Dont Let ITP stop you or your loved ones dreams!

Hi I'm Dan! I grew up in a small flat town in CT, brought a house in Enfield CT and got some chickens. I got invited to climb Mount Washington in NH a few years back in the dead of winter and said Yes! Boy did I not realize how much gear was involved, crampons, mountaineering boots, multi layered gear, ice axe, and the list goes on. Here we were in January and after my first step on the mountain I became hooked.

so when I heard that I was diagnosed with ITP since the summer of 2012 I was pretty bummed. My case went from acute to chronic. I started treatment with steroids, then to Nplate and now im on promacta. At first I was told that I couldnt and shouldnt do adventure sports, because the numbers were down in the 20's, which was heart wrenching because I love being outside and being adventurous.. I love rock climbing, snowboarding, cycling and mountain climbing. I havent let the illness stop me. Since my first adventure, I've led winter mountaineer trips up mount Washington New Hampshire and now I have plans to hike up Mount Rainier in Washington state. I've recently switched to promacta medication and my platelets have been stable (120).

My goal is to eventually hike Mount Everest and I was wondering if there has ever been anyone with ITP that has made that accomplishment??! I have spoken with my doctor and she said that it is possible. I have been working on getting my training up. Currently I have a Wilderness First responder certification and Im an AIRIE 1 (Avalanche 1 certified) My goals are to hike Yanapaccha and Chopakalki and Denali before I attempt to go out the the Himalayas for my ultimate goal. I am doing this for the fundraising, but I am also doing this not only for myself but for people out there with ITP. I want to show them that the illness doesn't have to stop you from accomplishing your dreams.

I have started a fundraising page for the Yanapaccha and Chopakalki hike. I will be keeping a journal and be blogging to keep track of the event so you all can keep in touch with my progress. I have found a guiding company to go with called mountain madness and am looking forward to climbing with them

Please help me get funding for this amazing opportunity!

here is my funding page:

gogetfunding.com/summit-yanapaccha-and-chopakalki-in-south-america/

thanks for looking!

Dan

Sounds like you are leading quite an adventurous life! It's great that your counts are high enough to be able to do that. I think that most people here would agree that if counts are good enough, anything can be accomplished! Good luck with your endeavors!

Love this! I get told all the time I can't do certain things but I try to make it a point to not harp on having Itp. I've had it for 13 years I'm 30 now, and I don't let it stop me from doing much unless I'm under 5. I still work out spin, weight train, and about to start cross fit, Anything can be done with good counts I hope you get to climb!

I agree Sandi and Keli. Best of luck Dan. Please post when you reach your goals.

ITP has very little affect on my activities. I am so restricted by other issues it has almost none except when finishing up moving into remission waiting to get enough immuno-supressant worn off I don't get sick when you look at me.