Micah’s Story
For 17-year-old Micah, sports have always been a part of who he is. A standout athlete in both football and baseball, he thrives under pressure. As a football state champion and dedicated pitcher on the baseball field, pushing his limits has always come naturally.
So when his arm began to feel “off” this spring, it didn’t raise immediate concern. It felt like just another challenge to push through. But what started as a subtle heaviness became something more serious.
From Peak Performance to a Sudden Concern
After one of his strongest pitching performances in months, Micah noticed his arm felt unusually sluggish that evening.
A few days later when he put on his uniform, his teammates noticed something was wrong. His right arm was visibly swollen, discolored and the veins were pronounced. His coach sent him to the athletic trainer, who quickly advised Micah’s family to seek emergency care.
Expert Diagnosis of a Rare Condition
At the hospital, imaging revealed a significant blood clot extending through Micah’s upper chest and arm. He was quickly transferred to Rady Children’s Hospital San Diego, where he received specialized care.
There, Micah met Rush Chewning, MD, an interventional radiologist at Rady Children’s, who diagnosed him with thoracic outlet syndrome, also called Paget-Schroetter Syndrome — a rare condition in which the vein between the collarbone and first rib becomes compressed. This can lead to dangerous blood clots, especially in high-performance athletes who rely on repetitive arm motion.
For Micah’s family, the uncertainty was overwhelming, but they felt confident in Dr. Chewning. “He made us feel safe right away,” his mom shared. “We knew we were in the right place.”
“It is such a privilege to be able to intervene in situations like this where we can achieve an immediate and dramatic improvement in symptoms,” Dr. Chewning said. “Seeing Micah and his mother with big smiles on their faces the morning after the procedure was incredibly rewarding.”
Advanced, Minimally Invasive Treatment
Micah’s condition required urgent intervention. The following morning, Dr. Chewning performed a suction thrombectomy to remove the clot, followed by a venoplasty to restore proper blood flow by opening the narrowed vein.
There were multiple clots that occupied the entire space beneath his collarbone. That made the success of the procedure even more critical. The next day, Micah was already feeling like himself again.
Throughout his stay, the compassion of their care team made a significant impact. The nurses and staff were kind, gentle and helpful. “It was a scary time,” his mom said. “But everyone at Rady Children’s made us feel cared for.”
Specialized Care for Young Athletes with Vascular Conditions
Rady Children’s has a team that helps young athletes with complex vascular conditions. Through advanced imaging, minimally invasive procedures and coordinated follow-up, patients receive highly specialized treatments.
As part of his recovery plan, Micah was also connected with experts at UC San Diego Health, where he will undergo a first rib resection to prevent future compression and reduce the risk of recurrence.
Strength, Resilience and the Road Ahead
Today, Micah is focused on healing and regaining his strength. His journey is a powerful reminder of how quickly things can change — and how expert care can make all the difference.
Learn more about Rady Children’s Interventional Radiology program below.