Sticky Blood: Tragedy and Hope

Blood Disorder: Antiphospholipid Syndrome (APS)

My friend, *Ann, and her husband, *Don, suffered through several miscarriages. One pregnancy miraculously resulted in the birth of *Ken, a perfectly healthy baby boy. They were also blessed with the ultimate miraculous joy of having a son and a daughter through adoptions. Ken grew up, finished high school with honors, and began his college career with a generous scholarship. He was quickly elected as an officer of a prestigious fraternity, while holding a part-time job and fulfilling his university coursework obligations.

As he walked his usual several miles to class one day, he collapsed, and passers-by called 911. Family and friends prayed, as University Medical Center's (UMC) staff scrambled to save Ken's life and diagnose his problem.. Ann and Don took turns at UMC in a round-the-clock vigil with their son, in Tucson, Arizona. While one was at UMC, the other was about twenty miles away, comforting their younger daughter and son waiting at home.

Ken had not been ill. He had not been in an accident. He was not a drug user. He was not a habitual smoker or drinker. He lived a healthy lifestyle. In fact, he had recently conquered the steep trails of the 14 mile round-trip Grand Canyon hike, as well as accomplished grueling hikes in the extreme altitudes of Colorado's national forests. The question, "Why was this young man at death's doorstep?" burned on everyone's lips.

Frustrations mounted as hours turned to days and days to weeks, but Ken's health responded and answers slowly emerged. The collapse was caused by blood clots in his lungs. A combination of blood tests, computed tomography (CT) scans, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) eventually revealed the clotting's extent. The diagnosis took longer, but the final report was clear: Ken had Antiphospholipid Syndrome, or APS, also known as "sticky blood." Simply stated, Ken's young, twenty-something-year-old body was fighting itself. His antibodies declared war on his own plasma proteins, or phospholipids, by producing blood clots. The blood clots blocked arteries and veins, cutting off blood supply to his lungs.