CANADIAN PHYSIQUE ALLIANCE FALL ISSUE SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER | Page 120

Juan: You mentioned a blood clot and I struggled to have a social life as I had to bring
more surgeries. After your health my injectable with me if I were to be out late or
issues with cancer as a child, did you staying at a friend’s house. I often used my
have any other serious health issues injectable in secret because I didn’t want people
later in life? to see me have to stab myself with a needle. I did
Jamie: After my treatment for not want others to feel bad for me, or think of me
Leukemia I was very lucky not to have as different. With the injectable came lots of
any notable side effects I currently bruising as well. I often put them in my stomach
have regular ultrasounds of my heart or arms where I could grab the most skin to try to
because the chemo I received is cardio make it hurt less to put in. I usually tried to
toxic, which means it could damage cover them with makeup or clothing so people
your heart. This damage may not wouldn’t think I was being abused or using drugs.
become evident until later in life. After 6 months, I had an ultrasound done and it
In 2016 at 17 years old, I noticed my appeared to have disappeared. 2 months later I
right arm swelling quite a bit and had the same symptoms return and I was in the
feeling very heavy with a purplish hospital again. I eventually was diagnosed with
colour that was completely different Thoracic Outlet Syndrome.
from my left arm. My mom took me to
the ER where I had an ultrasound and
eventually a CT scan.
I was diagnosed with a blood clot
which extended the entire length of
my arm and into the large vessel above
the heart.  I was sent to McMaster
Children’s Hospital. They put me on
injectable blood thinners for 6 months
at a dose of twice a day, everyday. This
was a very mentally and physically
challenging time for me because I
always had to be so careful and
cautious about everything I did.