PI Awareness Month is here

Primary immunodeficiency (PI) Awareness Month is here and it’s that time when we give the PI community the spotlight it deserves. This is a wonderful time to get educated and connected with all the zebras in our community.

As of right now, there are over 450 forms of PI and they all vary in severity. In many cases, primary immunodeficiency shows up in the form of more commonly known infections which leads health professionals to not address underlying causes. This is where “Think Zebra” comes into play.

Generally, when one hears hoofbeats, one should think to see horses and not zebras – but not in regards to PI. This old adage and approach to medicine are why PI gets overlooked and why the zebra is a fitting mascot for the community. 

But what else does that mean? It means that as a collective, people should look beyond their regular means of treatment and look to connect those with PI to like individuals and health professionals who are ready to take the time to figure things out with you. IDF strives to make this a staple of our initiative and is working to make other important things more well-known. 

For example, the Plasma Hero initiative is addressing the need for more plasma donations. Plasma has a multitude of therapy uses but it has a tremendous impact when used in treatments for those with PI. Plasma donation is simpler than most people expect and can be done quite frequently.

This month, reading our pieces will be the first step to building and being a greater community. Look for opportunities to take part and do something meaningful. And very importantly, donate plasma if you can and share your story!