Justin Romanello

I’m a Survivor

By Chief Justin Romanello

My name is Justin, and I experienced a venous thromboembolism (VTE) in the winter of 2024.

After suffering a Grade 2 sprain of both my MCL and ACL during Brazilian jiu-jitsu, I followed my surgeon’s advice to rest and recover. I was fitted with a brace and told to take it easy. Begrudgingly, I complied for about a month. The injury caused some swelling, but nothing unexpected.

I should mention that I have spent nearly three decades in the prehospital medical field, rendering aid to the sick and injured around the globe. With that experience, I paid attention to the symptoms, but I didn’t notice the classic signs of a deep vein thrombosis (DVT): pain, discomfort on contact, or warmth in the injured limb.

Despite the swelling, I made the decision to travel for work and took a short flight. Upon arrival, the swelling in my foot significantly increased. Out of caution, I began taking baby aspirin. I continued the work trip, still not suspecting a DVT or any serious complication.

After returning home, I was advised to get checked out. That’s when the DVT was diagnosed, and I was prescribed a common anticoagulant. This was on a Friday. By the following Tuesday, things took a turn.

That morning, during a meeting with fellow senior officials, I began to feel “off.” I turned to my boss, also a medic, and said, “I am going to pass out right now.” My team responded immediately, and emergency services were called. I received excellent care and was transported to the local emergency room.

During treatment in the ambulance and in the ER, I experienced multiple near-syncopal episodes. Over the next 12 hours, I underwent extensive testing, including imaging and blood work. I was admitted for observation, and the following day I was diagnosed with multiple pulmonary embolisms.

Although I was discharged after the episodes subsided, the situation didn’t end there. Over the next two weeks, I returned to the emergency room multiple times and was seen by my primary care provider and several specialists. I was prescribed additional medications to manage my symptoms. It wasn’t until the third week, when my anticoagulant was changed, that I began to feel better and stopped experiencing fainting spells.

Over the next 18 months, I was followed by both a venous surgeon and a hematologist, continuing anticoagulant therapy. This limited my activity—preventing a return to jiu-jitsu—and prohibited long-distance travel. It was a difficult period. I had always been very active and traveled frequently. Being restricted was demoralizing.

Eventually, after more than a year and a half, I transitioned from the anticoagulant to a daily baby aspirin. This was based on the fact that my DVT had been provoked, not spontaneous. Still, the mental toll remained. I live with the knowledge that if I experience another DVT, I’ll return to anticoagulants and the restrictions that come with them.

That fear continues to impact me and holds me back from fully returning to the active lifestyle I crave. But it gets a little better every day.

I am forever grateful to my coworkers, the paramedics, physicians, nurses and everyone who was part of my care team. I also want to thank my friends and family for their unwavering support throughout this experience.

I’m a survivor.

Chief Justin Romanello

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