Aysha

This is Aysha and she is 10 years old girl. She loves going to school and learning with all of my new friends. She is a very bright and an excellent student. She likes to study and play when she is at home. Aysha has type 3 von Willebrand disease and this past year she has had to go to the hospital to get treatment for a bleeds in her knee. Travel takes about one hour to get to the hospital by public transportation. Unfortunately, the hospital does not always have factor available. Her joint has worsened despite some physiotherapy to help improve the range of motion. She is physically weak because her family cannot afford enough food. Her brother, Samee is 11 years old and he also has von Willebrand disease. Tragically, her older sister, Laiba, had a bleeding disorder as well and died in 2009 as a result of uncontrolled bleeding. She was just a baby and does not remember this, but her death has been very hard on her family. She lives with her parents, three brothers, and sister. Her father, Yasin, works as a laborer. His income is inconsistent and not enough to support the whole family. They speak the Punjabi language in their home. No members of my family can read or write in English. They live in a one-room home in the city of Lahore, Pakistan and pay about $52 per month on rent. They have electricity and water inside the home, but do not have a refrigerator. Meals are cooked on a gas burner. The kitchen and toilet are in need of some repairs. We spend what money we can on food, which basically consists of rice, bean, and vegetables. Aysha's mother preparing a meal