Fendi Valdez was only three months old when his family first noticed something was wrong: a large hematoma appeared on his body. At the time, few healthcare professionals in the Dominican Republic knew about hemophilia, making diagnosis difficult. Even when the right diagnosis was made, treatment remained largely unavailable. Factor concentrate was expensive and difficult to obtain. To make treatment last longer, Fendi sometimes used less than the recommended dose. As a result of his limited care, he experienced frequent bleeding episodes, missed school, spent time in hospital, and developed severe damage in both knees. It wasn’t until Fendi began receiving donated factor provided by the World Federation of Hemophilia (WFH) Humanitarian Aid Program that he found hope for a better life.
July 27


















