Beyond the Count

Clinical trials can feel complicated, overwhelming, and sometimes even a little intimidating. Yet every treatment available today has reached patients because people chose to participate in clinical research. In this episode of Beyond the Count , Danielle Boyle is joined by leading haematologist Dr Rob Bird to demystify clinical trials for people living with Immune Thrombocytopenia (ITP). Together...

Decoding Risk Series — Part 2: Why Medication Leaflets Look So Terrifying You know the feeling. You open a medication leaflet, and suddenly you’re staring at pages of tiny print and an endless list of side effects that make you wonder, “How is this medication even considered safe?” In Part 2 of the Decoding Risk series, Danielle Boyle is joined by haematologist Dr Danny Hsu to break down why medic...

For many parents, hearing that their child has ITP is overwhelming. But what can feel even more confronting is being told that the best approach might be to “watch and wait.” In this episode of Beyond the Count , Danielle Boyle is joined by paediatric haematologist Dr Melanie Jackson to explain why observation-based care is often the safest and most appropriate first step for children with ITP. To...

Why Side Effects Happen | Decoding Risk (Part 1) Starting a new treatment for ITP can feel overwhelming, especially when side effects enter the conversation. For many patients, it’s not just the treatment itself that creates uncertainty; it’s the “what if.” In Part 1 of the Decoding Risk series, host Danielle Boyle is joined by haematologist Dr Danny Hsu to break down why side effects happen in th...

Blood Clots in ITP: What Patients Need to Know | Beyond the Count Podcast Most people living with Immune Thrombocytopenia (ITP) are taught to focus on bleeding risk. But what many don’t realise is that ITP can also increase the risk of blood clots, even when platelet counts are low. In this episode of Beyond the Count , host Danielle Boyle speaks with leading haematologist Dr Robert Bird to unpack...

ITP is often called an “invisible illness”, and for many patients, the hardest battles are the ones no one else can see. In this episode of Beyond the Count, Danielle speaks with longtime volunteer and ITP patient, Stassi Austin, about the emotional and physical realities that rarely show on the outside. Together, they explore what it feels like to hear “But you don’t look sick,” the exhaustion of...

Highlights, Insights and the Voices Shaping Our Future   The 2026 ITP Australia & New Zealand Patient Conference brought together clinicians, researchers, nurses, and patients for a powerful day of learning, connection, and community. In this special highlights episode of Beyond the Count , host Danielle Boyle walks you through the most impactful moments from the event — including breakthrough...

A moment of fear, a rush of memories, and the truth about living with ITP — even on the “good” days. A single unexplained bruise can stop you in your tracks — no matter how long you’ve been living with ITP. In this deeply personal episode, Danielle shares the story of a large bruise she discovered while visiting her family overseas, and the intense 30-minute spiral that followed. From the instant...

Connor and his mum, Kim, share their story of bruises, hospital visits and finding confidence again after an ITP diagnosis.   Being diagnosed with Immune Thrombocytopenia (ITP) as a child can be confusing, frightening and life‑changing — not just for kids, but for their parents too. In this episode of Beyond the Count , Danielle sits down with Connor and his mum Kim to share their honest, heartfel...

Haematology nurses are often the steady voice, the calm presence and the guiding hand that patients rely on throughout their ITP journey. In this episode of Beyond the Count , Danielle is joined by Haematology Nurse Practitioner Rebecca Dring , who works across the Royal Melbourne Hospital and the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, to shine a light on the essential role nurses play in ITP care. Rebecc...

A global overview of new treatments, real-world data and patient-centred research.   ASH 2025 delivered some of the most exciting developments the ITP community has seen in years. In this special highlights episode of Beyond the Count , Danielle takes you inside the world’s largest haematology conference to explore the research, conversations and global collaboration shaping the future of ITP care...

Clear answers on diagnosis, symptoms, and living with Immune Thrombocytopenia (ITP) Understanding Immune Thrombocytopenia (ITP) can feel overwhelming, especially in the early days after diagnosis. In this episode of Beyond the Count , Consultant Haematologist Dr Sara Ng joins Danielle to break down the essentials of ITP in simple, reassuring language. Together, they explore what platelets do, why...

Deciding when — or whether — to treat a child with ITP can feel overwhelming for families. In this episode of Beyond the Count , Associate Professor Dr Tina Carter , Paediatric Haematologist at Perth Children’s Hospital, brings more than 30 years of experience to help parents understand how clinicians make these decisions. Tina explains why ITP is always a diagnosis of exclusion, what doctors look...

Medical advisors play a crucial role in rare disease care, ensuring patients are not only treated but truly understood. In this episode of Beyond the Count , host Danielle Boyle speaks with Dr Danny Hsu, Consultant Haematologist at Liverpool Hospital and Medical Advisor to ITP Australia and New Zealand. Danny explains how medical advisors help shape treatment guidelines, support patient organisati...

When a toddler is diagnosed with Immune Thrombocytopenia (ITP), everyday bumps and bruises can feel overwhelming.  In this episode of Beyond the Count, host Danielle Boyle speaks with Associate Professor Dr Chris Barnes, Paediatric Haematologist at the Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne and Medical Advisor to ITP Australia and New Zealand.  Together, they explore how ITP presents in children u...

Hearing the words “your child has ITP” can feel overwhelming and leave parents with more questions than answers.  In this episode of Beyond the Count , host Danielle Boyle sits down with Dr Melanie Jackson, Paediatric Haematologist at the Queensland Children’s Hospital and Medical Advisor to ITP Australia and New Zealand, to unpack what a new diagnosis really means. Together, they explore the basi...

In this episode of Beyond the Count , we’re joined by Caroline Kruse, President and CEO of PDSA and Co-founder and Chair of the International ITP Alliance.  Caroline shares how the Alliance began, why global collaboration matters in rare diseases, and how bringing together patient organisations from around the world is helping to raise awareness, share resources and strengthen support for people w...

When treatments stopped working, Danielle sought a second opinion. It gave her clarity, confidence, and a new way forward. Getting diagnosed during a pandemic wasn’t easy, but ITP Warrior @The. No. Spleen. Queen, Danielle Hodges, knew something didn’t feel right. In this episode, she walks us through why she decided to get a second opinion on her ITP diagnosis, what changed as a result, and why tr...

In the final part of our four-part Fuelling Your Health series, Dr Phil Choi explores how food and supplements may help manage some of the more common side effects linked to ITP and its treatments. From fatigue and iron deficiency to digestive issues and steroid-related symptoms, many people experience side effects that impact daily life. This episode looks at how nutrition can support recovery, e...

Behind the scenes of a project giving teenagers a voice in their ITP journey. Being diagnosed with ITP as a teenager can feel overwhelming, and finding the right information at the right time makes a big difference. In this episode, Danielle speaks with Professor Nichola Cooper, Dr Alice Hart, and Mervyn Morgan about ITP and Me: A Teen Guide to Living with ITP . They share how the book was develop...

In Part 3 of our four-part Fuelling Your Health series, Dr Phil Choi helps unpack how the immune system, gut health and inflammation are all connected in the context of ITP. ITP is an autoimmune condition, which means the immune system is mistakenly targeting platelets. While no single food can reset or repair immune function, some dietary approaches may help reduce inflammation and support immune...

In this episode of Beyond the Count, host Danielle Boyle is joined by Barbara Lovrencic, ITP patient advocate, President of AIPIT (Italy’s ITP patient organisation), and Vice Chair of the International ITP Alliance. Together, they explore the real-world impact of shared decision making, what it looks like when it works well, and how it can go wrong when patients feel unheard. Barbara shares her ea...

In Part 2 of our four-part Fuelling Your Health series, Dr Phil Choi returns to explore how food and nutrition may help support your platelets' ability to function, not just how many you have. Bleeding is one of the most common symptoms of ITP, but what you eat might play a small supporting role in how well your platelets work. Dr Choi unpacks the role of nutrients like vitamin C and vitamin...

In this episode, we speak with Stassi Austin, who has lived with Immune Thrombocytopenia (ITP) since her teenage years.  From school challenges to navigating relationships and work and finding her voice as a patient, Stassi shares what it’s been like growing up with a chronic, unpredictable condition.  Her story reflects the resilience, confusion, and eventual confidence many people with ITP exper...

When your platelet counts are all over the place, your emotions can be too.  In this episode, we’re joined by @The. No. Spleen. Queen, Danielle Hodges, who shares her honest experience of managing her mental and emotional health during the most unstable periods of her ITP journey.  From anxiety and burnout to building routines and asking for help, this conversation is all about taking care of your...