By Friday, he could barely breathe.
Fortunately, his doctors had a new clot-busting treatment.
He needed two, to open blockages in both lungs.
Several months after that, he rode his bike about 125 miles during a weeklong beach vacation.
The clots usually form in deep veins in the legs and travel upward to the lungs.
PEs need aggressive care to prevent heart and lung damage.
That can mean life and death for a patient.
All of a sudden blood starts oxygenating, and the patient starts feeling better.
The treatment takes about five hours.
Four years after his lung clots, Cronin takes medication to reduce his risk for future problems.
My heart seems fine, he says.
And Im back to raking leaves.
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