Akshaya's ITP Journey

Akshaya was diagnosed with ITP (immune thrombocytopenia, an autoimmune blood disorder where the immune system mistakenly attacks and destroys platelets) in August 2023 after going in for a routine physical checkup. Her mom asked the pediatrician about some spots that appeared on her arm and large bruises she got while playing sports earlier that summer. These symptoms never persisted and recovered on their own. The doctor said it was likely nothing serious but ordered a blood test to check hemoglobin and iron levels. Akshaya’s family received a phone call from the children's hospital at 10pm that Friday. Akshaya’s platelet levels were under 5K, severely under the typical range of 150-450K.

After several hospitalizations and numerous drug trials, the doctor zeroed in on a weekly injection that worked for her to keep her platelets up. Akshaya was an active child, involved in sports and dance, but she took a pause on these activities to pay attention to her health. After a year and a half of this new diagnosis, Akshaya’s platelet levels stabilized and she is now ITP free.

This experience has left a permanent mark on our family. We are incredibly grateful for the support and resources compiled by PDSA. Like most autoimmune disorders, the exact causes for developing these conditions remain unknown, vary from person to person, and have no cure. Through this fundraiser, we hope to raise awareness about ITP and help support continued research and advocacy.

About Akshaya

Akshaya is a rising high school sophomore. Music has played an important role throughout her life. Starting at two years old, she and her sister would make iMovies, with Akshaya as the esteemed guest on the show :) In these mini shows, Akshaya would sing her favorite songs and dance to her favorite tunes.

Akshaya started formal training for Indian classical music (Carnatic vocal) and Indian classical dance (Bharatanatyam) at five years old. She loves to spend time with family and friends, listen to music, sing in her school choir, run with her cross country/track teammates, watch funny shows, engage with her community, and work with children.