Good Times, Noodle Salad

Emersyn was diagnosed with Idiopathic (immune) Thrombocytopenia Purpura, or ITP, at the beginning of August. She had been having bloody noses for a few days, but I wasn't that concerned about them until I saw the broken blood vessels on her chest. We went to our Dr's and they sent us to Primary Children's to get tested. When the Dr told me what she had I panicked, I had never heard of it before (most people haven't) and I was having a hard time wrapping my mind about what it meant.

Basically what it means is Emersyn is really low on platelets. Really, really, low. Normal is 150,000-400,000, she had 6,000. They don't know what causes it or if this is just a one time problem. She has been on steroids for the past 3 weeks, but so far her level went up one week and then it was down to 3,000 the next week. Poor kid has had her blood drawn 5 times already this month with more draws to come, but she is so brave, never cries or makes a sound.

Platelets cause your blood to clot when you get injured so without them Emersyn has had to be very restricted in what she can do. That means no running, jumping, bike riding, swimming, playing on the playground, or basically anything else that kids want to do when it is the middle of summer. She has handled it like a champ, she always has been my angel baby, and Marti is a big help reminding her to calm down if she starts to get a little too rambunctious.

I know we still have awhile before I can say that Emersyn is 100% again, but this week I have been feeling much more positive about it and I just wanted to say thank you to all of our family and friends for their love and support. It is so wonderful that Emersyn knows that she has so many people who love her.

A special thanks to Dr. Kemp for talking me through everything, (it's great to have a Dr in the family).