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BLEEDERS UNITE, how turning 35 changed my life. . . .

When I turned 35 something clicked in me that I haven't been able to really put into words, but I'm going to try.  A lot has happened to me in the last 5 years that has forever changed my life and left me feeling . . . well, a little depressed.  It almost doesn't seem real and feels more like a script out of a Hollywood drama than really the story of my life . . .  I lost a Grandma, an Aunt and an Uncle. My family rescued my sister from a psychotic now ex-husband (that she has a restraining order against). I recovered from the two horrifying deliveries of my children. My daughter and I were both diagnosed with the rare bleeding disorder Platelet Storage Pool Disorder. I suffered a miscarriage.  I've watched my brother get deployed twice and I've severed relationships with family over unexplainable allegations. And last Spring, I lost my father -in-law abruptly to a heart attack, a complete blow to the whole family. All of these situations left me feeing pretty hopeless and needing to find something to lift me up.
Soon after I turned 35, something came over me and I suddenly had the urge to speak out.  To seek others that were feeling like me, and find some answers as to why my daughters diagnosis seemed to be taking over our lives. In all reality I think it was preparing me for this. . . My voyage to become a voice among the Bleeding Disorder Community and make a difference in the lives of others while working on healing myself.
Having a rare bleeding disorder like my daughter and I have leaves me feeling frustrated, lonely, terrified and sometimes downright depressed. Once I started blogging and connecting with others via Facebook, I really started to see a change in me. . . . Like all that I've gone through and continue to go through now seems to have a reason.  It's seems empowering in some ways because I feel like I've always had a voice and something to say. . .  and now I finally have an audience who wants to listen.  I know I bore my family with all my trials and tribulations of living with a bleeding disorder and becoming an advocacy has caused me to annoy those around me. . . . But amongst other bleeders I feel like maybe this was my calling.
I get a sense of such camaraderie when the bleeders comes together to share our stories, lend advice and always are there to support one another.  Reaching out to other bleeders and becoming an advocate has finally given me a sense of accomplishment that I've never experienced before.  When bloggers like www.blessedblood.com and websites like www.webleed.org share my stories and openly state how I'm helping others or The Nat'l Hemophilia Foundation tweets about my blog. . . I truly feel blessed that I've started this journey. Feeling like your touching the lives of others is a feeling that I can't describe. May all bleeders unite and may all caregivers and friends be the support we need to get through those difficult times. . . XOXO THANK YOU TO ALL THAT ARE TAKING THIS JOURNEY WITH US AND HELPING MAKE A DIFFERENCE!

Written by,
Kari Peepe


©KariPeepe/atouchofscarlett.blogspot.com

For more on me and my health issues please check out:


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