Well my friends... I did it! I did it and didn't die! I know that sounds dramatic but just hear me out!
Since I was diagnosed with ITP I haven't traveled ONE time. I used to travel almost every month or every other month for work. Then I got diagnosed with ITP and then the pandemic hit. Keeping me grounded was the best bet. Especially since I've had several relapses over the last two years. In addition, my doctor told me that if I got on a plane with low platelets OR active bleeding, I could very easily die. I would probably bleed out before they could ever land the plane and figure out what was wrong with me. Cool right? Freakin jokers. Scared the hell out of me for reals! Last thing we needed was me to get on a plane and bleed out and die. I'm not the best person in the world but I'm sure a couple people at least would miss me! Ha!
Well... I've been doing pretty good lately. My numbers have been holding pretty for 10 weeks now and I really couldn't be happier with my overall health. It was time. It was time I got on a plane and prove that I was in fact OK to travel. I am FINE! It was something I not only wanted to prove to my boss but to myself too. I didn't want to be held back anymore. In my career or my every day life. I was living in fear for so long... I just didn't want to do it anymore. Soooo we booked me a trip to Florida. I mean, if I was going to take my first trip, it might as well be across the entire country right?! LOL Go big or go home!
The night before my flight I was a mess.... I was anxious, felt sick, worried, what if this, what if that... sent a couple friends a text saying, hey I love you just in case I die LOL (Side note: My sense of humor can be morbid sometimes but it's what keeps me going!) I got to the airport, boarded the plane, took a couple deep breaths and away we went. I arrived at my layover in Minneapolis with zero issues. I then headed to Orlando and arrived there with ZERO issues. I got off the plane and felt SO alive. I felt so accomplished. Not to mention a sense of relief that I made it without any problems. However, my trip was only just beginning. I wouldn't consider it a success until I was home and healthy. So I spent the week in Florida and enjoyed every minute of it. Then it was time to go home.
My body had gone through a lot over that week... my first flight in two years, a ton of walking, very minimal sleep, a lot of emotions and so I wanted to be extra careful going home. I put on my 'Straight Outta Platelets' shirt for the flight home. I figured, if something DID happen to me - my shirt would at least tell them what the hell was wrong with me so they could figure it out before I died (hopefully)! I also wear a medical bracelet but I needed something louder to wear and draw attention. The shirt was perfect.
Since you're reading this, I clearly didn't die! I made it home, exhausted and sore but made it home. This morning I got my platelets checked and they are still holding steady! They stayed the same my whole trip! NOW I can celebrate. NOW I can be happy. NOW I can feel accomplished. NOW I can feel relieved. NOW I can say I did it. I freaking did it. I traveled across the country and stayed healthy and alive! BOOM BABY!! *Insert little happy dance here* NOW I feel like I can do pretty much anything. I feel like my possibilities are endless. I can now start planning things I was too afraid to do before. I can start doing little adventures that I was too nervous to do before. I can see my friends that live far away. I can do what ever the freaking heck I want to because right now, in this moment… I am OK!! I’m fine.. Everything is fine!
I will always take the proper precautions, get my bloodwork before traveling, continue to wear my medical bracelet daily and whatever it takes to make me feel safe about it. BUT I’m freaking doing it. I’m fighting this damn blood disease tooth and nail. I’m giving life my absolute best shot! I can’t say how long it will last but I know that I’m going to just be in this moment. All I can do is focus on the NOW.
As Rachel Platten would say… This is my fight song!
To celebrate… enjoy some pictures from my trip!
Comments