Carilion Clinic hosted an educational and entertaining program featuring singer / songwriter Mark Hackley (pictured on left) last week. Hackley suffered a pulmonary embolism in June 2006 when he was only 45 years old. In addition to performing, Hackley travels and speaks about his experience in order to educate others about signs, symptoms, and ways to prevent deep vein thrombosis (DVT), which can result in a potentially fatal pulmonary embolism.
Accompanying Hackley was Dr. Jeffrey Todd, Carilion Clinic cardiologist, who is also a jazz guitarist, and Deborah Liles, a well-known vocalist in the Roanoke area. Dr. Todd added to Hackley’s comments, educating listeners on the dangers of DVT. Hackley, whose personable demeanor lent itself to the informal atmosphere said, “I want people to know you don’t have to be that old to suffer a serious blood clot.” He added that the experience “gave me an appreciation for life [knowing] that it could end at any time.”
Mark, aren’t those the boots that were suspect in your DVT/PE?