Diagnosed with ITP:
February 2006
Occupation:
Trust officer
Marriage:
Happily married to Shawn since 1994
Met spouse:
On a blind date!
Alma mater:
The University of Wisconsin
Hobbies:
Running marathons and playing with our four kids
ITP Education Kit
Learn more about ITP and WinRho® when you order the ITP Educational Resource Kit
ITP Juego Educativo
Aprenda más acercade ITPy WinRho® cuando usted ordena el ITP Juego Educativo de Recurso
Voice of ITP: Brad's Story
As a marathon runner, Brad had always relied on his tenacious spirit and excellent health to keep him in top form. So when he was diagnosed with ITP in early 2006, Brad worried that the illness would hinder his active lifestyle. Thankfully, WinRho® now keeps him in the race, but it wasn't an easy journey.
"I knew there was a problem when I noticed deep, dark bruises – only on my thighs," says Brad. Since the bruises would eventually disappear for several weeks or months at a time, he didn't think much of it. "I've always been in the best of health. Why would I worry?"
Brad kept making excuses – maybe he'd bumped into equipment at his office or played too rough with his four children – but his wife Shawn was more suspicious. After 4-6 months of intermittent bruising, Shawn finally convinced him to consult with a physician. She may have saved his life.
"I went to my family doctor, he did all sorts of tests, and I went home. Later that night, we got a call and I saw the doctor's office number on the caller ID. I thought to myself, ‘oh boy, this is not a good sign."
I wanted to avoid a
splenectomy and knew
I had to try WinRho® first.
Brad's doctor immediately admitted him into the hospital. The next few hours were a blur. Brad and Shawn found babysitters to watch the kids and sped down to the hospital. That hospital visit ended up lasting three days.
Brad was showing no common signs of ITP like bleeding or petechiae (red spots under the skin). "At this time, I was 37 years old, in good health, and had just gone running that morning. But while I was at the hospital, my platelets got down to 1,000µl." A nurse gave Brad one daily task: Be safe.
Soon after, Brad was administered prednisone and IVIG. Unfortunately, prednisone did not keep his platelet counts stable. Under a certain dose of the steroid, Brad's platelet counts plummeted. Finally, this marathon runner knew he needed to take an active part in his recovery.
"I tried several other therapies, but nothing was keeping my platelet count up. Following up on a suggestion from my doctor, I researched WinRho® and started learning about how it had helped others with ITP. I wanted to avoid a splenectomy and knew I had to try WinRho® first."
Brad is now able to maintain a stable platelet count of 50,000 to 150,000 due to WinRho®. He's back to running and pleased to report that he recently had one of his fastest times in a marathon. WinRho® allows him to focus on running, not just on his platelet count.
"I'd sit in infusion chairs for hours with other treatments, as much as once every three days. Now, I go in just once a month." This convenience has also allowed him to maintain the active lifestyle he so enjoys. "I recently went white water rafting in Idaho where we were days from treatment if something happened. But I'd timed my WinRho® shots to where I was confident I would be okay. I had a great time and have WinRho® to thank for it."
