AVOID TRAGEDY
David Bloom, Today show co-host on weekends, died on April 6, 2003, while covering Operation Iraqi Freedom. Ironically, Bloom did not die from injuries sustained in conflict, but rather of a pulmonary embolism. Pulmonary emboli occur among those who sit for long periods of time, and Bloom spent most of his time in a cramped Army vehicle.
When Bloom began experiencing pain, he consulted several doctors. Frederik Balfour, a reporter with Business Week online wrote:
"He consulted military doctors and described his symptoms over the phone to overseas physicians. They suspected DVT, or deep venous thrombosis, and advised him to seek proper medical attention. He ignored their advice, swallowed some aspirins, and kept on working. On Sunday he died of a pulmonary embolism."
Bloom took several precautions to avoid becoming a casualty of war, but ignored the warnings of doctors who insisted that his life was in danger from a treatable condition. Bloom left behind a wife and three young daughters. How sad it is. It leaves us saying, “if only.” If only he had listened. If only he had believed his doctors and took precautions tragedy would have been adverted.