Published: Aug. 02, 2011
Words: 27,724 (approximate)
Language: English
ISBN: 9781465817648

Short description

Heartaches and Miracles is a combination biography, research information and pep talk for anyone suffering with ITP or for family members/friends who want to understand what this disease is all about. You will learn about autoimmune disorders, ITP in particular, while reading the personal accounts from folks stuck on the never ending roller coaster of steroids, surgery, medication and treatments.

Extended description

“But I don't feel sick. Why do I have to stay here in the hospital?” I stubbornly asked the emergency room doctor, and he replied in an exasperated voice, “Because you are one sick chick. Your platelets are down to 2000. You are going upstairs to PCU and you are going to stay there until I say you can go home.”
I (Greta Burroughs) was diagnosed with an autoimmune disorder called ITP (Idiopathic or Immune Thrombocytopenia Purpura) in April 2005. At that time, I knew very little about platelets, CBC’s, corticosteroids and other factors that would play a significant role in my well-being for the rest of my life.
Since that time, I have researched autoimmune disorders and ITP and have spoken with a number of people who also suffer from this chronic blood disease. I kept a journal describing my relapses, treatments, successes and failures and wrote up all this information so that I could share it with others who are also fighting this illness.
Heartaches and Miracles is a comb.. (Read more) “But I don't feel sick. Why do I have to stay here in the hospital?” I stubbornly asked the emergency room doctor, and he replied in an exasperated voice, “Because you are one sick chick. Your platelets are down to 2000. You are going upstairs to PCU and you are going to stay there until I say you can go home.”
I (Greta Burroughs) was diagnosed with an autoimmune disorder called ITP (Idiopathic or Immune Thrombocytopenia Purpura) in April 2005. At that time, I knew very little about platelets, CBC’s, corticosteroids and other factors that would play a significant role in my well-being for the rest of my life.
Since that time, I have researched autoimmune disorders and ITP and have spoken with a number of people who also suffer from this chronic blood disease. I kept a journal describing my relapses, treatments, successes and failures and wrote up all this information so that I could share it with others who are also fighting this illness.
Heartaches and Miracles is a combination biography, research information and pep talk for anyone suffering with ITP or for family members and friends who want to understand what this disease is all about. There are excerpts from other ITPers who have been on or are still on the never ending roller coaster ride of steroids, surgery and other types of medications and treatments. There are no cures for ITP or for any autoimmune disorder for that matter. The treatments and medications can have terrible side effects, but the disease can be controlled in most people. It can be a hard road filled with relapses and disappointments but with a positive attitude and support from friends and family, there is hope.
Heartaches and Miracles was written as a form of chicken soup for the ITP soul to give encouragement and strength to those affected by this blood disorder. Reading how others have coped, hopefully will give those newly diagnosed a glimpse of what to expect and give everyone with ITP a new hope for tomorrow.
(Less)

Tags

immune system, blood disorder, cbc, itp, autoimmune diseases, corticosteroids, splenectomy, platelets, hematologist, cancer center

Available ebook reading formats

Single purchase gains access to all formats. How to download ebooks to e-reading devices and apps.

Format	Full Book	Sample First 20%
Online Reading (HTML, good for sampling in web browser)	Buy	View sample
Kindle (.mobi for Kindle devices and Kindle apps)	Buy	Download sample
Epub (Apple iPad/iBooks, Nook, Sony Reader, Kobo, and most e-reading apps including Stanza, Aldiko, Adobe Digital Editions, others)	Buy	Download sample
PDF (good for reading on PC, or for home printing)	Buy	No sample available
RTF (readable on most word processors)	Buy	No sample available
LRF (Use only for older model Sony Readers that don't support .epub)	Buy	Download sample
Palm Doc (PDB) (for Palm reading devices)	Buy	Download sample
Plain Text (download) (flexible, but lacks much formatting)	Buy	No sample available
Plain Text (view) (viewable as web page)	Buy	No sample available

Reviews

Log-in to write a Review   Log-in to add a Video Review

Review by: Keith Hart on Aug. 26, 2011 :
This book provides a firsthand description of a patient's struggles with an unusual blood disorder - ITP. Others with this disease will relate to this story and find comfort in knowing that they are not alone. Readers that know someone with this disease will gain a deeper understanding of the disease and how it affects the patient as well as the people closest to them. Readers that have never heard of ITP before will find this inspirational and educational.
(reviewed within a month of purchase)

Review by: CathyS on Aug. 06, 2011 :
This is an account of the author's experiences with a weird blood disorder called ITP, an autoimmune disease where her immune system is producing antibodies that destroy platelets. I found this very compelling. One doesn't normally pick a book about a rare disease or condition unless suffering from it.....but I found this very interesting indeed. Greta has done an outstanding job of describing the sheer awfulness of it all - despite the despair, heartache, frustration and terror and the other unpleasantness unfortunately happening to those near and dear to her at the same time, she never bogged the reader down with the science of it all and, more poignantly, there isn't a hint of a winge or a moan from her. Greta has a wonderful style of writing and this was a fascinating, comprehensive, but easy-to-read account of her horrible experiences. It was well organised and the anecdotes about her adored four-legged companions were welcome little 'interludes' which made the whole account very readable, but still impacting.
(reviewed the day of purchase)

Reason for report:
— Select a reason — Book is or contains spam Book infringes copyright Same content is published elsewhere with different author (for ex., by private-label rights) Duplicate Incomplete work (such as sample or serial) Should be marked adults-only Category is inappropriate Poorly formatted Nudity or other inappropriate content on cover Nudity or other inappropriate visual content in book Inappropriate erotica content Cover image is improper Content is inappropriate Other violation of Terms of Service Other reason not shown above.

Additional details: