember last year, sitting in this very spot at Auto Club Speedway, heartbroken for Brian Vickers, who was forced to sit out the race as the result of another blood clot. His story resonated with me for so many reasons. First, I have spent the majority of my working life in healthcare. I have experienced many, many patients with blood clots and witnessed their struggles firsthand. Blood tests, routinely, sometimes daily in the early therapy, coupled with finding the right anticoagulant medication and dosage sometimes led to feelings of hopelessness, frustration and even depression for some of my patients. As their advocate and healthcare team professional, I found myself also struggling, trying to find the right words to say to assure them that things would eventually work themselves out.
Second, I am also a former clot patient myself. My story began with an orthopedic injury in which I tore the meniscus of my knee for the second time. MRI revealed the extent of my injury and I was given strict instructions not to weight bare until I was cleared to do so by an orthopedic surgeon. Delays in my ability to see a surgeon resulted in my clot traveling to my left lung as I sat at my desk at work. I, like so many people, had no idea what was occurring. My medical background, managerial primarily, not necessarily clinical, allowed me to explain it away as anxiety, nervousness, or frustration at the situation.
Hobbling around on crutches to assist patients, up and down stairs, could certainly explain the breathlessness I was feeling.
Witnessing his press conference last year, seeing the frustration and disappointment on the face of Michael Waltrip, who felt so obviously heartbroken for Vickers, I was transported in time.
Vickers, in Fontana not only to race, but support National Blood Clot Awareness Month, was yet again, a patient for the condition in which he attempts to raise awareness, and I could relate to each emotion that was displayed on so many levels.
“Believe it or not, it’s Blood Clot Awareness Month and I was supposed to be at the track this weekend doing some work with my partners at Janssen focused on getting the word out. I’m disappointed I can’t be there but if there is a silver lining in all of this, hopefully what’s happened to me will help to raise awareness on this important health issue,” Vickers stated last year.
Fast forward one year, and one more successful clot treatment.
Now, yet again clot free, Vickers finds himself behind the wheel, attempting to pick up where he left off. This time, he does so by helping out fellow Sprint Cup competitor Tony Stewart, who was sidelined as the result of a burst fracture to his back in an off-roading incident earlier this year. His goals? Much the same as they were last year. He desires to move forward in his career, albeit without a full time Sprint Cup Series ride. Additionally, he, along with Jannsen Pharmaceuticals aim to raise awareness of the signs and symptoms of a blood clot. Also, with personal experience, he can help to ease fears and reassure patients that life can resume post-clot therapy.
“Gosh, I feel like just a year ago, I was sitting here giving you a different message. It’s unfortunate, as many of you know, I have had my fair share of issues with blood clots, but it has led me to some great opportunities. I didn’t think about blood clots to the extent that it is an issue. It’s this kind of un-talked about, unheard of kind of issue, that’s kind of just floating out there, and it’s a really big issue,” stated Vickers.
“I’m proud to team up with Janssen once again to talk about this serious condition I share with hundreds of thousands of Americans,” Vickers said. “I’m also thankful and excited to be driving for Stewart-Haas Racing in the No. 14 Janssen Arnie’s Army Charitable Foundation Chevrolet in support of my dear friend and fellow blood clot survivor, Mr. Arnold Palmer.”
Current statistics show that on average, one person dies from a blood clot about every 5 minutes. In fact, more people die from DVT (Deep Vein Thrombosis) or a PE (Pulmonary Embolism) than breast cancer, traffic accidents and HIV combined. DVT generally forms in the legs, deep in the veins, and can cause redness, swelling and a cramping feeling. These clots can travel as well to the lungs, and even the heart. Symptoms of a Pulmonary Embolism include shortness of breath, a feeling of the lungs being full or sudden congestion, and even vomiting blood.
“The fact that someone dies every 5 minutes from a blood clot, the fact that more people die from blood clots than car accidents, breast cancer, and HIV combined, and the amount of funding that goes toward this is so much less than those other causes, particularly from the government, is astounding,” continued Vickers. And it makes the fact that Vickers uses his position as a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver to raise awareness to these staggering statistics all the more important.
As a former patient myself, being unable to breathe, having a swollen and discolored leg, despite what was just a knee injury, was a frightening feeling. Injections daily, abdominally, oral medications, and blood tests three times a week were a bit much for me to wrap my head around. Vickers and the folks at Jannsen and the National Blood Clot Alliance believe that knowledge of the early warning signs can help prevent misdiagnosis and save lives.
As a healthcare professional and former clot patient, I must agree. I was originally misdiagnosed, and it wasn’t until the DVT became a PE, that I actually received the proper diagnosis and treatment regimen. Back then, there weren’t nearly the treatment options that are available today. Several medications are available that can change much of what patients endured just 10 years ago, when I had mine. This is due, no doubt, in part to the wonderful work that has been done to raise awareness of this condition that is far more common than people realize, and often times, misdiagnosed. My experience gave me a much clearer perspective of what patients go through, just like it does for Vickers when fans share their stories with him.
“I’ve had a lot of fans come up to me and tell their stories and ask me questions. I always have to remind them I am not a doctor. I do take the opportunity to raise awareness and tell them my story. And I think them hearing my story gives them some sense of comfort. My story really resonates with a lot of people because I’m young. I’m an athlete, I’m young, it’s proof that this can happen to anyone. There’s definitely been moments where it’s made a difference and that’s a very special feeling.”
For now, he’s ready to move forward, armed with victory over another clot, raising awareness for others that may suffer a clot, and resume his racing career.
“I can’t wait to get back there, out in the car and redeem ourselves from last year. I felt like we had a chance to win this race last year. We are back again, this year in a great car and really thankful to everyone at Stewart-Haas Racing for giving me this opportunity to be in the 14. I hate that Tony is at home, and I wish him a quick recovery. I’ve been there.
Vickers will be in the car at Martinsville, but from there, questions remain about his next move. He’s always moved forward, each time this condition has sidelined him. He doesn’t seem concerned though, and even confident that he’s more than ready to yet again, resume his racing career.
“For me, being back here one year later, when I was sitting here a year ago, I’ve never been the kind of guy to give up. And by no means was I giving up then, but I certainly didn’t think I would be sitting here a year later. I wasn’t sure what the future held. Because I was aware of the signs and symptoms, I did catch my blood clot early and I didn’t feel at all that my life was in danger, but I wasn’t sure about my racing career. Would I find a winning team that would be willing to put me back in a car? I ended back up in a great car, but not the circumstances I wanted to get here. It was an interesting thing walking back into this Media Center. Daytona was an interesting feeling and it really hit me walking back in here. This desk and this room has a whole other meaning than even Daytona has for me.”
I absolutely agree.
Follow Lori Tyler on Twitter @LoriTyler
