Joe E.
PNH Patient |
Joe was completing his Master’s degree, engaged to be married, and on his way to becoming a professional mixed martial arts competitor when the symptoms began: unexplained fatigue, dark urine, back and stomach pain. After six weeks of numerous blood tests, Joe was referred to a hematologist who diagnosed him with paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) – an ultra-rare, life-threatening blood disorder in which uncontrolled activation of the complement system leads to the chronic destruction of red blood cells. Read More |  |
Erica S.
aHUS Patient |
Erica Schmidt was expecting to have a fun family vacation at the beach, but instead spent a week exhausted in bed with a fever, sore throat, and chills. Unfortunately, her condition did not improve and Erica went to the emergency room after she became very dizzy. That visit turned into 27 days of in-patient care at the hospital. Read More |  |
Evie E.
HPP Patient |
As the months and years go by, Evie continues to beat the odds and amaze her doctors. When an ultrasound revealed that Evie had extremely fragile and transparent bones, doctors told expectant parents John and Lindsey that it was not likely their baby girl would live long after birth. Read More |  |
Victor E.
PNH Patient |
Victor worked in the concert security industry and was planning a future with his fiancé when he started experiencing unexplained bruising, fatigue and abdominal pain. A visit to his doctor led to a month-long stay in the hospital, where he was diagnosed with aplastic anemia. He continued to have symptoms such as dark urine, difficulty swallowing and back pain. Read More |  |
Jill Z.
aHUS Patient |
Over several frightening months, Jill Ziegler went to her doctor repeatedly with softball-sized bruises all over her body. She was 28 and in renal failure, and doctors didn’t know why. After a battery of tests, she was diagnosed with atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (aHUS), an ultra-rare, life threatening, chronic genetic disease that progressively damages vital organs and can lead to stroke, heart attack, kidney failure and death. Read More |  |