When Annzie was six, what started as a routine well visit turned our world upside down. She had always been small for her age, but that visit revealed more: recurring infections and low platelet counts that led to urgent bloodwork. We were referred to hematology, and that began our FA journey.

It took me weeks to come to terms with the fact that there were no easy answers. I couldn't change the past or the diagnosis, so I focused on educating myself and becoming Tinslee's biggest advocate. We underwent all the necessary tests, scans, and procedures, and spent a year going in for lab work and check-ups.