At this year's PDSA conference, Lance, Brian and Kenda met Amanda. Like Jacob, Amanda also lives with ITP. Amanda was born and raised in El Paso, Texas and is currently a senior at the University of the Incarnate Word in San Antonio, Texas majoring in Psychology and minoring in Religious Studies.
Amanda will be volunteering for us during Peak Performance weekend. We asked her a few questions to get to know her a little bit better. If you are at either event, make sure to say hello to her. Thanks, Amanda, for coming to Kansas City and more importantly, for volunteering and doing your part to educate and inform others about ITP.
When were you diagnosed with ITP and how long have you lived with it now?
I was diagnosed with ITP when I was 15 years old and have now lived with ITP for about 7 years.
What has been the most challenging part of living with ITP? How do you deal with it?
The most challenging part of living with ITP for me is the fatigue. I deal with it as anyone else with ITP deals with it. I try not to let it affect plans that I have or things that I do.
How did you find PDSA and how have they helped you?
My father actually found PDSA when I was first diagnosed. PDSA has helped me because I became more aware of what I was dealing with and I was brought to others going through the same thing.
Why did you decide to volunteer in Kansas City by yourself?
Because I have wanted to volunteer for something ITP related for a long time now and this caught my attention and was the right time.
How has ITP changed your life, if at all?
ITP has changed my life completely, if it weren't for ITP I would not be as strong as I am today. ITP also made me realize that there are more important things in life and not to take things for granted.
