From a young age, Thomas Carine was told he would always need to manage the life-threatening risks, chronic pain, and bleeding associated with hemophilia A, a rare disorder that prevents his blood from properly clotting due to a missing or defective protein called factor VIII. “The first doctor we met told my parents, ‘Your son has hemophilia A,’” he recalls. “‘He’s probably not going to live past 12 years old. Be ready for that.’” Now, at age 32, Carine runs two to three miles each day, plays intramural softball, and enjoys a stable career in media—an expansive, active life he has cultivated despite his chronic condition.An Early DiagnosisCarine was diagnosed with hemophilia A soon after birth, when his parents noticed substantial bruising from crawling and delayed healing time after his circumcision. Like many medical conditions, hemophilia is not experienced the same way by everybody. Carine’s condition is severe and can cause life-threatening internal bleeding even in the absence of an inciting injury. At the time of his diagnosis, there weren’t many hematology departments around Carine’s hometown of San Jose, California, and finding adequate care (and clinical understanding) was difficult.“The early years were very hard,” he says. “Luckily my dad was a doctor, so he was there to handle my factor VIII replacement infusions at home.” Bleeding episodes in joints—such as the ankles, knees, and elbows—sometimes occurred with little warning. These prevented him from participating in many childhood activities. Outside Looking InCarine recalls gearing up for a sleepover with a laundry… Click below to read the full story from Men’s Health
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