Testimonial

Lois Wilkins Community volunteer and TTP survivor Freeland, Michigan "My kidneys were failing. My heart was slowing. A lot of stuff was going crazy. They thought I was not going to live through the night."

Volunteer Back in Action After Rare Blood Disease

One night, Lois Wilkins of Freeland found herself in the Critical Care Unit at MidMichigan Medical Center–Midland.

“My kidneys were failing. My heart was slowing. A lot of stuff was going crazy,” said the 55-year-old mother of four. “They thought I was not going to live through the night.”

Lois was diagnosed with a serious rare blood condition known as thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP). Hematologist and medical oncologist Ahmed Abdel-Maksoud, M.D., led the team who cared for Lois during a month of treatment and recovery. After about a dozen rounds of plasmapheresis, replacing all of Lois’ platelets with donor platelets, her blood returned to normal.

These days, Lois is back caring for her family, running her small business and volunteering in the community, but she’ll never forget her close call and the experts who saved her life.

“Dr. Maksoud was my lifeline. He and the specialists worked together,” she said. “They made sure I understood everything, and I always felt they all had my best interest at heart. The nurses treated me, my family and my friends as if we were their own. I am also grateful to people who donate blood plasma and platelets. Without them, I would not be here now.”

Lois Wilkins’ story is just one example of MidMichigan’s physician expertise.  If you or a family member has a health concern, ask your doctor for a referral to a MidMichigan specialist, or call MidMichigan Health Line for a physician referral at (800) 999-3199.  Online, visit www.midmichigan.org/doctors.