Synopsis

                                              ALIVE FOR A REASON...

                What You Don't Know May Kill You and it's Not The Pandemic:

                                                    Julia's Story

You don't have to die... like Julia, who almost died.

Julia's story, expressed in a casual style, is about the rapid onset of a rare, near-catastrophic blood disorder. She informs readers about this dangerous sickness by peppering her thoughts, and discussions with the hematologist who treated her and the friends who cared and prayed for her.

The narrative blends important information about this mostly unheard-of disorder. Julia mixes in what she believes was the root cause of her illness with explanations of the internal autoimmune dysfunction that caused her to be at the doorstep of death. She tells readers about the paranormal experiences that occurred during the most critical stage of the illness. Some parts amuse the reader and yet create a sense of the heightened gravity of her sudden illness.

This work of creative nonfiction applies chapter and Biblical verses to represent each phase of her journey toward her battle to get well. The selected scriptures are guideposts that introduce Julia's determination to live. She says it was of her faith that helped her survive the odds.

This arresting drama combines the fierce energy of Julia's punctured being and weaves a brocade of empathy and humor. It further awakens what it means to be a woman of color coping in a world that believes that individuals who differ from themselves have a license to treat other people as though they're unseen.

The story begins when three companions rescue Julia from what could have been certain death. Julia says it is her purpose to tell others about this true-to-life event. A sudden onset without warning carries a 90% mortality rate if it is not immediately identified and treated.

The autoimmune complication is called ... wait for it... thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura. The acronym is TTP.

Julia says she felt like she was battling the biblical character of Goliath. She realizes her compounded mental and physical decline.

Julia's narrative is a mental exchange between her viewpoints while she is in an altered state of mind. Julia also says she had out-of-body experiences. She sees the origins of the disorder through the lens of the emotional trauma occurring throughout her life. Julia explains how she experienced incidents from her past while standing behind a supernatural door with her hand around an antique crystal doorknob and feeling drawn into its prism.

 Julia awakes to the truth of the effect persistent stress, depression, and anxiety had on her body. She knows with certainty that her life stressors led to her immune system turning against itself- mutating into a frightful physical collapse.

The reader senses Julia's unshakable belief that she will overcome her diminished intellectual competencies. Julia reveals the effects of being diagnosed with mental deterioration, the result of a brain hemorrhage induced by TTP.

This is a powerful message for everyone. The illness can happen to anyone. People from nations, including the United States, where TTP incidences have occurred, don't have to succumb to an untraceable cause. She emphasizes the need for medical professionals to diagnose TTP accurately and treat it urgently.

Beyond Julia's illness lies a story of her faith in God, self-determination, and the reign of triumph.

This is Julia's story.