By JESSICA SCHIEBER
Blood clots are a semisolid or gel-like mass made of platelets, red blood cells and fibrin which is a protein mesh that forms inside blood vessels to stop bleeding when a vessel is damaged. A blood clot that forms in the lung is called a pulmonary embolism (PE) and it is a blockage in one of the pulmonary arteries in the lungs, usually caused by blood clots that travel to the lungs from the legs or other parts of the body. When a blood clot occurs inside the blood vessels, it may lead to serious medical conditions.
Blood clots can be a life-threatening condition, with appropriate treatment and lifestyle modifications that reduce the risk most people live with.
Why is this important? Eagles star quarterback Jalen Hurts had recently announced that he had these blood clots. His clots were so bad that he was not allowed to sleep for roughly 36 hours. After staying awake for those 36 hours Hurts was cleared to not only fly to London but to also play in the game.
This has caused many fans to talk, and not only the fans are upset. The NFL Players Association has called for a “full investigation” into how the NFL and the Eagles handled Hurts’ medical care.
The NFL will not punish the Eagles for how they handled the process. The Eagles have not made their medical staff available to reporters, and head coach Nick Sirianni deflected multiple questions, deferring to the team’s statements, including its joint statement with Hurts’s agent.
Hurts injury had been building up for a while, and many believe that he was not given the proper care that he needed. On Oct. 4, Hurts played against the Rams and got cleated in the calf. On Oct. 8, Hurts reports calf injury to training staff. On Oct. 9, the Eagles add Hurts to injury report and the Eagles fly to London. On Oct. 10 The Eagles and NFL arranged Hurts’s visit to a London hospital and the clot was discovered. On Oct. 11 Hurts played against the Jaguars and flied back to Philadelphia. On Oct. 14 Hurts went to practice and had a follow-up ultrasound revealed clot movement. On Oct. 15 the Eagles disclose the blood clot and rule Hurts out vs. the Panthers. On Oct. 16 Hurts missed practice while seeking second opinions. On Oct. 17 the Eagles placed Hurts on injured reserve. On Oct. 19, Eagles and Hurts’ agents disclose blood clots in his lungs. On Oct. 20 NFL says eagles handled process ‘appropriately’ and the NFLPA (NFL players association) calls for a ‘full investigation.’ On Oct. 21 NFL commissioner Roger Goodell responded to NFLPA. Goodell told reporters at NFL’s league meetings, “We welcome that. That’s part of our process. That’s fine. Our chief medical officer has been through the protocols that were followed. So, we welcome that. If they did that, they have that right.” And on Oct. 25 the NFL and the NFLPA confirmed a joint review of Hurts’ medical care.
Since his injury Hurts’ mom, who is a teacher, had students who wrote get well cards for him. Many people wish for the best recovery for Hurts. Schools in Philadelphia that received HVAC units from Hurts have held pep rallies to show their support for him whilst he remains out. A mural of Hurts has been transformed into a massive get-well card for him.
From all of these wishes one thing becomes obvious; Hurts is well cared for. He may not know all of these people, but his impact on and off the field has led him to become adored by the citizens of Philadelphia and beyond.