“Hope is being able to see that there is light despite all of the darkness.”
Life is not a bed of roses, it is a journey where one has to pass every dark, shiny, rough, and tough path. It depends on an individual how one goes through this journey. Here begins my journey to this date.
I am Midhat Khalid currently doing BSc in Psychology from Government College University, Lahore (GCUL). I am patient of Von Willebrand Type II. I am the youngest and third-born child of my nuclear family. I was diagnosed at the age of 2 with this disorder when I fall from the window. I got stitches on my face but still, it bleeds. At the suggestion of the doctor, I got tested and was diagnosed. Then my parents took me to the Hemophilia Patient Welfare Society (HPWS)- in Lahore. Here I met Dr. Shahla and got registered here as a patient. As a child with a bleeding disorder is not an easy task especially when your elders are normal children and you have no family history of this disorder.
Since my childhood, I was given extra attention and protection. Being a girl with moderate VWD means, I had to take care of myself at every step. Dr. Shahla always asked my parents to not compromise on my studies as she saw my thirst for studies and knowledge. Since my childhood, I was a shy child who avoids gatherings, late night shopping ( though I am a girl) and always indulged in studies. I did my O-levels and got admission to Lahore College in FSC Pre-medical. Throughout my schooling, I tried my best to not get injured. Only one of my teachers knows about this condition and even I hide this disorder from my friends.
In my college, I used to drink cold coffee so much. As a result of which I got severe menses and my HB dropped to 5. On my last pre-board, I got treatment. On 1st January 2020, I was infused with blood and the very next day with iron. Iron reacted and my blood pressure shot to 250, I was jumping on the bed and there I can say I saw death closely. I was given anti-allergy and after hours I became conscious. From then oral medication for maintaining Hb becomes part of my life.
July 2016 was the turning point for me. I started to participate in meetings and workshops of my society. Dr. Shahla always says that every patient should own this disorder, and never try to hide it. It is our special ability from god. On following her saying, I started to work for my bleeding brothers and sisters. Now I am confident enough to tell everyone that I am a person with a bleeding disorder. My engagement in society increases and now, I am an Executive board member of HPWS, I also got elected as an Executive member of the Hemophilia Foundation Pakistan (HFP), a Youth leader of the Lahore chapter, a youth member of a National youth group, representative of the Lahore chapter on national and chapter level women group. In all these achievements and struggles my parents and siblings are always by my side.
As a psychologist, I also want to serve my society and do something for my blood brothers and sisters. I have a high ambition to serve humanity and will try my best to do something for my country. I want to make my parents proud and fulfill their wishes and dreams as all my success is just because of them. My dream is just to show that a person with a bleeding disorder can do anything all one can need is just precautions.
In the end, I just want to say we should not feel it as a burden and curse from god. God makes us special as he selects us to serve humanity, he wants us to become aware of the pain of humans, and how to become one in others’ pain. All we need to learn is never to lose hope as there is light at the end of a dark tunnel.
Happy Hemophilia Day!