- Adelaide woman Paris Hedger, 20, developed a rare condition called chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) after a trip to the US, where she fell ill due to blood clots in her lungs.
- Medical experts believe her condition was triggered after she was kicked by a horse in Vanuatu a month before her flight, leading to the formation of blood clots that affected her heart.
- Paris saved up for 10 years to go on a dream US trip, but developed breathing difficulties and was rushed to the hospital where half of her lungs were found to be filled with clots.
- She had to get a business-class flight with a medical escort back to Australia, costing $34,000, and has since been in and out of hospitals struggling with low blood pressure and breathing issues.
- Paris is set to undergo a 10-hour surgery where all her blood will be drained to locate and remove the clots in her lungs, with a risk of needing a lung transplant or being in a coma for months if complications arise.
Source link
Dermatology, Internal Medicine, Emergency Medicine, Transplantation