Joseph

Joseph has severe hemophilia A. He is 15 years old and in the 7th grade. His favorite subject is English. He has missed school due to bleeds, but these absences have not affected his ability to do well in school. He is making very good progress in school and hopes to become a hemophilia doctor when he grows up. When not in school he helps his family with housework. He has attended the hemophilia camp that was organized by the Hemophilia Foundation of Uganda. He especially liked the bouncing castles and the stilt man. Because of hemophilia, his knee joint does not work. He also sometimes has pain in his eyes. He has had to travel to the nearest hospital for treatments of bleeds in his knee. The hospital is about 120 kilometers from his home and it costs about $7 to get there using public transportation. At home his family treats minor bleeds with ice and traxenamic acid. He also receive physiotherapy. He lives with his mother and father. They are both farmers. I has 2 younger sisters and a younger brother. They are all students. His familys monthly income is about $41. They live in a village and own their house. The house is made of mud. They cook on a charcoal fire in a courtyard outside their home and get their water from a village well. They have an indoor kitchen with a refrigerator and a gas burner. They have a toilet in their home but do not have a refrigerator. They take good care of the house, and it is in good condition. Sponsorship funds help pay for Joseph's medical care.