Oh, Mare, I'm so sorry Mary Kate--and you, and others who love her--have to go through this! Is the blood clot the same as a pulmonary embolism? Do they know what caused it? Thank heavens it was finally diagnosed and treated. Best healing thoughts coming her way. (((Mare)))

Poor girl. I hope she is feeling better soon and doesn't miss her semester.

I wonder how she got the blood clot? So young and athletic. I'm glad they caught it, even if it took a while. Those can be very deadly!

Aw, the poor thing. What a frightening experience for everyone. I hope she is feeling better soon; she has youth and being in overall good physical condition on her side. Maybe she can work with the school to figure out a way not to lose the semester. Best wishes to Mary Kate and her family!

I’m sorry. I’ll be praying for her and her family. That must be awful. Praying for her everyday!

I hope Mary Kate continues to improve. She is lucky to have you as an advocate.

Forget the semester and softball. Not important compared to her health. Heartfelt wishes for a full and smooth recovery. I’m sorry about the pain. Horrible.

Prayer for healing just said for her.

Hoping things improve for your niece. She's in good hands having you so close.

You have my prayers for Mary Kate's full and quick recovery.

So sorry for a very scary time! Know that y'all have my prayers

Susan, yes, its a pulmonary embolus. Thank God it's small, She has apparently walking around with it for more than a week. She has a history of Lupus, diagnosed when she was about 7, but she has had little to no physical manifestations of it, l thank the Good Lord. Drs are reluctant to place a cause for the clot. She had been on Birth Control briefly to hep regulate a menstrual cycle that included long, heavy and more frequent periods. She had also been recently diagnosed with severe B12 deficiency and anemia. Anemia probably due to her periods. This poor kid has been thru the wringer. Thanks to all who have already responded.

Healing thoughts and prayers for Mary Kate from me too. Hoping that she gets a complete handle on her health issues.

Thank God you were there! What would she have done without you? I'm so angry that they were so willing to just write her off.

Poor girl!

This is troubling in many ways, however I’m particularly puzzled by this part:

The first visit missed it completely, despite her primary Dr suspecting the clot and giving a heads up to the ER staff.

If he suspected a blood clot in the lungs, why didn’t her primary physician order the chest CT — assuming that is what ultimately led to the diagnosis — himself?

I wish her a speedy, uncomplicated (from this point forward, anyway) recovery. Unfortunately, stories — such as your niece’s — of inadequate pain management and/or missed diagnoses seem to be becoming more prevalent.

I am so sorry to read this. I remember Mary Kate, and how often you spoke of her. I know how close you are. I certainly will pray for her. She seems so young to have this happen. I hope she doesn't lose this semester, but mostly, hoping for her to have a complete and uncomplicated (further) recovery.

I’m sorry to hea4 about your granddaughter. So young to be having these problems and I hope she gets the care and resolution for her health care she needs immediately and doesn’t lose a semester. Will say prayers for Mary Kate.

In response to Sammy. That's a very good question. MK has just started to go to this Dr. and she first called her about this problem on labor day. I'm guessing that the Dr thought that because of the holiday the quickest way to get the CT done was thru the ER. Since then I'm finding out that the Dr's connections to hospitals is different from what I knew it to be. Frankly I'm confused and am wondering if the MD has admitting privileges to this particular hospital, where MK was finally admitted by the "Hospitalist".

I join the others in prayer for a complete and quick recovery.

I'm calling a TIME OUT. Let's accept this as notice that she is over-stressed. She'll probably be fine...IF she accepts what her body is telling her. Slow Down and Recover, Mary Kate. Your whole life is ahead of you.

Chisue, from your mouth to God's ears!!

Scary! Sometimes I think doctors disregard women's pain/symptoms. I hope she gets better quickly.

Prayers for Mary Kate and for you too Mare, so much to cope with.

Poor child. (((((Mary Kate))))) healing prayers to her.