Mom copes with son’s hemophilia

According to the Canadian Hemophilia Society, thousands suffer from this hereditary bleeding disorder, a potentially debilitating condition which in severe cases can be life-threatening.

Hemophilia is characterized by the lack of a clotting agent in the blood. The greatest danger is not from minor cuts, as is widely believed, but from internal hemorrhaging. “Every bruise is a bleed. Hemophiliacs face a challenge for life,” said Helen Zereik, whose two-year-old son Gabriel has been diagnosed with the illness. (Her brother also has hemophilia).

Gabriel has the more rare hemophilia B, which affects about 600 Canadians; roughly 2,500 have hemophilia A. “It’s always a worry whether he’ll fall, or hit his head. You have to take certain precautions; we got rid of the coffee tables long ago. He’s like any other child – he just needs extra attention,” said the former Dollard des Ormeaux resident, adding,” even a simple trip to the park can be stressful.”

Gabriel’s daycare in Dollard has also been modified to safeguard against injuries. “I take a preventative approach,” Zereik said.

Gabriel is treated intravenously at the Montreal Children’s Hospital on a regular basis.

But new medications and treatment are helping to ensure a better quality of life for both children and adults with the disorder. There is also an increasing number of resources which are helping lead to a better understanding of the illness.

Gabriel will be able to engage in many of the same activities as other children his age – he is learning to swim, for example. “You just have to be selective,” she said.

Zereik soon realized that caring for a child with hemophilia (she also has a three and-a-half month son, Robert) meant that she wouldn’t be able to return to the workplace. So she decided to launch a home-based business which would give her the flexibility she needs. “I opened an on-line baby boutique (www.bebeccino.com) a year ago this September. I sell miscellaneous products that are non-toxic and eco-friendly, including baby bottles, diaper bags, and teethers. It’s been going pretty well.” “Having a child with a disability can be challenging. But I consider myself blessed because there is such a wonderful support system out there. It’s reassuring,” she said.

For more information, visit check www.hemophilia.ca. <@Cp>Chronicle, Jacques Pharand<@$p>