Issac Graham is a Maize South sophomore who is passionate about sports. In September of 2024, doctors found that he has immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) which is a blood disorder. This resulted in him losing his football, soccer, baseball, and wrestling careers.
“My biggest struggle is feeling perfectly fine, but not being able to play sports, not being able to do certain things. Like never once have I felt sick or tired because of it. But I know that I can’t do things because I could get injured.” Graham says.
ITP is an autoimmune blood disorder that causes the immune system to destroy platelets, leading to a low platelet count which can lead to bruising and bleeding. It is relatively rare and according to Harvard Health, ITP affects about 4 in 100,000 people a year.
Upset and disappointed, Graham had to quit several sports that he had put significant time and effort into. Graham has worked through the obstacles and developed a new passion for swimming, and continues his participation in track and field. Because it is a non-contact sport, he is cleared to participate.
“Initially they told me that they were going to get me on meds and it was going to be a week [to] two weeks tops, and they’re going to have this fixed,” Graham explained, “Then I got about a month in and it kind of started to set in like, ‘yikes I might not get back to this.’ But I still thought, ‘oh next season I’ll be fine.’ And then next season came…”
Graham’s mother, Melissa, explains that despite the heavy emotions around this whole situation, Graham stays positive and is taking things as they go.
“From what I can tell he seems to be handling it pretty well, of course there’s some disappointment, and [it’s] not the way we planned things but I think he’s handling it pretty well, he seems very calm, cool and collected about it and he kind of just goes with the flow.”
Graham expresses that he couldn’t have persevered through this health battle without his faith in Jesus Christ. He also explains that this low moment in his life was a way that he grew in his faith.
Graham continues to put immense efforts in the sports he participates in as well as prioritizing his health, along with the support of his family and friends.
