When I was 12 years old, I was diagnosed with ITP. I remember waking up covered in bruises and not knowing what was happening to my body. After a lot of tests, doctors told me my platelet count was dangerously low — so low that I could bleed internally or even die from a small injury.

I had to go through  9 months of chemotherapy, and my family and I were told that I might not live to see Christmas Day of 2017. Those were some of the hardest days of my life. I was scared, weak, and wondering if I would ever get better.

But in the middle of all that pain, I found something stronger — faith. I felt God with me through every treatment, every long night, and every tear. Even when things looked impossible, He gave me the strength to keep going.

ITP stands for Immune Thrombocytopenia, a rare autoimmune disease that causes your immune system to attack your platelets — the tiny cells that help your blood clot. When your platelets get too low, it can lead to bruising, bleeding, and serious health risks.

ITP is rare, and not many people know about it. I want to help change that. If my story can help even one person recognize the signs early — or remind someone going through it that they’re not alone — then sharing my journey is worth it.

Some signs of ITP include:

• Unexplained bruising
  
  

• Small red or purple dots on the skin (called petechiae)
  
  

• Nosebleeds or bleeding gums
  
  

• Feeling tired or weak
  
  

If you or someone you love has these symptoms, talk to a doctor right away.

ITP changed my life, but it also helped me find my purpose — to bring awareness, hope, and faith to others. I’m still here today, stronger and closer to God than ever.

If you’re walking through something scary like I did, please know this — you are not alone. Even when it feels like no one understands what you’re going through, God does. He sees every tear, hears every prayer, and never leaves your side.

There were days I thought I couldn’t keep fighting, but somehow I did — and I know it’s because the Savior was carrying me when I didn’t have the strength to carry myself. He doesn’t promise that life will be easy, but He does promise that we’ll never have to go through it alone.

So if you’re struggling right now, hold on to hope. There is light ahead, even when all you see is darkness. You are stronger than you think, and God has a plan for you — even when you can’t see it yet.