My story...

I guess I should let a lot of you know what has been going on with us that past week and a half. It has been crazy time, and I am very grateful to be here and doing well.

While walking with Cole and Dawsyn, I collapsed and was taken to the ER. The doctors promptly ordered a ton of tests including: chest x-ray, CT scan and an echocardiogram and I have no idea how many blood tests. My blood pressure was somewhere around 60/30. (If you know much about that, that number is not good. Normal is like 120/80 or so).

The doctor came in and stood at the bottom of my bed and told Cole and I that my lungs were full of BLOOD CLOTS. WHAT???? I am only 29 years old..... I can't have blood clots.

The doctors wanted me out of there, they wanted to either Life Flight me to Salt Lake or transport me to St. George by ambulance. However, they could not get me stabilized to do either. They gave me a medication to help break up the blood clots in my lungs and also gave me another medication that would hopefully help bring my vitals up. (I later found out that these medications are not something that they would typically do, it was a last resort.)

During this time the doctor told Cole that I was in very critical condition and he needed to be prepared for the worst. Cole made phone calls to family and also had his dad and brother-in-law come to help give me a blessing. I don't remember much of the blessing, just that I would live a long, happy life. Ken and my father-in-law Paul, both kissed my forehead and left. I remember Cole telling me that he loved me. I was freezing cold, and wanted my heating pad to keep me warm. The nurse and Cole kept throwing warm blankets on me, I swear I had like 15 piled on. But I was still freezing.

The medicine did what it was supposed to do and by 2:30 AM I was wheeled to to the Intensive Care Unit. ICU 1 would be my home for the next 3 days.


I was the only one in ICU for a couple of the days, they let Cole and Allison sneak Dawsyn in for me to see her. I missed her so bad. She didn't want anything to do with me. A huge thanks to Megan, Allison, Virginia and other Douglas family members that helped watch Dawsyn. I knew that she was in good care and that she was loved just as Cole and I love her. But, I don't want to leave her again any time soon!

This is just part of my battle wounds. I was so dehydrated that they couldn't get any blood from me. Even when they tried 17 times. BTW - I don't recommend being poked in the top of the foot, not fun. I am looking much better now.

I was on bed rest until Friday night. They moved me from ICU on Saturday and let me take a shower. I was really excited about that. I was actually able to sleep on Friday and Saturday night, if that tells you how exhausted I was.

I was sent home Sunday with a blood thinner called Lovenox, which are shots that Cole had to give me twice a day in the stomach. (I was too chicken to give them to myself) On Monday we went to St. George to have an IVC filter (inferior vena cava) placed. They went though my jugular vein down to my abdomen. The little legs attach to the walls of my vein and will stop any clot from getting to my lungs again.

Nice little picture of the IVC filter.

Now, I am taking another blood thinner and having my levels checked often. I think I have become immune to the pokes, I hardly feel them anymore. If I get a good lab tech, I don't feel it at all.

Cole has been my rock through all of this. I knew he was my world before, but I couldn't have made it through without his strength. He has not let one thing slip. The man is amazing. I am so thankful for him.

We have been so blessed. Our relationship has been strengthened. We are grateful for our Savior's hand in our lives and I know that there are angels sent here to help us. I could go on and tell you all the miracles that we have seen, but this post has been long enough.

We just want everyone to know how thankful we are for your thoughts and prayers. Your calls, visits and flowers meant the world to me.