We carried factor in big chests. I contacted the hospital nearby and made sure they were familiar with hemophilia treatment and went there to store the factor. Nowadays, she simply takes a few doses of factor and supplies in a briefcase-sized factor carrying case for Nick and his brother Cody, also diagnosed with severe hemophilia, wherever they go. No matter what kind of planning is required, however, Karen never hesitates for a moment in taking a trip with her two boys. It's just one tiny aspect of them and doesn't define them.
Some professionals sound a note of caution for travel into less-developed countries.
But Laurie Kelley, director of the international program, L.I.G.H.T., established to help people with hemophilia in developing countries, strongly recommends that families visit Third World areas. You just have to be more prepared for everything. He saw firsthand the joint damage that can occur in children with hemophilia who don't have access to the kind of medical care we have in the U.S., and he realized how fortunate he is. Find out where the HTCs are in the country you're visiting and contact them before you leave to determine their resources and staffing. The information is available in the Travel Guide section of this Web site and in the World Federation of Hemophilia Web site .