Thanks for taking the time to  visit my JustGiving page. I really hope you take the time to read this as me and others like me can benefit, and continue to benefit from the lovely and thoughtful work that the Hibbs Lupus Trust do and can continue to do with your support.

I was diagnosed with a blood condition called ITP around 3 years ago. My mum became concerned as I was bruising very severely and easily, I also had a rash that we went on to find out was call petechiae. After many blood tests this is when they came to conclusion it was ITP (insufficient amount of platelets). I had blood test after blood test every week following this diagnosis to see whether or not it would correct itself. However this did not happen. My family and I had a few scares with incidents to do with the ITP and the one that sticks out for me is when I was at school and I got hit in the head with a football and being taken from school in an ambulance. After all that I was checked over and all was fine. But because of this incident they decided to do an MRI on my brain to make sure nothing was going on internally that we weren't aware of. To keep it short what they found is too complex for me to explain as I myself don't fully understand it but I was assured it was nothing that was going to affect me. 

After a few months of constant blood tests they later discovered that I had lupus. This took a while to diagnose, as anyone who has suffered or knows someone who has suffered knows that it is not a straight forward illness to diagnose. This is because you have to have certain factors that contribute to the lupus and for them all to be together. It's rather complicated!! Once the diagnosis was made I felt at ease as I knew what I had been suffering with for two years and it was no longer a mystery. Throughout this time I had and still have countless amounts of needles for blood test, they carried out an ECG to ensure my respiratory system hadn't been affected, I've had 2 MRI's and plenty of tests I don't know the name of! But if you suffer with lupus you'll know that it's not this that affects you it's trying to get through your day to day life comfortably! I'm lucky as it hasn't affected my organs but in saying this I struggle with the fatigue and not being able to keep up with people my own age or just pop out when I feel like it. I find it hard to walk long distances without having severe joint pain and because of this I find myself drawing back from things I'd like to do because physically I know I'm not as strong as what I'd wish to be. I also find myself becoming ill when I have done too much and my nights sleep are restless, at which point I was told not to nap in the afternoon. This didn't impress me at all!! ;) but the one things that affects me the most is having a bad day and not being able to bend down long enough to tie my laces or take my shoes off. As a 17 year old this is something you don't want to admit because not everyone understands and it hurts your pride a little not being able to do those simple things by yourself.

However in saying all this it doesn't mean people who suffer with lupus cant lead a happy and healthy because quite frankly we can!! For instance I'm on several types of medication. I was put on a high dose of steroids to help correct the ITP and bring my platelets back up to normal and since this has worked they have taken this dose down and will continue to do so. I am also on lots of other tablets which are to prevent the illness escalating and keeping the symptoms under control. However there is not a cure! They doctors can only try and reduce the pain and the symptoms from escalating but they can't get rid of the lupus. I was able to have an early diagnosis due to the ITP and for the doctors to get things under control before they got worse. This isn't the case for everyone. Some people can go on having lupus and have no significant symptoms until it has affected them badly and this is what the Hibbs Lupus Trust is here for. They are here to help those who already suffer but also to make people more aware of the illness by raising awareness and through their campaigns so that individuals know to pick up on certain symptoms and early diagnosis and be made. 

This box asked for my story. Remember this is just my story and there are other out there like me who have their story too. Everyone is different and I am very thankful for the help I've had off the hospitals and at the start of the year when I needed some questions answered and some emotional help and the Hibbs Lupus Trust provided this for me I think them too. So please sponsor me for the virtual mile! The money goes to the GREAT work the Hibbs Lupus Trust does for all those with lupus so it's a wonderful cause! My mum and I will be doing the virtual mile in the gym and will post a picture before and after for proof that we have done it!! :) 

Thank you! x