Bruised But Not Broken: Living with ITP

Ever opened your lab results and worried about the numbers marked in red? Dr. Camila Masias joins Barbara Pruitt to explain the CBC and chemistry profile, what they reveal beyond your platelet count, and how they help your healthcare team monitor ITP and treatment. Learn why an “abnormal” result may be normal for you, why trends matter, and what to ask at your next appointment.

In this episode of Bruised but Not Broken: Living with ITP, Barbara Pruitt talks with longtime ITP patient and advocate Dale Paynter about his journey from an unexpected diagnosis to finding a community and a voice through PDSA. Dale shares how connecting with other patients changed his outlook, why he has participated in clinical trials, and how his advocacy has grown from leading support groups to working with researchers and policymakers to improve access to treatment. He also shares why even small acts of involvement can make a difference and how purple hair became one memorable way to start conversations about ITP.

If you've ever wondered what IVIG is, how it works, or when it's used to treat ITP, this episode is for you. Host Barbara Pruitt is joined by two leading experts, Dr. James Bussel and Dr. Charlotte Cunningham-Rundles, to answer the questions patients ask most often. Learn how IVIG is made, why it can raise platelet counts so quickly, what side effects to expect, and simple steps you can take to make treatment more comfortable. Whether you've received IVIG before or are considering it for the first time, this conversation will help you better understand one of the most common treatments for ITP and feel more confident discussing it with your healthcare team.

What should you do if an ITP emergency happens? While critical bleeding is rare, knowing the warning signs and acting quickly can make all the difference. In this episode, renowned hematologist Dr. Donald Arnold discusses the new Emergency Management Guidelines for ITP, explains when a trip to the emergency room is truly necessary, and clears up common misconceptions about emergency treatment. Whether you've been living with ITP for years or are newly diagnosed, you'll come away feeling more informed, more prepared, and more confident if the unexpected ever happens.

In this episode of Bruised but Not Broken: Living with ITP, Barbara Pruitt talks with hematologist Dr. Camila Masias about how ITP is diagnosed and why it’s considered a “diagnosis of exclusion.” They discuss the tests doctors use to rule out other causes of low platelets, why certain procedures like bone marrow biopsies are not always necessary, and how updated clinical guidelines are helping improve patient care. It’s an informative conversation designed to help patients better understand the diagnostic process and become stronger advocates for their own health.

In recognition of Lupus Awareness Month, this episode explores the important connection between lupus and immune thrombocytopenia (ITP), two autoimmune conditions that can sometimes overlap. Host Barbara Pruitt is joined by guests Cathy Aldama and Beth Siegelbaum, who share their personal journeys to diagnosis, the challenges of managing both conditions, and how their experiences have evolved over time. From unexpected symptoms and second opinions to treatment decisions and day-to-day realities, their stories highlight just how different each path can look. You’ll also hear powerful insights on self-advocacy, working with the right doctors, and why education is key to living well. Whether you’re newly diagnosed or have been navigating ITP or lupus for years, this conversation offers reassurance, perspective, and practical takeaways you won’t want to miss.

If treating pediatric ITP can sometimes feel like trial and error, this episode helps explain why—and what’s being done to change that. Host Barbara Pruitt talks with Dr. Kristin Shimano about the growing role of collaboration in advancing research, improving treatment decisions, and focusing not just on platelet counts, but on quality of life for patients. You’ll get an inside look at how specialists are working together across North America to better understand this rare disease and what that means for families searching for answers and hope.

When a small shaving cut wouldn’t stop bleeding, Michael Barden had no idea it would lead to a life-changing diagnosis of immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) and later, Evans syndrome. In this powerful episode, Michael shares the shocking moment police were sent to his home because his platelet count had dropped to 3,000, multiple extended hospital stays, ICU admissions, transfusions, and the emotional toll of living between unpredictable lab numbers. But this is more than a medical story. It’s about resilience, becoming your own advocate, educating doctors, supporting the rare disease community, and finding purpose through PDSA and volunteer work. Michael’s honesty about fear, frustration, and hope makes this an episode you won’t want to miss.

In this episode of Bruised but Not Broken: Living with ITP, host Barbara Pruitt is joined by PDSA leaders Peter Pruitt and Derek Zimmerman for a behind-the-scenes look at how the organization is run and why strong leadership matters to patients. The conversation explores what a nonprofit board of directors actually does, how PDSA has grown into a trusted advocate for the ITP community, and how lived patient experience helps guide advocacy, research, and long-term impact—offering listeners insight, reassurance, and a deeper understanding of the work happening on their behalf.

This episode dives into one of the most common—and most confusing—questions people with ITP ask: Why do I have it, and could it be inherited? Dr. Michele Lambert, a leading pediatric hematologist and expert in platelet disorders, breaks down the difference between inherited thrombocytopenia and immune-mediated ITP in clear, relatable terms. She explains how genetics, immune system “confusion,” family history, and targeted testing all play a role in getting the right diagnosis—and why that matters for choosing the most effective treatment. Whether you’re newly diagnosed or have lived with ITP for years, this conversation offers eye-opening insights, practical takeaways, and real hope for more personalized care in the future.