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Discover stories about how bleeding disorders have affected people and their loved ones.
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Sometimes the stories of life seem like the stories of books, my story was like that, it can also be called the story of getting life back.
It was mid-year 2014 when I first needed surgery for gallbladder stone removal through laparoscopy in Chattogram, Bangladesh in a private Hospital. The operation was successful but the internal bleeding couldn’t stop, my physicians all are surprised because they couldn’t find any cause for the internal bleeding. After 15 days from Chattogram to Dhaka I need to shift to better treatment. During those 15 days, I was also in a hospital bed losing lots of blood. Meanwhile, my physician in Chattogram did another surgery called laparotomy to find out the root cause of bleeding. Unfortunately they can’t stop my internal bleeding.
In Dhaka another private hospital physician again opened my abdomen and place a surgical foam and take under observation. After a few days my physician observed that the bleeding not stopped. In that time he sent my blood sample in India for Factor level check purpose. In the meantime I need to spend 45 days in an expensive hospital in Dhaka around 45 days. My family needs to sale our some properties and assets for my treatment purpose. At last, the report came from India that I am Haemophilia B positive patient.
Those two months turned my life into a big U-turn along with my family.
Due to back to back-to-back surgeries, I need to again lay in an operation bed for repair Hernia surgery in Chennai, India year 2018. For those operations, I needed to take Factor IX which was very expensive. I lost more than four years but learned what Haemophilia is how to manage it and finally I learn the truth about my life that I am special one who was chosen by Allah from the all human being Allah who will special take care of me. I am not afraid I am not alone.
“Life is not beautiful, it’s so colourful “
I found this page while searching about my hemophilia diagnosis.
My Name is Cindy Nogueras, 28, from Puerto Rico. Back in July 2023, while I was unknowing fighting for my life was diagnosed with Hemophilia factor XII also known as HAF deficiency, Hageman factor deficiency, Hageman trait. Factor XII deficiency is a rare genetic blood disorder that causes prolonged clotting (coagulation) of blood in a test tube without the presence of prolonged clinical bleeding tendencies.
It is caused by a deficiency of factor XII (Hageman factor), a plasma protein (glycoprotein).
The condition caused bleeding in my knees which has left me temporarily in a wheelchair, and stiff leg which can’t stretch due to the loss of the meniscus and cartilage.
This condition is also accompanied by agammaglobulinemia, which means I don’t have the protein which creates the immune system, and I will be having infusion for the rest of my life to treat it.
Although I Was mostly in and out of the hospital growing up, no one ever knew why, once I had a bad fall no one couldn’t tell me why my meniscus and cartilage were getting wear out. Until May 2023, I ended up in wheelchair with a bad pain and bad cramp from leg to knee, my rheumatologist sent me to emergency in suspicion of a sepsis on my knee.
I stayed in the hospital for about 19 days, 4 days in emergency room and 15 days up in a room, with many doctors and specialists visiting, from cardiologists, rheumatologists, orthopedics, hematologists, internists, immunologists and there they found my hemoglobin was in 4 and dropping, a bacteria in my blood, the hemophilia and the agammaglobulinemia.
Although I know neither have a cure, and will always be a part of me, I haven’t stopped doing what I love, I go to events of cosplay, work related events, and my photography hobby. Even if I can’t work now at what I got a degree on, I’m happy to be alive and continuing what I’m doing, with my family supporting me through this journey, mentally and physically.
health insurance doesn’t cover everything but we do everything we can to deal with it.
Yo bien agradecida con la lic.laura Paez y la doc.laura villareal de la clínica de hemofilia del hospital universitario.ya once años que mi hijo es atendido ahí ,es una excelente atención con su gran equipo multidiciplinario,nos han enseñado tantas cosas ,de como debemos llevar una buena profilaxis y poder nosotras mismas infundir a nuestros hijos.gracias a su atención podemos llevar una vida normal .
My name is Eliza VanZweden, and I am writing to share my journey as a woman living with Glanzmann’s Thrombasthenia. GT is a rare bleeding disorder caused by a platelet defect in which platelets do not aggregate to stop bleeding.
I was diagnosed shortly after birth in 1999, due to symptoms of birth trauma. My path to diagnosis was certainly more painless than others, as my older brother had already been diagnosed with GT. Growing up, I struggled with many nosebleeds which would often bleed for days. For these and other serious bleeds like throat and GI bleeds, I received many on-demand platelet transfusions in my youth. There are very limited treatment options for GT patients, who are often left to resort to platelet transfusions, Factor VII bypassing agents, or tranexamic acid. There are no prophylactic options available for GT patients currently.
As I grew, I learned about the risks associated with platelet transfusions – they should only be used to stop bleeding in emergency situations due to the risks of developing antibodies. This left me anxious – my only treatment option could become ineffective at any time and fail me in an emergency situation when I need it the most. The trust that all my bleeds will be solved with a platelet transfusion was replaced with worry surrounding every bleed and debating every time I bleed how much is “too much” before I go in for treatment – does a nosebleed need to last 8 hours before getting a transfusion? Or should it be reserved for one that is bleeding for 4 days?
As I transitioned to adulthood, I have recently faced my most challenging symptoms. My health is no longer only focused on my bleeding disorder, but also encompasses my bone, reproductive, and mental health due to long time suppression of periods using hormonal therapies. More recently, I suffered a thrombotic event which left me with a portion of permanent blindness in one eye. This experience, as well as my struggles to control my nosebleeds and menstrual bleeding has left me hypervigilant of how being a GT patient affects every aspect of my health.
Although I still struggle with knowing when to get treatment for severe bleeds and don’t have access to prophylaxis treatment, preventative care has still been key in managing my bleeding disorder. This involves minimizing my risks in every activity or environment, and being prepared for every situation.
The bleeding disorders community I have come to know through the World Hemophilia Foundation and the National Bleeding Disorders Foundation (NBDF) in the United States has proved to be an invaluable support and resource. I have met others who have the same bleeding disorder as I have and am inspired to be an advocate for this community <3
I have a child, named Aaron, who was diagnosed with Hemophilia A Severe, when he turned 1 year old in year 2010. He had an episode of intracranial hemorrhage at the age of 2, which almost cost his lives and along the way, had many joint bleeds episodes. At that moment in time, all the hospitals in Sabah, only provided On-Demand therapy.
I was fortunate to be able to communicate and gain knowledge from all the treaters from hospitals and universities, especially the hematologists. In early 2014, I had collaborated with a hematologist from the University Malaysia Sabah to organize a workshop for hemophilia patients in Sabah.
In end of 2014, I was approached by a strong advocate of hemophilia who is also the former President of Hemophilia Society of Malaysia and former Vice President of World Federation of Hemophilia. He encouraged and guide me the way to initiate and set up a Hemophilia Society within my region.
So, in the year 2015, I was involved in advocacy in the form of Hemophilia Society of Malaysia Sabah Chapter because I believe in the power of action to create positive change. Advocacy allows me to use my voice and influence to address issues that matter deeply to me, such as supporting individuals with hemophilia.
By actively participating in advocacy efforts, I can contribute to raise awareness, influencing policies, and fostering a more inclusive and supportive society for those affected by this condition.
Through advocacy in action, I can make a tangible difference in the lives of individuals with hemophilia, helping to ensure they receive the care, understanding, and opportunities they deserve.
I managed to establish a strong network of stakeholders ie.Ministry of Health(Sabah), hospitals(throughout Sabah and Kuala Lumpur), to ensure that the society stays updated with the latest advancements in hemophilia treatment and care. Through strong networking, it facilitates collaboration among the healthcare providers, patients, caregivers, and policy makers. It also increases the society’s ability to access resources.
As a 2024 SSMF Scholarship recipient, I will make the Hemophilia Society stands as a beacon of strength and hope, transforming lives and reshaping the narrative surrounding this challenging condition.
Hola mi nombre es Patricia naranjo y soy mamá de Diego Blankevoort de 7 años quien tiene Hemofilia A severa soy portadora de hemofilia mi padre tenía hemofilia y cuando nació mi hijo nunca imaginé que el podría tener y así fue desde un año que Diego usa la profilaxis el se inyecta hoy en día 1000 de liofilizado y nos a echo la vida más fácil y para mí niño la vida normal estoy muy feliz por su tratamiento ya que si el Diego se pone mal nunca debe de faltar a su tratamiento siempre al pie de la letra vamos hoy en día yo aprendí a inyectarlo gracias al centro de hemofilia del Hospital Roberto del Río y asus profesionales en especial ala doctora Verónica Soto la mejor doctora que le tocó a mi hijo y así vamos viviendo día a día su enfermedad se puede vivir en armonía y tranquilidad.
I am a mom of four beautiful children, with one having moderate Hemophilia A (however, he bleeds as a severe). He is my second youngest and most defiantly the most wild out of my bunch. From 7.5 years ago, when we found out Elias has hemophilia shortly after birth, life has has it challenges but most importantly its brought us into an amazing community that I cannot be grateful to be apart of.
When Elias was first born, we knew pretty soon after birth, that something was not right. He bled, and bled, and bled for days. We later were finally transferred to Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital where we found that he had Hemophilia A. What a day that really was. From being exhausted from having a new baby, to finding out that he has a serious condition, it really took a toll on me, as his mom. From that day though, I knew that I had to become Elias’ expert of his body and his condition because I was not only a mom now, but his advocate as well.
Early on, things were okay and we treated as needed. He started walking, and we had to have a few infusions from him falling and bruising that just would not stop growing. He started talking, and we had multiple infusions from mouth bleeds from him biting his tongue. When he was 2, we spent Christmas Eve in the hospital from an ankle bleed that we assume he got from walking on gravel (but who really knows). A few months later he got another joint bleed but this time in his elbow that we concluded had to of been spontaneous. At this point, I knew I had to stand up for him and decided that we needed to start on prophy because I could not deal with my son being in so many pain and treating afterward. After much fighting with insurance, he was finally approved to start emicizumab.
Emicizumab has absolutely been life changing for us. While I had never limited Elias from doing fun boy things, like riding his bike, jumping on a trampoline, doing backflips off the couch, riding a dirt bike, you know all the “fun” things that kids like to do, emicizumab sorta gave a peace of mind as well. Literally 3 months after his elbow bleed, he ended up breaking his other arm while in a bouncy house, ONLY MY CHILD RIGHT? LOL. We infused as a precaution but I really believe that because he has emicizumab, his injury was not worse.
Elias is now 7.5 and is NOT a poster child of Hemophilia. I let him do all the fun things that he wants to do (for the most part anyways). I fully believe that if I do not let him learn his own limitations now and let him “live in a bubble” then things will only get worst as he gets older. He plays baseball and is aggressive in his position and I think its great! He does not let Hemophilia define his life and I don’t either. Our life may be a little different from others, we may have to do things a little differently, but as a mom of hemo hero, my mind now thinks differently too.
We have started bringing awareness to our local community as well as bringing it all the way to Washington D.C. Nobody knows if they simple just don’t know. It is our job to bring attention to the matter and bring the awareness because I too, was one of those who had no idea that the word “hemophilia” meant. I love this journey that we as a family are now embarking. Elias is learning to advocate for himself, his siblings are also aware and are able to bring awareness to who around them too. Hemophilia not only affects the one who has it, but the entire family as a whole. We must support, advocate, and deal with it together to come out stronger and better than ever. Hemophilia will never stop Elias, it just may try to slow him down, but we are there to support and push him, because it will never win; we will not let it!
Dear All,
My name is Phyo Khant Kyaw, and I am writing to share my journey as a severe Hemophiliac with Factor-IX deficiency from Myanmar.
In 1998, I was faced with the harsh reality of my condition when a simple injury to my gum led to a diagnosis that changed my life forever. At that time, diagnosing Factor deficiency in Myanmar was a challenge, and I had been on a journey over thousand blood transfusions.
Despite the countless transfusions, my knowledge of hemophilia remained limited. When I became a member of the Myanmar Hemophilia Patient Association (MHPA), I was able to connect with others facing similar challenges, and together, we shared knowledge, experiences, and support that empowered me to navigate my condition with greater confidence and understanding.
One of the most harrowing moments of my journey was experiencing an intracranial hemorrhage during my childhood. I was engulfed by fear, unable to speak, and unable to see the light . However, care and treatment provided by Pf. Aye Aye Khaing, I got recovery within two weeks.
Until 2016, the absence of Factor-IX treatment left, resulting in deformities in both knees and my left elbow. However, in 2017, with the introduction of Factor treatment, a new chapter of hope began.
I am immensely grateful to the World Federation of Hemophilia (WFH), whose saving my life and the lives of countless others affected by this condition. Through their initiatives and advocacy, individuals like myself have been given a chance at life, hope, and a brighter future.
In closing, I extend my deepest gratitude to Pf. Aye Aye Khaing, the Myanmar Hemophilia Patient Association (MHPA), and the World Federation of Hemophilia (WFH).
With heartfelt appreciation,
Phyo Khant Kyaw
Terapeuta Hemato-Onco formada para peques con Hemofilia sin conocer que la vida me preparaba para atender a mi propia familia. Oaxaca-México
This is my Journey of living with Haemophilia.
When i was 11-year-old, there was great debate regarding my circumcision among the family. Elder members like my grandmother and uncles, remembering the death of my uncle due to non-stop bleeding, resulting from the circumcision as per the Muslim tradition in Sudan. My father, one of the admirers of Dr. Faroog Sidiqu, the reputed hematologist at the Khartoum Hospital, suggested that it is the doctor who would decide on it. My father was right. He could remember, the son was laying on the bed at that regional hospital, between life and death, bleeding for the third consecutive day. Doctors were puzzled and almost exhausted all options to stop this nasty bleeding from the nose. He took the journey from, after losing hopes, from Berber to Khartoum, not quite sure that his beloved son would make it. Dr. Faroog was in charge of the case. The child was admitted in the hospital, blood transfusions were made one bottle after another, and many tests were done.
– your son is confirmed to have a bleeding disorder, do you have any similar issues in the family? Asked Dr. faroog
-Yes, two of his uncles, mother’s brothers died at age of 9 and 13. Father replied.
-He is lucky to be born in an era that witnessed many improvements in the medical care of this clotting problem.
I was admitted at Khartoum Hospital for almost a week with the plasma infusion undertaken every 12 hours. the doctor assured there is a new medicine which would be a game changer in the lives of poor hemophiliacs. that was almost in 1971 when i was diagnosed and had my first treatment. My father and I came back to our home in the town of Berber, 360 Km north of the capital overwhelmed by the cheers of the relatives who presumed a miracle has been taking place and overloaded with many advice of the doctor on how to handle the case of boy. From that day i became a regular visitor to blood bank of Kh Hospital.
I went to the toilet, secretly wished to evaluate the efficiency of this medicine by myself. i was admitted because there was blood in my urine that lasted for couple of days. I came our rushing to my father, ” Yes, it is working dad, oh my God”.
What is working? asked my dad?
“The medicine” .i replied back………. “My urine turned to light yellow instead of red.”
it was a simple verification of the worthiness of the injected medicine. Color is changing from red to light yellow. i was stunned. my doubts turned into firm belief.
1976, i completed 10 years, with many self-awareness about the line that has been drawn. i sensed the attention of many eyes focusing on anything that i was doing. Playing football with my peers was a big taboo. I loved football and exhibited remarkable skills in playing. yet my friend would be very reluctant to let me play with them. They are afraid of the subsequences. At school the story was a bit different. The teachers were well informed about my case and warned that any physical punishment my lead to serious subsequences. I was very good at all subjects and topped the class. Not giving any teacher any reason to push me. Lashing the boys with whips was a common practice and the teachers were authorized to do it. when there a common punishment, the teacher would exclude me. some would make their own punishment for this strange boy. Mr. Amin, our math teacher, looked at me from face to toe and mockingly asked the class to stand up. it happened that i came late that morning and he was already in the classroom. He instructed the students to Welcome “His Highness” by singing the National Anthem. They did. He was so cruel to vent his anger in that way. i was down morally.
The same year, in the school holiday, my dad and i travelled to the capital by Half Express train. It was a privilege to travel to Khartoum, envied by my friends and give me times to narrate the wonders i have seen in Khartoum. They do not know that if it were not for this bleeding issues i would have never visited the capital. My wonder was that i had nothing this time to explain why we had to go to the capital. my health was great and no bleeding, being inside or outside.
The discussion was going on that morning with Dr. Faroog and some other big consultants providing more assurances to my dad that circumcision like any surgery would be efferently managed by the administration of the factor, factor 8.
Although i was cent per cent fit, i was admitted at the Pediatrics Section at the Hospital. Factor replacement was planned twice a day. My dad, noting the growing frustration inside me for being injected without a valid reason, he told me we planned to circumcise you. it is a simple procedure and there are no worries. I was a bit relived. Circumcision is something that relates to manhood in that closed environment. A man uncircumcised is not a man.
The day came. The news spread everywhere and our far and near relatives came to witness this “operation”. some of them, had no trust in the medicine at all, objecting seriously and surrendered to the will of my father who swear would never leave his son uncircumcised whatsoever. Three of the surgeons attended the surgery. Dr. Faroog set the hemostatic management plan with close monitoring of all essential parameters. After an hour i was pushed on a wheeled chair to the room. My aunts and other women ululated in joy. i spent around two weeks under the persistence of the medical team who left nothing for the chance. i was under the factor coverage for the entire period. Very minimal bleeding was observed. We returned to our hometown like a victorious army. when the train stopped at the station, we found a fleet of around 4 cars awaiting us. Celebration had to start and many cow blood were shed and many people were coming in to see the wonders, especially elders whom the occasion evoked their bitter memories of the earlier death of my two uncles.
JOURNEY WITH HEMOPHILIA
I am T. Jaipal, 73 years old ,Member and Treasurer of Hemophilia society Pondicherry chapter. My journey remained from South to North and North to South .
I was born on 6thOctober 1950 at Chennai. My father being central government staff got transferred to Jabalpur and we got settled there. Up to 12 years of my age days passed with full of pain and treated with Home remedies. There was a small Rt knee hit and from then onwards spontaneous bleeding occurred with a big swelling and intolerable pain. In spite of pain killer medicine taken, Rt, Knee got totally stiff and then onwards RT Knee had contracture. Then many episodes of joint and muscle bleed occurred, and I started my career along with the pain and Courage given by God .
I completed my HSSC examination and joined Central Government as LDC Staff. From then onwards I reached up to Office Superintendent Level -1, in Administration Division, in no time I became handicapped due to repeated joint and muscle bleed
Things were going normal and one fine morning spontaneous Gum bleeding occurred and it took 3 to 4 days to become normal. In the year 2004, September Intra Abdominal bleed occurred and not able to find reason and 10bottles of wholesome blood given to stop the bleeding. I again consulted with the Dr’s and again Medical checkups was done thoroughly and found that it is blood clotting disorder Hemophilia. Blood Assay was done and found F VIII < 1% which is severe. Then I got Registered in Hemophilia society Jabalpur as a member.
In the month of April 2006 I got Voluntary Retirement leaving 5 years service. I had an opportunity to settle in Pondicherry along with my son and my wife. Since 2011, we settled in Pondicherry. I called Mr. A. Balaji, secretary of Hemophilia society Pondicherry chapter,and he advised me to contact Dr. P. Nalini, and get registered in Hemophilia society Pondicherry chapter. Then Dr. P.Nalini called me over phone to come to office immediately and she examined all the medical records and told to get registered in the Pondicherry chapter. She felt very sad due to disability happened to me
From then onwards Dr. P. Nalini is fully taking care of me. She with the help JIPMER Central Government Health Scheme, received Factor VIII for me as regular prophylaxis. It would not be out of order to say that Prof. Dr. P. Nalini is GOD for Hemophiliacs of Pondicherry chapter providing personnel touch to all hemophiliacs irrespect of caste, creed and colour. This year 2023 Prof. Dr. P. Nalini is awarded with Padma Shri by the Government of India.
I am living peaceful life with the help of Hemophilia society Pondicherry chapter,
JIPMER Doctors, Central Government Health Scheme, and along with my family support also.
Thanking you,
Treasurer and Member
Hemophilia society Pondicherry chapter
Hi, Greetings for the Day.
I myself Mr. Pritish Navnath Desai sharing a story whether its success story or struggle story that you all decide. The guy name Pritish born on 14 October 1985 as a healthy and active baby. All three families Desai Family, Mhatre Family , Pathare Family were into celebration. Their celebration won’t last for long as when I was 1.5 year old I diagnoses with Haemophilia B factor 9 deficiency less than 1 ℅ . All three families are in tense but DIN of Wadia Hospital Dr. Karim Boy and their team help me to meet my success. I have seen lots of bleeds, many times I given the exam from hospital. So many things. I have seen many downs in my life specially love life due to Haemophilia , but it was ok. I have Lost opportunity to join Indian Air Force, also Lost precious job in Icici Bank due to this, but it was ok. But one Company stands with me that’s Jaguar LandRover it helps me grow it teaches me engineering skill, although I am MBA in finance and MBA in banking.
When I look back I See the guy who destroy thousand times and rebuilt. That’s me.
14/6/1994 a day after joining as Paediatrician in Government Hospital Aluva. Called to see a boy with excruciating pain and swelling of the knee joint, I was totally at a loss as to how to manage the case. The patient had a white ID card from Christian Medical College, Vellore identifying him as Hemophilia A severe patient. I rushed to my adjacent RMO Quarters to check with Nelson’s Text Book of Paediatrics as I had not seen a case of hemophilia before. The only option at that time was Cryoprecipitate which was available with the Components Separation Unit at Cochin. With 6 units twice daily he became alright. The child’s younger brother had added Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy also an X-linked disorder that proved fatal and he succumbed to respiratory paralysis below ten years of age.
Brush with this thereto unfamiliar disease made me associate with HFI (Haemophilia Federation of India) Ankamali chapter. At their request, we arranged a component separation license to ensure a free supply of cryoprecipitate the only treatment available. Occasionally the Chapter used to receive factor concentrates from the World Federation of Haemophilia as donations. However, the patient conclave organized in 2012 with the participation of local bodies and ministers proved to be an eye-opener and on World Hemophilia Day 2013 the foundation stone for the first and only Comprehensive Haemophilia Treatment Centre was laid. On February 20th, 2014 the Centre was opened by the Chief Minister who announced on-demand factor treatment for children below 18 and a monthly pension of Rs.1000/- The very next year 20th March 2015 at the valedictory function of the National HTC conclave hosted by us the Chief Minister announced the extension of ODT to all patients and prophylaxis for children in the District. In 2021 the Government of Kerala under the Asadhara programme extended Universal Paediatric Prophylaxis and adult ODT in the state. In 2020 we started nonfactor therapy also and now we have ten kids on Emicizumab. We could contribute in our own humble manner to the advocacy efforts along with HFI. My 50 years long stint with Health Services Department was also helpful. We are helped by the Hematology Department of Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences.
We have 1071 PwH enrolled here (883 HA + 188HB) Looking back on the plight of PwH. Our laboratory has EQADS with WFH and Christian Medical College, Vellore. The centre is a participant of WBDR and just completed 4 years WFHTwinning Programme with New Castle upon Tyne. We have had 24 publications in the last 9 years. WFH recognized our WBDR performance, Twinning efforts, and Laboratory services.
Sufro de von willebrand, ya que la heredé de mi papá. Soy la tercera generación con esta condición, siempre pensé que era normal tener anemia y sangrados abundantes durante mi menstruación (igual que mis tias), pero al salir del país me di cuenta que hay otras opciones para las personas con mi condición y que no tenía que vivir con anemia, así que gracias a la hematologa que me atendió en Ecuador empecé a tomar acido tranexanico y desmopresina, eso me ayudó bastante y pide tener un mejor control del sangrado. Actualmente uso Mirena y la menstruación prácticamente se detuvo. También solo uso factor cuando tengo una operación o extracción dental, y por primera vez tengo factor en casos de emergencia, por lo cual estoy muy agradecida, ya que hace un par de años tuve una operación y durante el postoperatorio tuve una hemorragia y nada de factor para poder controlarla. Solo el ácido tranexanico me ayudó en ese momento. En fin, agradezco a todos los que me han ayudado en este camino de padecer von willebrand y que me enseñaron que se puede tener buena calidad de vida a pesar de los sangrados.
Hola me llamo Nayeli Dueñas soy mamá de Ian Lozano un pequeño de 6 años con Hemofilia A Leve , a Ian le detectaron la enfermedad cuando el tenia apenas 2 añitos en mi experiencia puedo decirles que siendo una enfermedad tan rara y muy poco conocida me inundó y nos inundó a mí , a mi esposo y a mis hijos un miedo terrible y más por qué veíamos a ni ñino tan chiquito y tan indefenso …
Hoy gracias a su tratamiento , a la información que se brinda acerca de la Hemofilia, a los especialistas que llevan su caso y a mi familia por el apoyo hoy mi hijo lleva una calidad de vida mejor y esperemos que así siga …
Un beso y un abrazo desde Guadalajara Jalisco México !
Hola me llamo Casandra Ramirez y soy madre de un hijo hemofilico ,se llama Juan Antonio de 16 años, el cual tiene 2 hermanas mayores podrán imaginarse que Juan siendo un hombresito después de 2 mujeres ,me sentía realizada como madre ya mi hijo varón y fue 6 meses después de su nacimiento que descubrimos que era hemofilico , en esos momentos mi mundo se vino abajo ,solo pensaba que mi hijo moriría en cualquier momento ,no teníamos nada de conocimiento referente a la enfermedad ,ni medicamento ,…fue tan doloroso ver Ami hijo llorando por las noches con tanto dolor en sus tobillos por el simple hecho de querer llevar una vida como cualquier niño de su edad..pero gracias a Dios a la edad de 6 años buscamos ayuda en otro estado ,llegamos a nuevo león directo al hospital universitario buscando atención para mi Juan y así fue me dijeron que podía llevar su tratamiento y atención personalizada con hematólogo,trauma,genética…y fue ahí donde aprendimos a tratar la hemofilia cómo un padecimiento llevadero con sus cuidados y profilaxis pertinente ,agradezco enorme mente a la Dra. Villarreal encargada de la clínica de hemofilia y la Lic. Laura Páez nuestra trabajadora social que siempre nos llevan de la mano cada una en atención física y atención emocional ya que la Lic. Laura Paez siempre está al pendiente de que nosotros como padres seamos responsables y puntuales con esta atención para nuestros hijos …desde que llegamos a la clinica de hemofilia del hospital universitario nuestra perspectiva de vida cambio ,hoy por hoy se que mi hijo puede realizarse como cualquier otro adolescente y todo es por educarnos respecto ala hemofilia y claro llevar su profilaxis correctamente ..nunca perdamos las esperanzas …gracias
Hola buen día
Solo paso por aquí a saludar y a contar
Soy portadora Hemofilia Severa
Tengo un hermano vivo Hemofílico y uno ya fallecido
Dos primos vivos
أطيب التمنيات باليوم العالمي للهيموفيليا انضممت إلى الاتحاد العالمي للهيموفيليا في عام 2015 – في البداية كمدير إقليمي لإفريقيا والشرق الأوسط والآن أغطي الشرق الأوسط فقط. كانت السنوات الثماني الماضية رحلة رائعة للقاء العديد من الأشخاص الملهمين المصابين بالهيموفيليا والأمهات والآباء والإخوة والأخوات ولقاء الأشخاص في المجال الطبي المهني الذين يعتنون بهم والحكومات التي تدعمهم. من خلال هذه الرحلة ، تعلمت أنه من خلال الجهود التعاونية لجميع أصحاب المصلحة ، يصبح حتى الهدف الأكثر صعوبة أو بعيدًا ممكنًا. إن الجهود الدؤوبة لهذا المجتمع هي التي ستستمر في تحقيق اختراقات في توفير الوصول إلى العلاج لمن هم في أمس الحاجة إليه. استمروا في العمل العظيم. إنه لشرف لنا أن نلتقي بكم جميعًا ، ، وأن نقرأ قصصكم الجماعية وأن نعمل عن كثب مع العديد منكم وندعمكم بأفضل ما نستطيع
I wanted to share a really nice experience I had recently with one of our adolescent females, with Von willebrand disease, who has moved from children’s services to our adults.
She had seen our consultant in clinic & arranged to come & learn how to self inject DDAVP for period management, alongside starting tranexamic acid.
Asides from making me feel old because I remember her being born, her dad has Von willebrand disease and we look after multiple generations of her family, it was really great to spend some quality time with her going over her disease, access to care & teaching her how to treat.
About 10 days later she made contact and asked to come back and run through some bits. I thought perhaps I’d missed something with her self administration education but on arrival she produced a list of questions for me.
We proceeded to spend 45-60 minutes going through more details about treatment options, including an introduction to treating with Von willebrand factor concentrate if DDAVP did not prove adequate for bleeding control. We discussed how & when she can access treatment, other options for period management including the option for joint review in our gynaecology/bleeding disorders clinic, supporting her in university choices, holiday advice & general day to day advice & discussion about her condition.
Unfortunately this young lady fell victim to nearing adult transition during the COVID pandemic and therefore didn’t get the same options of regular joint appointments. Luckily with her family knowing the adult team well she felt comfortable coming in & discussing her options for access care & treatment.
At the end of the day, this is why I love the job I do, because these two conversations have been beneficial to the affected Individual & their parent in providing reassurance about their next steps in life & that we have other treatment options available. I was also able to let her know that the bleeding she was experiencing isn’t normal & we can help to resolve that as well as provide iron supplements to support blood loss until bleeding settles.
My Brain surgery with the help of Afstylia Factor support from WFH
Sankar@ Sanakaranarayanan
I am Sankar@ Sanakaranarayanan from Tindivanam, South India hails for lower socio economic group. In my child hood I was taken to various Hospitals for various treatments for my various bleeds and nobody diagnosed me as Hemophilia. I suffered many bleeds like oral bleeds, joint bleeds and muscle bleeds,and I, and at the age of 7 only I am diagnosed as Hemophilia A. I have 1 elder sister and 4 younger sisters and my 3 nephews are affected by Hemophilia A . Before 25 years there was no factor and all the way Plasma was transfused and it was given for all treatment and surgeries also. Later I found that there was a registered society in Madras for Hemophilia. So I and my 3 nephews registered in Madras society and we went for treatment in Madras Society.
Some years later I heard that Dr. P. Nalini, Professor of Pediatrics, JIPMER, Pondicherry (Retd) had started Hemophilia society Pondicherry chapter and I submitted all the documents of myself to Dr. P. Nalini and I became a Life Member of the Pondicherry Hemophilia society. I underwent 2 major surgeries and with the help of Factor from Hemophilia Federation India, New Delhi and also support given by Dr.P. Nalini, which are all Free of Cost. In the year 2018, I had severe fever and I came to JIPMER and there I was diagnosed as Malaria and due to Malaria I had blood clot in my brain and the clot was diagonised by Neuro Surgeon of JIPMER and open surgery was done in JIPMER, which was also Free of Cost , and full Factor support(Afstylia) was given by Hemophilia society Pondicherry chapter obtained from World Federation of Hemophilia, through Hemophilia Federation (India). After my surgery I was supported by Factor for 6 months as prophylaxis and I am fully recovered. In spite of various bleeds and I am fully recovered from IC Bleed ,and I am now normal. My family members express their gratitude to WFH , HFI (India) an Hemophilia society Pondicherry chapter
Thanks to all
E. Sankaranarayanan
M. NO. 53
Hemophilia society Pondicherry chapter
The Haemophilia Association of Mauritius wish you all a Happy World Haemophilia Day 2023. Access for all. Cheers to all our Heroes.
Rajesh Neelayya
President
Haemophilia Association of Mauritius.
As hemophilia caregiver , many positive stories are with me, but most exciting ones are : life of one child with brain Hemorrhage is saved with continuous and untiring efforts of his mother and now that child has normal actovity without any residual disabilty , it is really most satisfying event in my life as hemophilia physician and other adult patient came to my care when there was plan to have amputation of the leg and with personal care leg is saved .That boy had nailing a d plating for fracture without factor support
Bonjour je suis Adje Dodo… mère d’un enfant hémophile.
Nous l’avons su mon époux et moi, dès l’accouchement, parce que l’enfant présentait deux bosses au niveau de la tête.
En effet, c’était le sang qui s’était coagulé à ce niveau.
Le médecin m’a alors demandé si dans ma famille on avait un problème d’hémophilie et j’ai répondu oui. Il m’a rapidement donné un examen à faire qui malheureusement ne s’effectue pas ici au Gabon, mais plutôt en France.
En attendant les résultats , quand le petit a atteint ses deux mois, nous l’avons circoncis dans l’ignorance.
Ce fût le début de notre souffrance, une chose à ne pas vivre.
Il s’est vidé de son sang et on va, depuis maintenant 4 ans, de transfusion en transfusion.
C’est un calvaire.
My son Ethan was diagnosed with Hemophilia b just after his 1st birthday when he tore his frenulum while learning how to walk. He bled for days (so gross!) and we were told many times this was normal by a dentist, but when we kept calling back they finally referred us to a pediatric dentist who knew almost immediately he had a bleeding disorder. He was .1 point away on his hemoglobin level from needing a blood transfusion when this happened. Talk about scary!
We had our suspicions that something wasn’t normal when his bruises would have a hard center and when even the smallest bruises would take over a week to go away. We were continually told this was normal by his original pediatrician and that these were calcium deposits. Now I know better to trust my mom intuition! Being a first time parent is hard and it’s taken a long time to NOT trust a doctor’s first opinion. If you’re reading this-do your research on everything if you have even the slightest doubt the diagnosis is wrong.
Skip forward 3 years and Ethan is thriving! We do prophylactic infusions of factor 9 every 2 weeks through a port at home. We can almost tell immediately when he is in pain, has a bleed, or when a fall is -just- a fall/injury and there’s no need for an ER visit. I’m thankful everyday for our access to this treatment!
ABIRA MAHEEN
Joint secretary Haemophilia Foundation Pakistan
President Youth group Haemophilia Patient’s Welfare society Rawalpindi
Von Willebrand disease
I am 25 years old and a final year medical student. Most of the people don’t even know what this
‘Von Willebrand disease’ means and neither did my parents or my family until I was born. I was 45 days old when I was diagnosed as a case of this disease. It a bleeding disorder where the blood has an impaired clotting system. As a child having impaired clotting means the parents have to be extra vigilant to take care of their child. My childhood has been a bit different from other children with frequent bleeds and visits to hospitals. It’s strange that I always wanted to be a doctor and a teacher but I have always hated hospital. Seeing my parents always by my side, seeing their struggle always motivated me. I always wanted to make them proud. I wanted to work hard and set an example for other people like me that not living with this is not an option so it’s better to accept it and move on. I was active in school and college being part of the student’s body as well as in extracurricular. I was able to secure first position in whole of UAE in matric and second in FSC in UAE. Success is not a road where you walk on roses, my dream was to become a doctor and that was shattered when I was unable to get admission in gov sector medical college. It took a year almost to get back on the track and prepare again for the entry test and finally I got admission and that was a bid step towards my dream. I joined Haemophilia Patient’s Welfare society to move towards my goal and I am working as their executive board member, youth group leader and women group member. I am also working for people with bleeding disorders at national level as joint secretary of Haemophilia Foundation Pakistan. I hope to become a great haematologist plus I also want to make an organisation where people like me will not only get treatment but education and other opportunities as well where they could work on self-development and play their role in society, become role models.
Bonjour je suis
Louis Davy, étudiant dans une école de gestion, j’ai 27 ans et je suis hémophile de type A.
Cette maladie a été identifiée dès mes 6mois.
En effet après une chute, j’ai eu l’apparition des premiers hématomes.
Mais avec le temps j’ai su m’adapter par rapport aux autres et j’ai fait plus attention à ma santé.
Cela a sous-entendu un autre mode de vie notamment pas de jeux brutaux ou des sports de contacts.
Ainsi, parce que cette maladie est méconnue du grand public au Gabon, avec l’AGH (Association Gabonaise Hémophiles) je compte faire entendre ma voix.
Je suis Mme MALOUNDOU NBEMBI Dominique Angèle maman d’un petit garçon hémophile.
A l’âge de 4 mois, il avait des bleus qui lui sortaient sur le corps.
Je me disais que c’était passager jusqu’au jour où il est tombé et s’est blessé la gencive. Il avait déjà 11 mois quand l’incident s’est produit.
Il a donc perdu beaucoup de sang et a on a dû lui transfuser trois poches de sang.
Samuel était à deux doigts de nous laissé. Imaginez dans quel état ,nous les parents, étions c’était pas facile pour nous. Nous avons fait les examens et c’est de là que on a su que Samuel était hémophile.
C’était très dur à accepter car on ne savait même pas que cette maladie existait, encore moins au Gabon.
Donc au travers de ce témoignage, nous voulons que l’hémophilie soit pris en charge dans notre pays.
Story of a Haemophiliac
Dear friends,
Today the 17th of April is World Haemophilia Day (Birthday of Frank Schnabel, a Canadian businessman born with severe haemophilia A and the founder of the World Federation of Haemophilia). So I, being a Person With Haemophilia (PWH), think this is the right time to share my experience with you all. (For those who are not acquainted with Haemophilia: it is a bleeding disorder likely to cause severe joint pains and consequent multiple deformities. The disease is incurable, but manageable under proper medical guidance.)
Son having born after two daughters in a middle-class family in the early 1970s in a small town, I suspect my parents’ face gleamed. But their happiness didn’t last long when they began to face rather unexpected and complicated problems with even my minor bruises within my first couple of years. With medical facilities incomparable with that of today in those days, I was diagnosed as a Person with Haemophilia after several trials. ‘Haemophilia’ was just a name made known to my parents; doctors suggested nothing else, barring the fact that I should be brought up CAREFULLY. None to blame; doctors whom we could reach, themselves knew very little about the ‘Royal Disease’ in those days.
Days went by, and my health deteriorated with it, following several bleeding episodes. By the time I was 14, I lost my walking ability. I would be literally picked up by my friends from the auto-rickshaw to my bench in the classroom. Went to the college in the wheelchair with the assistance of a guy. Spent countless sleepless nights owing to excruciating pain (painkiller was the only treatment I could get then).
Despite these serious setbacks, I never lost interest in my academic studies. I stood first in the class throughout my schooldays. Though I got over 90% in 2nd PUC, I couldn’t join any technical / medical course (I had the wish to become a doctor, though) owing to my extreme physical constraints, and joined the course of B.Sc (PCM). I was selected as a Postal Assistant when I was in the final year B.Sc well before the final exams. Went to Mysuru for postal training for 75 days (my health had improved by then, thanks to my age). Wrote the final B.Sc exams by operating from Mysuru to Arsikere. And finally, my sincere efforts paid off. I made the very Principal of my college, who, worried of my multiple, complex physical disabilities, had first denied to grant me a seat in PUC in the PCMB section, feel extremely proud of me. His college got a rank for the first time, and that too the First rank in B.Sc with a record scoring in the history of Mysore University. Perhaps influenced by this achievement, many ranks were recorded in the history of the college in the succeeding years.
Friends, I’m telling my story not to boast of myself (I’ve nothing to boast of either), but to instil confidence in the minds of fellow haemophiliacs. On introspection, I reckon my achievement is not mine. I owe it to my extremely cooperative friends and school / college staff, both teaching and non-teaching. It was because of them that I could overcome my physical constraints.
Now my family members: my dad, despite having known the fact that my mom was genetically responsible for my disorder and the consequent unending problems in the family, never ever resented on mom or her family. Hats off to him! He catered to my needs till his last breath. My parents and sisters all have stood by my side and have made my life comfortable to the fullest extent possible. Mom has been exceptionally patient in tolerating the pains with me. Can’t repay them at all!
Not to forget my colleagues of all cadre from Group D to Divisional Head. Their extensive support made me serve the Department for 14 years – long enough for my health condition (which had deteriorated by then); long enough to earn my bread. Many thanks to them too!
Lastly, but by no means, the least, Dr Suresh Hanagavadi and Mrs Hanagavadi of Davangere, like in the life of so many PWHs, have come all the way from their workplace to my home despite their busy schedule as well as Dr himself being PWH, and have ameliorated my sufferings. Simply great!
Well, this is my story. Life has changed globally including our nation to a great extent over these years. Awareness regarding the Royal Disease at least among the medical faculty has improved, but not to the extent in developed countries. It is still a long way to go. Facilities for an early diagnose of cases of rare diseases should be made available everywhere including rural areas. People should be educated about dealing with persons born with abnormalities; their support can build up wonderful confidence in the less blessed ones in facing life; I’m very lucky in this regard to get such an environment. And to fellow PWHs, this is what I’d like to say: It is you who have to suffer lifelong if you’re careless. So please lead a cautious lifestyle without venturing into strenuous physical activities. But don’t lose hope in life. Philanthropic achievers like Frank Schnabel and Dr Suresh Hanagavadi should inspire us all.
To conclude, I’d like to quote the lines of the German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche: Pessimism is a sign of decay, optimism is a sign of superficiality. ‘Tragic Optimism’ is the mood of the strong man who seeks intensity and extent of experience even at the cost of woe, and is delighted to find that strife is the law of life.
May this quote be inspiring to us all in accepting life! Wish you all a bright future!
Regards,
Nagesh K
10 months ago I would not have really understood what you were talking about if you said “hemophilia”…since our little boy has been born and was diagnosed with hemophilia at 1 day old, many emotions have raged through myself… joy and tears, fear and humor, anger, resentment, anxiety, stress… but overall love and compassion… Seeing my whole family, my husband and our girls, my parents, step up and embrace this new normal has meant the world… as we continue on this journey, there will be so many more “World Hemophilia Days” in our future and I can’t wait to see what God has in store for us
Mi hija Luana Etchecopar Galarraga tiene 16 años y fue diagnosticada hace 4 años con deficit factor VII. Desde Paysandú Uruguay enviamos nuestros saludos a todos!
Hello everyone, I’m Manoj Kolukuluri a 20yrs young with severe factor-viii deficiency. I’m currently continuing my study in the Charted Accountancy stream. Now I’m going to share all my experiences and obstacles that I faced in my life.
Since my childhood I’m living in Visakhapatnam. My first injury started with a deep cut on my index finger, at that time my parents do’nt have any idea that I’m diagnosed with hemophilia. My parents came to know that I’m diagnosed with hemophilia at my age of 8 months when I got tested at C.M.C Vellore. After few days we came to know that there is a society for hemophilia in Visakhapatnam. Dr V. Chandra Sekharam ( The President ) and Mr K. Sai Baba ( secretary ) of the hemophilia society Visakhapatnam played a key role with my treatment of Hemophilia. They both helped me a lot during my bleeds by advising a proper treatment for me. I owe a lot to Hemophilia society Visakhapatnam.
Since my childhood I faced many severe injuries like head injury and also faced problem with my milk teeth. During my schooling all my friends and teachers well supported me. I used to stick mostly to the indoor games. Most of the time I used to tempt to play outdoor games but a thought use to strike in my mind i.e if I play outdoor I should take factor that day for sure, and that is burden to my parents and a nightmare for me because I’m a bit afraid of injections, so that use to motivate me for not playing outdoor games. After a lot of struggle during my preparation and exams with many bleeds I completed my schooling.
And next comes the college life where our thoughts expand to tremendous limits. At this point of time our state government has started to provide free factors for us and that’s it my thoughts has been completely changed. My wings had been opened and I started enjoying my life. This brought a major change in my life. For the next few months my number of bleeds has completely increased. So then I limited my enjoyment for some extent.
I took commerce stream in which writing takes a greater part. During the examinations it used to bleed in my shoulders, wrist etc. But with many struggles I finally completed my intermediate.
Next at this point of time we have to choose our career. There are only 2 options which rotated in my mind either B.COM or Charted Accountancy, and surprisingly I chose both. I’m completing my B.COM and Charted Accountancy parallelly.
Choosing them is easy but facing both of them at a time has been a nightmare in my life. I’m facing a lot of stress during my charted accountancy examinations and incurred many severe bleeds during the examination period, and I failed in my last 3 attempts of C.A examinations due to severe bleeds. But I didn’t give up my hopes. I cleared my C.A examinations in my 4th attempt.
Born in an emerging country with severe hemophilia, factor VIII deficiency, and at a young age diagnosed with co-infection was like a nightmare. Upon knowing my disease related complications, the whole world collapsed around me. Hopes were shattered and life seemed to have come to standstill. I have smelled the changing behaviors in my relationships. Friends & colleagues started giving excuses for not socializing frequently. With age and disease related complications, family members may also become burdened by caregiving, and they may be affected by the stigma & discrimination often attached to the disease.
I have developed psychosocial issues and started visualized various ideas to suppress reality until finally I surrendered to God. First question that came to my mind was “WHY ME?” Then I thought for answers; “God only burdens those capable of bearing the burden”. I have gone through several trials and surely there was a reason…God examined me. Then I read; trials given to people are commensurate to the courage they have. Rather than be sad, I felt hopeful.
Putting my fears aside, with the belief that the future lies in God’s hands, I live each day positively, with courage to face the uncertainty of being hemophilic who has co-infection. I have seen life not as simply as others have; sufferings I faced have given me the strength to not only help myself but also others. “After psychological stability and coping with sense of inferiority complex, I have seen a positive change in my relationships towards others”.
My strong faith on God has helped me reconcile with my feelings of aggression and coping with psychosocial issues developed in my personality due to my disease related suffering. Social support reduces stress, improves treatment adherence and quality of life. Faith and emotional support may also help person to restore his reason for being and increased self-esteem.
Agradece por ser especial!
Me llamo Ángel Quintero, fui diagnosticado con Hemofilia A severa a los 6 meses de nacido, ya tenia antecedentes familiares.
Por mi condición y la ausencia de tratamiento en mi País, tuve una infancia bastante difícil con muchos episodios hemorragicos, mas sin embargo, el apoyo de mi familia y mis amigos los cuales se encargaron de cuidarme, apoyarme y nunca tratarme diferente, hizo que ahora tenga muy buenos recuerdos de cada etapa.
Aun, hoy día a mis 35 años de edad, con daños irreversibles en mis articulaciones debido a la escasez de tratamiento, agradezco haber tenido y tener personas maravillosas en mi vida que hacen que a pesar de las dificultades halla podido lograr cada una de mis metas para llegar a ser un profesional y aunado a eso, hoy tengo una esposa comprometida con la Hemofilia que forma parte de la Asociación Venezolana para la Hemofilia (AVH)
y trabaja para mejorar la calidad de vida de todas las personas con la condición, ademas gracias a dicha asociación y al apoyo de la FMH actualmente recibimos tratamiento.
Por eso aconsejo a las personas con Hemofilia y cualquier otra coagulopatia a que siempre informen y eduquen a todas las personas que los rodean por que pueden mejorar su calidad de vida física y emocionalmente e incluso pueden llegar a salvarla.
cc salut je m’appelle Fabrice IKOU BIYOUKOU, je suis infirmier au Centre Hospitalier de Libreville (CHUL) je m’investis dans l’hémophilie et sur les personnes atteintes de cette pathologie depuis déjà deux ans (2 ans) auprès du Docteur Léonie Esther LEDAGA médecin hématologue, grâce à qui je me suis lancé et prends en charge quotidiennement ces malades dans le but de les aider à améliorer leur qualité de vie.
j’exhorte donc mes frères et sœurs gabonais à faire comme moi personnel de santé ou non, à soutenir les hémophiles pour apprendre à mieux connaitre cette maladie méconnue du grand public.
Sometimes the stories of life seem like the stories of books, my story was like that, it can also be called the story of getting life back.
It was mid-year 2014 when I first needed surgery for gallbladder stone removal through laparoscopy in Chattogram, Bangladesh in a private Hospital. The operation was successful but the internal bleeding couldn’t stop, my physicians all are surprised because they couldn’t find any cause for the internal bleeding. After 15 days from Chattogram to Dhaka I need to shift to better treatment. During those 15 days, I was also in a hospital bed losing lots of blood. Meanwhile, my physician in Chattogram did another surgery called laparotomy to find out the root cause of bleeding. Unfortunately they can’t stop my internal bleeding.
In Dhaka another private hospital physician again opened my abdomen and place a surgical foam and take under observation. After a few days my physician observed that the bleeding not stopped. In that time he sent my blood sample in India for Factor level check purpose. In the meantime I need to spend 45 days in an expensive hospital in Dhaka around 45 days. My family needs to sale our some properties and assets for my treatment purpose. At last, the report came from India that I am Haemophilia B positive patient.
Those two months turned my life into a big U-turn along with my family.
Due to back to back-to-back surgeries, I need to again lay in an operation bed for repair Hernia surgery in Chennai, India year 2018. For those operations, I needed to take Factor IX which was very expensive. I lost more than four years but learned what Haemophilia is how to manage it and finally I learn the truth about my life that I am special one who was chosen by Allah from the all human being Allah who will special take care of me. I am not afraid I am not alone.
“Life is not beautiful, it’s so colourful “
I found this page while searching about my hemophilia diagnosis.
My Name is Cindy Nogueras, 28, from Puerto Rico. Back in July 2023, while I was unknowing fighting for my life was diagnosed with Hemophilia factor XII also known as HAF deficiency, Hageman factor deficiency, Hageman trait. Factor XII deficiency is a rare genetic blood disorder that causes prolonged clotting (coagulation) of blood in a test tube without the presence of prolonged clinical bleeding tendencies.
It is caused by a deficiency of factor XII (Hageman factor), a plasma protein (glycoprotein).
The condition caused bleeding in my knees which has left me temporarily in a wheelchair, and stiff leg which can’t stretch due to the loss of the meniscus and cartilage.
This condition is also accompanied by agammaglobulinemia, which means I don’t have the protein which creates the immune system, and I will be having infusion for the rest of my life to treat it.
Although I Was mostly in and out of the hospital growing up, no one ever knew why, once I had a bad fall no one couldn’t tell me why my meniscus and cartilage were getting wear out. Until May 2023, I ended up in wheelchair with a bad pain and bad cramp from leg to knee, my rheumatologist sent me to emergency in suspicion of a sepsis on my knee.
I stayed in the hospital for about 19 days, 4 days in emergency room and 15 days up in a room, with many doctors and specialists visiting, from cardiologists, rheumatologists, orthopedics, hematologists, internists, immunologists and there they found my hemoglobin was in 4 and dropping, a bacteria in my blood, the hemophilia and the agammaglobulinemia.
Although I know neither have a cure, and will always be a part of me, I haven’t stopped doing what I love, I go to events of cosplay, work related events, and my photography hobby. Even if I can’t work now at what I got a degree on, I’m happy to be alive and continuing what I’m doing, with my family supporting me through this journey, mentally and physically.
health insurance doesn’t cover everything but we do everything we can to deal with it.
Yo bien agradecida con la lic.laura Paez y la doc.laura villareal de la clínica de hemofilia del hospital universitario.ya once años que mi hijo es atendido ahí ,es una excelente atención con su gran equipo multidiciplinario,nos han enseñado tantas cosas ,de como debemos llevar una buena profilaxis y poder nosotras mismas infundir a nuestros hijos.gracias a su atención podemos llevar una vida normal .
My name is Eliza VanZweden, and I am writing to share my journey as a woman living with Glanzmann’s Thrombasthenia. GT is a rare bleeding disorder caused by a platelet defect in which platelets do not aggregate to stop bleeding.
I was diagnosed shortly after birth in 1999, due to symptoms of birth trauma. My path to diagnosis was certainly more painless than others, as my older brother had already been diagnosed with GT. Growing up, I struggled with many nosebleeds which would often bleed for days. For these and other serious bleeds like throat and GI bleeds, I received many on-demand platelet transfusions in my youth. There are very limited treatment options for GT patients, who are often left to resort to platelet transfusions, Factor VII bypassing agents, or tranexamic acid. There are no prophylactic options available for GT patients currently.
As I grew, I learned about the risks associated with platelet transfusions – they should only be used to stop bleeding in emergency situations due to the risks of developing antibodies. This left me anxious – my only treatment option could become ineffective at any time and fail me in an emergency situation when I need it the most. The trust that all my bleeds will be solved with a platelet transfusion was replaced with worry surrounding every bleed and debating every time I bleed how much is “too much” before I go in for treatment – does a nosebleed need to last 8 hours before getting a transfusion? Or should it be reserved for one that is bleeding for 4 days?
As I transitioned to adulthood, I have recently faced my most challenging symptoms. My health is no longer only focused on my bleeding disorder, but also encompasses my bone, reproductive, and mental health due to long time suppression of periods using hormonal therapies. More recently, I suffered a thrombotic event which left me with a portion of permanent blindness in one eye. This experience, as well as my struggles to control my nosebleeds and menstrual bleeding has left me hypervigilant of how being a GT patient affects every aspect of my health.
Although I still struggle with knowing when to get treatment for severe bleeds and don’t have access to prophylaxis treatment, preventative care has still been key in managing my bleeding disorder. This involves minimizing my risks in every activity or environment, and being prepared for every situation.
The bleeding disorders community I have come to know through the World Hemophilia Foundation and the National Bleeding Disorders Foundation (NBDF) in the United States has proved to be an invaluable support and resource. I have met others who have the same bleeding disorder as I have and am inspired to be an advocate for this community <3
I have a child, named Aaron, who was diagnosed with Hemophilia A Severe, when he turned 1 year old in year 2010. He had an episode of intracranial hemorrhage at the age of 2, which almost cost his lives and along the way, had many joint bleeds episodes. At that moment in time, all the hospitals in Sabah, only provided On-Demand therapy.
I was fortunate to be able to communicate and gain knowledge from all the treaters from hospitals and universities, especially the hematologists. In early 2014, I had collaborated with a hematologist from the University Malaysia Sabah to organize a workshop for hemophilia patients in Sabah.
In end of 2014, I was approached by a strong advocate of hemophilia who is also the former President of Hemophilia Society of Malaysia and former Vice President of World Federation of Hemophilia. He encouraged and guide me the way to initiate and set up a Hemophilia Society within my region.
So, in the year 2015, I was involved in advocacy in the form of Hemophilia Society of Malaysia Sabah Chapter because I believe in the power of action to create positive change. Advocacy allows me to use my voice and influence to address issues that matter deeply to me, such as supporting individuals with hemophilia.
By actively participating in advocacy efforts, I can contribute to raise awareness, influencing policies, and fostering a more inclusive and supportive society for those affected by this condition.
Through advocacy in action, I can make a tangible difference in the lives of individuals with hemophilia, helping to ensure they receive the care, understanding, and opportunities they deserve.
I managed to establish a strong network of stakeholders ie.Ministry of Health(Sabah), hospitals(throughout Sabah and Kuala Lumpur), to ensure that the society stays updated with the latest advancements in hemophilia treatment and care. Through strong networking, it facilitates collaboration among the healthcare providers, patients, caregivers, and policy makers. It also increases the society’s ability to access resources.
As a 2024 SSMF Scholarship recipient, I will make the Hemophilia Society stands as a beacon of strength and hope, transforming lives and reshaping the narrative surrounding this challenging condition.
Hola mi nombre es Patricia naranjo y soy mamá de Diego Blankevoort de 7 años quien tiene Hemofilia A severa soy portadora de hemofilia mi padre tenía hemofilia y cuando nació mi hijo nunca imaginé que el podría tener y así fue desde un año que Diego usa la profilaxis el se inyecta hoy en día 1000 de liofilizado y nos a echo la vida más fácil y para mí niño la vida normal estoy muy feliz por su tratamiento ya que si el Diego se pone mal nunca debe de faltar a su tratamiento siempre al pie de la letra vamos hoy en día yo aprendí a inyectarlo gracias al centro de hemofilia del Hospital Roberto del Río y asus profesionales en especial ala doctora Verónica Soto la mejor doctora que le tocó a mi hijo y así vamos viviendo día a día su enfermedad se puede vivir en armonía y tranquilidad.
I am a mom of four beautiful children, with one having moderate Hemophilia A (however, he bleeds as a severe). He is my second youngest and most defiantly the most wild out of my bunch. From 7.5 years ago, when we found out Elias has hemophilia shortly after birth, life has has it challenges but most importantly its brought us into an amazing community that I cannot be grateful to be apart of.
When Elias was first born, we knew pretty soon after birth, that something was not right. He bled, and bled, and bled for days. We later were finally transferred to Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital where we found that he had Hemophilia A. What a day that really was. From being exhausted from having a new baby, to finding out that he has a serious condition, it really took a toll on me, as his mom. From that day though, I knew that I had to become Elias’ expert of his body and his condition because I was not only a mom now, but his advocate as well.
Early on, things were okay and we treated as needed. He started walking, and we had to have a few infusions from him falling and bruising that just would not stop growing. He started talking, and we had multiple infusions from mouth bleeds from him biting his tongue. When he was 2, we spent Christmas Eve in the hospital from an ankle bleed that we assume he got from walking on gravel (but who really knows). A few months later he got another joint bleed but this time in his elbow that we concluded had to of been spontaneous. At this point, I knew I had to stand up for him and decided that we needed to start on prophy because I could not deal with my son being in so many pain and treating afterward. After much fighting with insurance, he was finally approved to start emicizumab.
Emicizumab has absolutely been life changing for us. While I had never limited Elias from doing fun boy things, like riding his bike, jumping on a trampoline, doing backflips off the couch, riding a dirt bike, you know all the “fun” things that kids like to do, emicizumab sorta gave a peace of mind as well. Literally 3 months after his elbow bleed, he ended up breaking his other arm while in a bouncy house, ONLY MY CHILD RIGHT? LOL. We infused as a precaution but I really believe that because he has emicizumab, his injury was not worse.
Elias is now 7.5 and is NOT a poster child of Hemophilia. I let him do all the fun things that he wants to do (for the most part anyways). I fully believe that if I do not let him learn his own limitations now and let him “live in a bubble” then things will only get worst as he gets older. He plays baseball and is aggressive in his position and I think its great! He does not let Hemophilia define his life and I don’t either. Our life may be a little different from others, we may have to do things a little differently, but as a mom of hemo hero, my mind now thinks differently too.
We have started bringing awareness to our local community as well as bringing it all the way to Washington D.C. Nobody knows if they simple just don’t know. It is our job to bring attention to the matter and bring the awareness because I too, was one of those who had no idea that the word “hemophilia” meant. I love this journey that we as a family are now embarking. Elias is learning to advocate for himself, his siblings are also aware and are able to bring awareness to who around them too. Hemophilia not only affects the one who has it, but the entire family as a whole. We must support, advocate, and deal with it together to come out stronger and better than ever. Hemophilia will never stop Elias, it just may try to slow him down, but we are there to support and push him, because it will never win; we will not let it!
Dear All,
My name is Phyo Khant Kyaw, and I am writing to share my journey as a severe Hemophiliac with Factor-IX deficiency from Myanmar.
In 1998, I was faced with the harsh reality of my condition when a simple injury to my gum led to a diagnosis that changed my life forever. At that time, diagnosing Factor deficiency in Myanmar was a challenge, and I had been on a journey over thousand blood transfusions.
Despite the countless transfusions, my knowledge of hemophilia remained limited. When I became a member of the Myanmar Hemophilia Patient Association (MHPA), I was able to connect with others facing similar challenges, and together, we shared knowledge, experiences, and support that empowered me to navigate my condition with greater confidence and understanding.
One of the most harrowing moments of my journey was experiencing an intracranial hemorrhage during my childhood. I was engulfed by fear, unable to speak, and unable to see the light . However, care and treatment provided by Pf. Aye Aye Khaing, I got recovery within two weeks.
Until 2016, the absence of Factor-IX treatment left, resulting in deformities in both knees and my left elbow. However, in 2017, with the introduction of Factor treatment, a new chapter of hope began.
I am immensely grateful to the World Federation of Hemophilia (WFH), whose saving my life and the lives of countless others affected by this condition. Through their initiatives and advocacy, individuals like myself have been given a chance at life, hope, and a brighter future.
In closing, I extend my deepest gratitude to Pf. Aye Aye Khaing, the Myanmar Hemophilia Patient Association (MHPA), and the World Federation of Hemophilia (WFH).
With heartfelt appreciation,
Phyo Khant Kyaw
Terapeuta Hemato-Onco formada para peques con Hemofilia sin conocer que la vida me preparaba para atender a mi propia familia. Oaxaca-México
If you have any questions, please contact marcomm@wfh.org.