Late Bellevue Congresswoman Dunn Honored by Son in County DVT Awareness Month Proclamation

King County Councilman Reagan Dunn, whose district includes parts of Bellevue, said that in a press release this week that the county's proclamation of Deep-Vein Thrombosis Month strikes a personal note.

Dunn's mother, Congresswoman Jennifer Dunn (R-WA8), died in 2007 from a pulmonary embolism caused by deep vein thrombosis, or a blood clot that forms in a deep vein and then travels to the lungs, heart or other vital organ.

Jennifer Dunn, who lived in Bellevue, represented Washington's 8th District in the House of Representatives from 1993 to 2004.

For Metropolitan King County Councilmember Reagan Dunn, recognizing the dangers of Deep-Vein Thrombosis is very personal. Dunn sponsored today’s Council proclamation recognizing March 2012 as Deep-Vein Thrombosis (DVT) Awareness Month in King County in memory of his mother, Congresswoman Jennifer Dunn, who died in 2007 from a pulmonary embolism caused by DVT.

“DVT awareness continues to grow in the public realm, but more needs to be done so people understand the signs and symptoms of DVT and can reduce their risk,” said Dunn. “In honor of my mother, I have worked across the country to raise awareness of this serious, yet preventable, condition.” 

DVT is a blood clot that forms inside a deep vein, most often in the lower leg. Once formed, a blood clot can break off and if not treated immediately has the potential to move into the lungs and block circulation, creating a life-threatening condition – pulmonary embolism, or PE. This medical condition is frequently fatal.

Dr. Roger Stark, healthcare analyst with the Washington Policy Center and Dr. Anneliese Schleyer, Associate Medical Doctor at Harborview Medical Center and DVT expert accepted the proclamation from Dunn. The proclamation supports a national campaign to build awareness of DVT and to encourage the public to undergo screening for this health condition.

Doctors Stark and Schleyer spoke about the warning signs of DVT and the efforts to prevent DVT deaths. According to the Coalition to Prevent Deep-Vein Thrombosis, approximately 2 million Americans are affected by DVT annually. Approximately 600,000 Americans are hospitalized every year for DVT and pulmonary embolisms, and up to 300,000 Americans lose their lives to DVT-caused pulmonary embolisms annually. 

“Simple steps can ensure that people know the signs of DVT,” said Dunn. “Those signs and understanding what needs to be done can literally save lives.”

-- Information from King County Councilman Reagan Dunn