Together Against ITP: Two Boys, One Fight!
6th Annual Pump It Up For Platelets!
Columbus, OH
Purple for Platelets
Saturday, October 25, 2025
12pm to 3pm EST
Retreat 21 Taphouse
11433 Industrial Parkway
Marysville, OH 43040
Contact: Ashley Randolph (ashleyebarnes@gmail.com)
CADE'S ITP JOURNEY
When Cade was three, he was diagnosed with ITP after countless unexplained bruises and spots (petechia) that covered his little body. What we thought might be the normal bumps and bruises of a busy toddler turned into ER visits, labs, and a platelet count of only 7,000. Our lives changed overnight.
While most children outgrow ITP quickly, Cade has faced it for over seven years. He’s endured hundreds of finger pricks, infusions, treatments, experimental studies and even a bone marrow biopsy, yet we still haven’t found what works. Although recently we have seen some breakthroughs that we are really excited about sharing soon. Through it all, he remains active, full of life, and determined to live a life as a “normal” boy. ITP has changed his life forever, but will never define who he is and for that we celebrate!
We continue to hold onto our faith, and are extremely grateful for the support of family, friends, and his amazing care team at Nationwide Children’s Hospital.
AUSTIN'S ITP JOURNEY
A couple of months prior to Austin turning 5 we noticed that he had a lot of bruises and what we now know as petechiae. We know he is an active boy but this didn't seem normal. Fast forward to May 5, 2023, we had his 5 year old checkup and the doctor told me it was probably nothing but there was "enough smoke so lets seek out the fire." His platelets were less than 6,000 which I now know is very low. We didn't have to be admitted that day, thank goodness, they sent us home with a high dose of steroids.
Since getting diagnosed we went through the ups and downs of medicines - steroids, a couple of rounds of IVIG, other infusions, medicines like Sirolimus, Promacta and others I can't remember. Our doctor, husband and I were just going through all the medicines that would make this go away as quickly as possible. During that first year his numbers were single digits and into the teens. To get to 30 was a big deal. At that time we did a blood draw every week. We now have a favorite phlebotomist and the front desk workers know who we are even though we are on an every 4 week blood draw cycle. We have two different homecare nurses that come to our home and give Austin a shot weekly as well as him taking an oral medicine twice daily. His numbers are up and down but we remain hopeful. He has restrictions but our doctor wants him to be as normal as a now 7 year old can be which we are incredibly grateful for. He is an active boy who loves sports so we just take it one season at a time!
While at the beginning we just wanted this to go away and didn't understand why it wouldn't - but now over 2 years in we know we are playing the long game and we are hopeful that ONE day he will have good numbers and get discharged. But until then we are just hopeful that he can continue doing the things he loves.