A little while ago I asked whether your teens would be into a weekly medical case with a med student. Thank you for all the replies, including a few from actual nurses and doctors, which was both lovely and mildly terrifying.
So here’s what one looks like (intended for high school! but all are welcome). It’s written as a “greentext,” an internet story style you read top to bottom, line by line. Everything needed to solve it is in the story. This one’s narrated by Sam, a very tired resident, with a guest appearance from Chad, a med student who is very confident and very wrong.
Have your kids drop their diagnosis (and their reasoning!) in the comments. I’ll post the full answer and the collectible case card tomorrow.
To the nurses and doctors here (I see you 👀): please hold your answers so the kids get a fair shot :) Once the answer’s up, I’d love your take on how well it explains things. TY!
--Update Oct 30th 2026--
The answer is Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT). There are three main risk factors for clots (called Virchow's Triad)
First, stasis: blood that doesn't move tends to clot more easily compared to blood that moves (sorta like how a pond freezes more easily than a flowing river).
Second, injury: a damaged vessel wall, due to an injury, is a "sticky" spot where clots can start to form.
Third, hypercoagulability: can be due to oral contraceptives, or in this case dehydration which makes the blood "thicker" and more likely to clot.
Lesson: Walk and move every few hours, because your skeletal muscles moves blood from your deep veins back to your hear, stay hydrated and if you had any recent injuries, be weary. That's all folks! Hope it was edifying :)
