Backing blood brothers
DONCASTER parents Michelle and Paul Walters today told how their family deals with the daily worry of haemophilia.
Their two-year-old son Jacob has been dealing with the illness since he was diagnosed aged six months. Now his seven-week-old brother Noah has been diagnosed with the same condition which means the boys are lacking the blood clotting agent Factor VIII.
Any slight knock can lead to large bruises, and knocks to knees and elbows can cause bleeding into the joints.
Now the boys' grandparents have teamed up with staff and regulars at their local pub to raise more than 1,000 for research into the condition, for which Michelle is a carrier.
The family first discovered Jacob was a haemophiliac when he toppled over and cut his chin. It bled for 22 hours and he had to be taken to Sheffield Children's Hospital for treatment.
If bleeding happens in a joint, Jacob is taken to hospital for an injection of the missing clotting agent
Michelle, aged 25, from Balby, said: "At one point when he was learning to walk it seemed like we were in Sheffield every week.
Now I give him an injection once a week which helps keep the risk of bleeding down and we don't have to go to the hospital so often."
She said it was not a life or death illness and Jacob coped with it very well. When Noah was born they were prepared for the possibility he would also have the condition. Doctors had told her there was a 50-50 chance he would also be a haemophiliac.
Paul's parents Trish and Reg, from Intake, joined with friends and staff at the Sportsman pub in Armthorpe to run a series of events for the Haemophilia Society.
Money raised from the events, including a karaoke night and an auction, has already passed the 1,000 mark.
Trish thanked everyone at the Sportsman and said: "Jacob's diagnosis was scary as you can't help but think the worst, but he's doing really well and is a proper, lively boy."
Pub boss Mike Skudder said one of its staff also suffered haemophilia, and the pub company Marston Taverns was making a contribution to the fund.
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Friday 25 May 2012
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