Your Voice Matters

Real experiences shape understanding, care, and outcomes.

Your Voice Matters

Every experience has the power to help someone else. At the Rowan Foundation, we believe that listening to women and learning from lived experience is essential to improving understanding, care, and outcomes in women’s health.

We invite you to share your story in the way that feels most comfortable to you. Whether your experience involves a blood clot, clotting disorder, contraception, pregnancy, hormone therapy, or menopause, your voice may help another woman recognize symptoms sooner, ask questions, or feel less alone.

Ways to Share Your Story
  • Option A: Submit your story in writing
  • Option B: Sumbit your story with a short personal video or simply an audio recording of your voice.

There is no “right” way to tell your story. There’s only your way.

What to Expect After You Submit Your Story

Once you submit your story, our team will send an email to you within 24 – 48 hours to confirm receipt, and then we will review your story with care and format it for placement on our website. We will also create a visual graphic for social media. Stories are typically shared using first names only.

Before anything is published, we will send you the formatted story and graphic so you can see exactly how everything will appear. You will have the opportunity to review and approve all materials. We will not publish your story without your final approval.

When timing allows, your story may also be featured in our Women’s Health and Clotting Quarterly.

With your permission, stories are shared across the Rowan Foundation’s social media channels, including Instagram, Facebook, X, Bluesky, and Threads.

Option A: Submit a Written Story

You can quickly and easily submit your written personal story by using the form below. If you have questions or prefer to submit your story by email, please contact us at [email protected]. Our team is here to help you and can assist with any part of the process.

A FEW QUESTIONS TO HELP YOU GET STARTED

If you’re not sure where to begin, you may find it helpful to reflect on the questions below. You can answer as few or as many questions as you feel is right for you.  You can respond briefly or in as much detail as you feel comfortable sharing.

  • Looking back, how did your experience begin?
    (What symptoms did you notice? What did you initially think was happening?)

  • What do you wish you had known sooner?
    (About symptoms, risk factors, asking questions, or seeking care.)

  • What would you want another woman to understand from your experience?

  • Was there a moment when you realized something wasn’t right? What happened?

  • Did you feel heard and supported when you sought care? Why or why not?

  • How has this experience shaped the way you think about your health today?

  • What risk factors or life stages (such as contraception, pregnancy, genetic clotting disorder, travel, or surgery) played a role in your experience?

  • What advice would you give to someone who might be experiencing similar symptoms or who might have more recently been diagnosed with a blood clot?

  • How did this experience affect you emotionally or mentally? (For example, feelings during diagnosis, recovery, or afterward.)

  • What has your emotional or mental health journey looked like since your experience? (Has anything changed in how you feel, cope, or view your health?)

Click or drag a file to this area to upload.
Option B: Submit a Short Video

If you prefer to share your story on video, or submit an audio recording, you can record a short story or message (about 1–3 minutes) using your phone or computer. It does not need to be formal. Simply speak in your own words.

Because video files are often too large to send by regular email, you can use a service called Filemail to send your video submissions securely. You do not need to create a Filemail account to use this free service.

How to Send Your Video/Audio File
  1. Go to www.filemail.com
  2. Click “Add Files” and upload your video.
  3. Select “Send as Email.”
  4. In the “To” field, enter: [email protected]
  5. In the “From” field, enter: your own email address.
  6. In the “Subject” field, enter: story submission (optional, include your first or last name)
  7. In the “Message” box, please type or copy and paste the following statement: I, (your name), voluntarily submit my video and give the Rowan Foundation permission to use, edit, and share my story for educational and awareness purposes on its website, social media channels, and related digital platforms.
  8. Click Send. You will be taken to a page titled “Send Large Files of Any Size.”
  9. Click Send again. You will hear a chime-like sound to confirm the file is sent, and Filemail will send an email to you confirming that the email has been sent.
  10. Our team will send an email to you within 24 – 48 hours of receiving your video or audio file.

YOUR PRIVACY AND CONSENT

Personal stories reflect individual experiences and are shared for educational purposes only. They are not intended to provide medical advice or diagnosis.

The Rowan Foundation is honored to share the voices and experiences of womenn affected by blood clots and related women’s health conditions.  Stories will be featured on our website and social media channels, including Facebook, Instagram, X/Twitter, and BlueSky.

Important to note:

  • You may choose how your name appears, or remain anonymous. Stories are typically shared using first names only. 

  • We review all submissions before sharing anything publicly.

  • We may reach out to confirm details prior to publication.

  • You will have the opportunity to review and approve your story and the corresponding social media graphic before either is published.

  • You may request removal of your story at any time.

 

If you have any questions or need assistance with the submission process, please contact us at [email protected]. We are here to help.

For questions about submitting your story, please use our contact form here — or email us at [email protected] — and someone will follow up with you promptly.