My Story

(verified by Disabled World)
My name is Penelope. I'm twenty-seven years old and I have a rare blood disorder called (AIP)Acute Intermittent Porphyria. AIP is just one out of a group of eight porphyrias. AIP is an inborn error of metabolism, an inherited defect in my DNA. Basically, my body has a problem making heme, which is essential to bind oxygen and iron to blood cells. Heme is found throughout the body, especially in your blood and bone marrow, where it c...

About Me

I was 21 when I was diagnosed with a rare blood disorder called acute-intermittent-porphyria, in which I inherited from my father. I had seizures, and almost died before I got my diagnosis. Then my stepdad left us after I became bedridden and needed a caregiver.  It was just me and my Mom after that, with me in bed and my Mom taking care of me everyday, she saved my life by the way. We then became homeless, living out of our van, with me lying bedridden in the back of the van and m...