Pulmonary Embolism Treatment at CentraCare Is Right on Target

Rosalie Ferguson of Milaca never expected that a normal Friday night shift at Target would save her life.

For a couple of weeks, she'd felt unusually tired and winded, often needing naps during the day — a habit that was completely unlike her. That same morning, she'd even visited her primary care clinic, concerned about a strange greenish mark near her shoulder. The visit revealed no issues, so she brushed it off and went to work, just like she always did.

"I almost didn't take that shift," she recalled. "If I hadn't gone to work that night, I probably would've gone home and taken a nap… and not woken up."

She was helping with inventory pulls in the backroom — something she'd done many times before. But this time, something felt different. It wasn't until she lifted a bottle of laundry soap that she felt something shift inside her. "It was like a pop," she said. "And then my vision went weird — I just knew I was about to pass out."

She managed to stumble to the end of the aisle before collapsing. Alone in the backroom, she hit her head on the concrete. When she regained consciousness, she reached for her walkie-talkie and radioed for help.

Her team didn't hesitate.

"I'll never forget how my team came together for me that night," Rosalie said. Co-workers rushed to her side, helped her sit up, brought her water and stayed with her until emergency responders arrived. One even kept her calm while they waited for the ambulance — something Rosalie is deeply grateful for.

At CentraCare - St. Cloud Hospital, the emergency room team quickly suspected a pulmonary embolism — a life-threatening blood clot that blocks and stops blood flow to an artery in the lung. A CT scan confirmed it: Rosalie had a saddle pulmonary embolism, a large clot lodged at the intersection of both lungs.

Rosalie was started on blood thinners, but because of the clot's size and the pressure it was putting on her heart, a procedure was recommended. She was instructed to limit movement and remain in the hospital for fear the clot might dislodge.

The next day, Stephen Kidd, MD, an interventional cardiologist with CentraCare Heart & Vascular Center, performed a minimally invasive procedure using FlowTriever, a specialized catheter that suctioned out the clot. Most patients can remain under mild sedation during the procedure and feel symptom relief afterwards.

The procedure was successful — but just barely. "They almost weren't able to get it all out, but Dr. Kidd managed to. I'm incredibly thankful."

Dr. Kidd noted that Rosalie's case was very challenging, demonstrating why CentraCare takes a team-based approach. He said, "We involve multiple specialists and excellent staff so that patients get exactly what they need when they need it. Through this combined effort for Rosalie, we achieved an excellent result that I believe will serve her well for a very long time. Cases like this are why we do what we do."

After two nights in the hospital, Rosalie is on blood thinners and undergoing follow-up care with a hematologist. While the cause of the clot remains unclear, Rosalie suspects a link to a low-dose estrogen patch she had started a few months prior. "I don't have a history of blood clots," she said. "But I'm not taking any estrogen now — my doctors made that clear."

Coming back to work took time and emotional strength. "Every time I walked into the backroom, I felt this wave of anxiety," said Rosalie. "It took me a while to realize, but then it hit me — I was back where it happened."

With time and support from her co-workers, she's learned how to cope.

And the experience has changed her.

"I used to worry a lot about what people think. Not anymore," she said. "You realize how fragile life is."

Rosalie now spends more time doing what brings her joy: taking nature photos, volunteering with the local high school marching band and being with her four daughters.

"You don't get a warning sometimes," Rosalie says. "I'm not taking any day for granted."