David Bloom's Last Ride (Confirmed: Bloom WAS Sick for Three Days, Docs HAD DIAGNOSED DVT)

BusinessWeek ^ | April 7, 2003 | Frederik Balfour

[Timesink]

I never knew David Bloom when he was alive. He was brought to our medical tent at the 703rd Battalion of the 3rd Infantry Division (3ID) shortly before 8 a.m. on Apr. 6. Medics were still performing CPR on him when he arrived, but it was already too late. At 8:08 a.m. he was pronounced dead. As I was about to head to the medic station I overheard a soldier phoning in a report, in what I suppose was meant to be military efficiency. But it struck me as chillingly terse. "Report: initial. Enemy involvement: none. Name: Bloom, David. Military unit: civilian. Status: deceased."

[DouglasKC]

DON'T BE LIKE DAVID BLOOM. DVT kills, period. Instantly. Dead. If any doctor ever tells you there's even a 1% chance you've got it, drop what you're doing and do whatever he/she says to do. You shrug it off, you die.

Bump...many freepers have experienced the loss of a loved one due to this condition. My mother died from it after a long trip on an airplane to and from Hawaii. It will kill you.

[wimpycat]

I had deep vein thrombosis when I was 12. My leg suddenly started hurting one day after I had been sitting on the floor...not really bad, but it was aggravating. It went on for about a week, until my English teacher noticed that one of my ankles was bigger than the other one. I called my mom and she came and got me from school and took me to the doctor, and I was put in the hospital within an hour. They confirmed the blood clot was behind my left knee by doing a venogram. I wasn't allowed to get up for any reason for a week, while they calibrated the correct dose of Coumadin they were administering through an IV.

At the time, I didn't appreciate how close I had come to possibly dying; after all, I was only 12 and I didn't feel sick at all. Of course, the bedpan thing was no fun.

[wimpycat]

Ping to #22.

Don't take the threat of DVT lightly. Don't ignore the warning signs.

[SMEDLEYBUTLER]

Sun Apr 6,10:26 AM ET

US Army medics, assisted by soldiers, medivac U.S. journalist David Bloom of the NBC television network out of a camp of the 3rd infantry division, about 20kms outside of Baghdad, April 6, 2003. Despite the efforts of the medics, Bloom later died after suffering a pulmonary embolism, NBC said. More and more U.S. forces from the 3rd infantry division are pushing to the southern outskirts of Iraq (news - web sites)'s capital. REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach

[NittanyLion]

For those of you who are unaware of DVT, this can occur due to extended car or plane rides (really, anytime you remain in the same position for a long time). It's important to get up and walk around after a few hours of driving.

My father had DVT a few years ago right behind his knee; his one leg is still larger than the other. The swelling, which was gruesome BTW, has never completely gone away.

[mewzilla]

To keep hydrated, too. Too bad about David Bloom. Earlier medical care might not have saved him, but now his family and friends will always wonder.

[NittanyLion]

To keep hydrated, too.

Exactly. I'm guilty of it myself - I want to get to my destination and water (and the subsequent breaks I'll need as a result) will only slow me down. So it's always tempting to not stop for a drink or to get up and move around. But after seeing the results firsthand, this can happen to the healthiest of people if one isn't careful.

[mewzilla]

Over the last few years we've gotten quite an education because of family members with heart problems. Medical care has come so far, it's miraculous really. But people still need to take care of themselves. Wonder why when the suspicion of DVT was raised, considering how hairy that can be, Bloom wasn't evacked out, willing or not.

[Aquinasfan]

He sat in the same place for 18 hours and couldn't stand up etc..

Apparently this happens fairly frequently on long, non-stop flights. Get up and walk around folks.

Shame. Seemed like a good guy.

[newgeezer]

Well, I've certainly learned a lot about DVT and its causes today.

My septuagenarian parents take frequent breaks on their 2-day, 1200-mile trips to and from Florida. The next northward migration should happen later this month.

I've tended to be a relative marathon man; anything less than 1000 miles is a "short day." If God had intended for us to stretch our legs more often, He would have made the gas tank smaller.

[Dakotabound]

I have a DVT right now.

Mine was caused by an ovarian tumor that needs to come out. The second they diagnosed me from a CT Scan (after two weeks with a swollen leg and fever...long story, lawsuit to follow), I was in the hospital for a week.

I'm home now, but had additional leg pains and a little swelling a few nights ago. Three hours later at the emergency room, I'm sent home. I'm on Lovenox blood thinner injections twice a day, what fun, and spend most of my time with my leg up. Working is out of the question.

How serious is my DVT? My other ovarian tumor is the size of a large grapefruit, and they aren't going in to get it until late May...hoping my clot will organize and not pose a danger during surgery.

IF YOU HAVE LEG PAINS, SWELLING, OR HOT SPOTS, GET CHECKED IMMEDIATELY. It isn't worth dying for, whatever it is.

[FirstTomato]

I am so down, and have just finished having a good cry about David Bloom (not the first good cry I've had so far during this war), who was my favorite embedded correspondent in Iraq. His death was so very not necessary. Men are just too macho for their own good, and I guess that's why they make such good combat soldiers. But Bloom wasn't a soldier, and there was no good reason why he couldn't have left to seek medical attention--no good reason that is, except his desire to "get his job done" and reluctance to leave the battlefield. His choice was, at the same time, both inspiring and tragic.

In a time when many of us get so angry at reporters for the bias we believe they may bring to their job, his is an example of bravery that reminds us how important freedom of the press is to a free people and to a free nation.

Rest in peace, David Bloom.

[JulieRNR21]

FYI Ping.....thought of your recent struggle.

So sad...David Bloom was one of the good guys! May God comfort his family & may he rest in peace!

[Constitution Day]

Good grief!!
I did not know much about this condition before. Thanks for the ping, and your cautionary tale.

CD

[arasina]

Will any liberal be crass enough politicize this tragedy and suggest that Bloom's death is Bush's fault?

Of course! If we hadn't declared war on Iraq without U.N. approval and embedded reporters to cover it, David Bloom would still be alive. It's Bush's fault, doncha know? John F. Kerry is likely to glom on to this one, or maybe Dean.

[Mark de New Brighton]

Bump - my dad died following surgery from a pulmonary embolism. This is nothing to mess with and you are right - it will kill you. Very sad story.

[DouglasKC]

Bump