How One Child Overcame Hemophilia Complications Despite Incredible Barriers

A 5-year-old child and his parents boarded a plane heading for a new life. They were Syrian refugees, who fled conflict in their country and then lived a difficult life in a refugee camp. Now they were heading to Canada. But soon after arriving, there’s a problem. The child has hemophilia and due to hemophilia complications, a minor injury while traveling became a major concern. Add to this a language barrier and trying to understand a new culture. Dr. Robert Klaassen, a pediatric hematologist and lead of the Comprehensive Hemophilia Care Clinic at Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario in Ottawa, Canada, shares his experience working with a family who overcame incredible barriers and the lessons learned along the way.