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Woman Gets a Full-Body MRI Scan Out of Curiosity. Turns Out She Was a Ticking Time Bomb (Exclusive)

Sarah Blackburn’s decision to get a full-body MRI revealed a life-threatening aneurysm, leading to a life-altering surgery

In a world where health often takes a backseat to the demands of daily life, Sarah Blackburn emphasizes the importance of getting checked out — even when you don’t have any symptoms.

Driven by a family history of cancer and the newfound accessibility of full-body MRI scans, Blackburn details in a now-viral TikTok her decision to take a big leap concerning her own health by getting a Prenuvo scan.

According to the Prenuvo website, the scan “captures millions of data points from head-to-ankle, including major organs, brain, and spine.” Although the scans have been gaining in popularity, doctors urge caution, saying they may lead to overdiagnosis and overtreatment. The scan costs $2,500 and is not covered by insurance.

Blackburn’s decision to undergo a full-body MRI with the support of her husband was initially met with some hesitation. “We just kept thinking, ‘Oh, I don’t know if we want to know,’ ” Blackburn exclusively tells PEOPLE. Like many, she struggled with the uncertainty of what the scan might reveal.

But the potential to detect and address health issues early on ultimately outweighed her fears. Her family’s extensive history with health problems served as a reminder of the importance of early detection and intervention, too. “I thought this would be a huge difference that could make or break the situation. I can get ahead of this,” she says.

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At first, Blackburn canceled her appointment because of previous engagements. After months had gone by, she decided to revisit the idea of getting the scan.

Sarah Blackburn before her Prenuvo scan.Sarah Blackburn

Although Blackburn expected a clear scan due to her healthy lifestyle and a lack of symptoms plaguing her, the results took her by surprise. The scan revealed she had a splenic artery aneurysm, a rare condition particularly dangerous for women who’ve had multiple pregnancies.

This revelation plunged her into a period of intense anxiety and uncertainty. “Leading up to the surgery was probably the darkest two months that we’ve had as a family,” Blackburn recounts, describing the emotional toll the discovery took on her and her loved ones.

Sarah Blackburn.Sarah Blackburn

Despite the initial shock, Blackburn found strength in the support of her family and friends. She sought guidance from multiple vascular surgeons, who all recommended the removal of her spleen due to the location and the size of the aneurysms.

“They all came to the same spot where they were like, yeah, it’s gotta go,” Blackburn shares.

The decision was not taken lightly, as it meant facing life without an important organ. But, the alternative to leave the condition untreated posed a far greater risk.

Sarah Blackburn.Sarah Blackburn

It was one of her doctors who finally pushed her to follow through with the operation. They told Blackburn, “If this was one of my loved ones, I would tell them this is the route to take.” She also joined multiple Facebook groups that helped her in her decision.

The surgery was successful, and Blackburn is now recovering and adjusting to life without her spleen. “The surgery itself was pretty easy,” she notes. She is continuing to do research on what will impact her the most as she lives without a spleen.

Blackburn’s story doesn’t end with her surgery. Inspired by her experience, she decided to share her journey on TikTok, hoping to raise awareness about splenic artery aneurysm and the importance of full-body scans.

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She tells PEOPLE, “I wanted to help somebody, and I wanted to tell my story. Even if it was just one person, I thought it was going to be just one person. I hope it’s one person. I hope somebody will come tell me, ‘Hey, I found out about this because of you, and now I get to live a long and healthy life,’ ” Blackburn continues.

One of the most alarming aspects of Blackburn’s story is when she had an ultrasound done in 2020 that notated a lesion on her spleen, it was never relayed to her. It wasn’t until after the scan that she discovered this information in her medical records.

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“Read your radiology reports,” Blackburn urges, “because I did not read it. I just thought, ‘Okay, I’m going to get told everything that needs attention.’ But, that was not the case.” Reading back her report, it turns out her initial aneurysm grew rapidly after her first pregnancy up until she got the scan results.

Sarah Blackburn in her Prenuvo uniform before her scan.Sarah Blackburn

Looking back, Blackburn has no regrets about her decision to undergo the full-body scan. In fact, she reveals that she would do it again in the future. “I feel very grateful,” she shares. “I’m very grateful that I had that opportunity to choose how I wanted to move forward in taking care of myself.”

Blackburn advises others considering a full-body scan to “be prepared going in that they will find something minor.” She also encourages others to “move with gratitude and know that this is such an awesome opportunity to be able to get ahead in your health.”