Our healing journey

New NHF initiative helps women conquer bleeding disorders

2011-05-11T05:46:00.000-07:00

By Melanie Padgett Powers | 02.07.2011 Originally Published October 2010 The National Hemophilia Foundation (NHF) wants all women in the US to be able to raise their fingers in the “V” sign for “victory.” Only when all women are aware of the symptoms of bleeding disorders can we achieve success—that’s the idea behind

Understanding hemophilia

2010-06-03T00:52:00.000-07:00

Hemophilia and other bleeding disorders remain as one of the most misunderstood conditions. A lot of people with bleeding disorders are misdiagnosed because of the lack of understanding by medical practitioners. This leads to unimaginable pains for the sufferer and their families. Continuous efforts to raise awareness on bleeding disorders has to be made to make people understand that yes,

Bleeding: To ER or not to ER?

2010-05-26T10:06:00.000-07:00

Deciding when to take your bleeding child to the ER can sometimes be challenging. How much blood loss is too much? Yesterday was one of those days when we had to decide whether or not to bring Star to the ER. Shortly after waking up around 9ish in the morning, she nosebled for almost 30 minutes and puked blood. (Which was probably caused by excessive bleed in her nostrils). These days,

Reflections from a hospital room

2010-02-02T08:48:00.000-08:00

Star in her hospital bed while being infused with Factor VIII. I am sitting here in my daughter’s hospital room, watching her as she sleeps, pondering on her future and the future of other Filipino “bleeders” like her. With the election fever high up in the air, I wonder what difference the incoming elected officials will bring to the very sick public health sector. “Bawal magkasakit” is so

The year that was

2009-12-24T21:28:00.001-08:00

If the past cannot teach the present and the father cannot teach the son, then history need not have bothered to go on, and the world has wasted a great deal of time. ~Russell HobanWith the year almost over, it is always good to look back at the year that was. To move forward, we need to look back and see what needs to be avoided, what

Some updates and Star's bleeding

2009-03-12T06:36:00.000-07:00

This past few months, I've been really so busy I haven't blogged anymore. Many boys in our community have been bleeding, some of them in and out of the hospital. I've facilitated a number of requests for factors with Project Share, our factor donor based in the US.Because of requests from all over the world, Project Share could not provide all the boys with the requested factors. It breaks my

2009 will be a great year!

2009-01-15T11:42:00.000-08:00

"For I know the plans I have for you," says the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11God is the same yesterday, today and forever. He is faithful in all of His ways. Despite gleam predictions for 2009, we believe that He is faithful to keep His promises. So, dear friends, fear not. For our God is able! Expect blessings in 2009.

Merry Christmas

2008-12-24T02:23:00.000-08:00

Cold weather and bleeding

2008-12-17T20:30:00.000-08:00

It's probably the cold weather. Many children (and adults) right now in our community have bleeds. These past few weeks, Star nosebleeds at least three times a week. Today, I noticed a small hematoma on her left knee. This is quite unusual for her. Since she started to walk, we have not noticed hematomas on her knees anymore. Aside from Star, Dan Louie (13), Rome (5) and his older brother

Kerby's best give for Christmas

2008-12-17T19:35:00.000-08:00

In the past few weeks that I've been monitoring Kerby, his condition didn't seem to be very hopeful. Last week, Dr. Fedo Go, Kerby's hematologist sent an SMS saying that there seemed to be no other recourse but to amputate the boy's infected leg. Though I felt so sad, I believed that whatever happens, God will always give what's best for Kerby.This morning, the best news arrived. Kerby showed

Urgent help needed for 9-year-old Kerby

2008-11-23T14:00:00.000-08:00

I recently came from Cagayan de Oro City for one of my projects. Since I volunteered for Haplos, Project Share and Save One Life (all hemophilia/bleeding disorders' organizations), I make it a point to meet with the local hematologist or bleeders' community. Through the referral of Dr. Mary Chua, Star's hematologist, I met Dr. Fedo Go, the only pedia-hema in Misamis Oriental. He told me about a 9

Laurie Kelley receives award for Save One Life

2008-11-09T21:53:00.000-08:00

Our dear friend, Laurie Kelley, who came to visit two weeks ago, received an award for the Save One Life program. I am so happy for Laurie. She truly deserves the award. Save One Life has changed lives of so many young hemophiliacs, including over a hundred here in the Philippines. (Photo shows me with Laurie. This was taken in Dumaguete.)Here's an article from PRWeb Newswire: Georgetown, MA

Please pray for little Rome

2008-11-04T22:19:00.000-08:00

This is little Rome. He's turning 5 on Nov. 18. Innocent and young as he is, he is not spared from the gripping pain caused by bleeding. Rome is among the handful of Filipino boys with Hemophilia B. Little Rome is in the hospital right now after he started bleeding on the right knee yesterday. As a Hemophilia B sufferer, he needs Factor 9, a harder to find and more expensive factor

Is there a bleeder in the house?

2008-11-03T02:06:00.000-08:00

I'm reposting here an article I wrote last year.By Andrea Trinidad-EchavezDoes your child easily bruise or frequently nosebleed? Do you wonder why he or she always gets bloody while brushing teeth?Don't take those seemingly harmless signs for granted. They might just be symptoms of something else.For years, my husband and I had been looking for answers to the condition of our youngest daughter,

"Royal disease" took four of her sons

2008-11-01T00:01:00.000-07:00

Every year, Rita Rodriguez, 54, would religiously light a candle in the early mornings of All Saints Day in remembrance of her four sons – Noel, Ricky, Materno and Antonio – who died one after the other in a span of two decades. (Tomb of Manang Rita's sons -- Materno, Noel, Rick & Antonio in Tanjay public cemetery. Grabbed from Laurie Kelley.) Cursed, was how people from her hometown of Tanjay in

Hemophilia in the Philippines

2008-10-20T00:23:00.000-07:00

The past few days had been depressing for me. I went to the Visayas over the weekend with Project Share founder Laurie Kelley, volunteer Rose Noyes and Columban priest Fr. Don Kill to visit hemophiliacs.Project Share is a US-based humanitarian organization that has been sending factors to over 40 developing countries including the Philippines. Laurie and Rose came to country for a fact-finding

WARNING: Not for the faint-hearted

2008-07-13T03:20:00.000-07:00

I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction. (Isaiah 48:10 KJV)It's been a while since the last time I made an entry in this blog. Not that there's nothing to blog about. On the contrary. But with a million and one things to do, I have to prioritize. The past month though, I've been intending to revive this blog and write more about our journey with von Willebrand Disease. It's been almost

Star's healing journey

2006-10-19T02:54:00.000-07:00

Since early September, our little Star started nosebleeding almost everyday. Sometimes, it happens up to three times a day. She has been going through a series of tests to determine what causes the strange bleeding. Some of the tests are not available in the Philippines and we need to bring her either to Hongkong or Singapore. Upon the suggestion of some friends, we started A-DOLLAR-FOR-STAR, a