Year in Review by Adam Metcalfe

Over the past year, I turned 30. Still young in the grand scheme of things, but it’s the first landmark birthday where you begin to feel like time is moving on and you’re growing a little older. Its also been the time to pause and reflect on the key moments which have shaped my three decades on the planet. One of those moments being the time where I came closest to death. Whilst approaching my 4th birthday, I contracted ITP, and not just any strain of ITP, I got the short, sharp extreme condition which almost took my life within an instant. It aggressively attacked my platelets and caused a huge amount of blood loss. Needing an emergency platelet blood transfusion to save my life, if it hadn’t been for the quick thinking of my Mum and hospital staff, I wouldn’t be sat writing this piece today.

So in the first year of my thirties, I wanted to acknowledge this landmark moment and contribute in some small way to spreading the word about this little-known disease. I wanted to give back in whatever way that I could, because if we don’t speak up, no one will be aware of the condition. Over the course of the past year, I have had the pleasure of fundraising for ITP Support Association by completing the Great Manchester Run.

Alongside this I have also gave blood in honour of the emergency transfusion which I received that night whilst also speaking about my condition on various panel talks. I have loved every moment, and it has been liberating to speak up and raise awareness.

Whilst doing all of these things, the main question I get is “what is ITP, I’ve never heard of it?!” This highlights why we must keep discussing the condition at every chance that we get. This is certainly something which I intend to do beyond my 30th year as I still live with many of the side-effects today. On a daily basis, I get fatigued, suffer from a weakened immune system, develop easy bruising and those pesky purple dots appearing for no good reason! I now look at all of these things as a blessing, a badge of honour, as I know that it could have been a lot worse! I’ve experienced many highs and lows which everybody does in life, but none of them would have been possible had I not been a survivor of ITP.

ITP effects people in many different ways. With multiple variations of the condition, some people live with far more impacting daily symptoms than me. However, going forward, I intend to continue running, continue donating and continue talking about all things ITP. I encourage you all to do the same, because discussion equals awareness which then equals understanding.

I’d love to hear your stories too, so if ever you want to connect, please let me know and let’s support each other.

By Adam Metcalfe – ITP Survivor