Podcast: Download
Today on Beyond the Bleeds, Heather and John are joined once again by Christopher George and his daughter, Felicity Grajeda, for part two of their conversation exploring how hemophilia shapes a family and the lessons, experiences, and support that can carry from one generation to the next.
Christopher shares what he hoped his daughters would learn from watching him live with hemophilia, including perseverance, independence, and not allowing a bleeding disorder to become an excuse or define what is possible. He also reflects on how advances in treatment have changed life with hemophilia and influenced his own decisions about starting a family.
Felicity shares her experience thinking about the possibility of having a child with hemophilia, the conversations she had with her husband, and what it was like when they learned their son had the disorder. Growing up surrounded by hemophilia gave her knowledge and a strong support system to lean on as she began navigating bleeding disorder care as a parent herself.
Together, Christopher and Felicity offer advice for other families, from building independence and understanding healthy limitations to leaning on HTCs, local chapters, friends, and the wider bleeding disorders community. They also discuss the importance of talking openly about hemophilia, passing knowledge along to others, and making it an important part of life without allowing it to become your entire identity.
“Lean into your support group. Make sure that other people around you know that you’re open and willing to accept support from them as well.” — Felicity Grajeda
This episode of Beyond the Bleeds explores:
- Building independence and perseverance while living with hemophilia
- How advances in treatment have changed life with a bleeding disorder
- Felicity’s experience becoming the mother of a son with hemophilia
- The importance of family, HTC, and community support
- Passing knowledge and experience on to the next generation
Looking for practical tips, expert advice, and a sense of community while living with or supporting someone with a bleeding disorder?
Subscribe to Beyond the Bleeds, the podcast that explores life with hemophilia, von Willebrand disease, and other rare conditions. Hosted by Heather Hansen and John Mazzariello, we share real stories and helpful conversations to support families at every stage.
Apple | Spotify | iHeart | Amazon Music | Pandora | Deezer | YouTube
