Unblock the Clot – Raising Awareness with Janelle Tierney

After proudly wearing Capers soccer jerseys from the age of 10, soon-to-be CBU graduate, Janelle Tierney, made a childhood dream come true when she started playing for the Capers in 2021. Unfortunately, the start of her second season came to a halt when Janelle was scheduled for hip surgery. Though the surgery was successful, complications following the operation would change Janelle’s life, leading her down a path of raising awareness for a blood condition with no known cause.

Heading toward exam season during the first semester of her second year, Janelle was disappointed to miss time in the classroom and on the field when she was scheduled for Laparoscopic hip surgery. Three weeks after a successful surgery, Janelle woke up with significant discomfort in her shoulder which later worsened and spread to her back and chest. A trip to the emergency room diagnosed her with a Pulmonary Embolism which did not improve with anticoagulants she was put on. A second trip unearthed a pulmonary infarction, meaning blood clots were killing a section of Janelle’s right lung. 

“The scariest part of this experience was not knowing the severity of my condition or how it could affect my life moving forward,” Janelle reveals. “Doctors determined it was most likely a genetic blood condition my father and I shared, but the cause of this condition is currently unknown.”

After the dust had finally settled, Janelle knew it was time to move forward with a greater focus on her academics and overall health. Her return to CBU brought a mix of emotions; while it felt good to be back to her usual routine, she also found it challenging, especially with exam season looming so closely. “Fortunately, my professors were extremely understanding and accommodating of my situation,” Janelle says. “This made my transition back to classes and final exams go smoothly and gave me the opportunity to succeed academically without being placed at a disadvantage due to my health.”

Janelle successfully navigated her return to CBU, but after experiencing such a life-altering event, she felt a sense of responsibility she needed to act on. “Thrombosis is a condition many people are affected by in a variety of different ways, but have little awareness of the life-threatening effects it can have if not treated early on,” Janelle reveals. “I was inspired to organize Unblock the Clot and share my story to try and create a positive from my negative experience. I’m so lucky to have survived and I hope my story will raise awareness and help others in recognizing the signs and symptoms of blood clots.”

The Unblock the Clot run in support of Thrombosis awareness was created in partnership with the Cape Breton Regional Hospital Foundation and all proceeds will go to the Vital Patient-Care Fund at the Cape Breton Regional Hospital. Janelle is hopeful that this event, taking place on Saturday, October 5 at the Ness Timmons Soccer Field, will bring a new wave of attention to the severity of thrombosis and the need for more research on blood-related conditions. Registration for the event and the opportunity to donate to this cause is still open. 

Janelle is on her way to graduating in May, 2025 with a Bachelor of Science degree with aspirations to enter into the medical industry so she can continue raising awareness and helping others.