A treatment story
Tue 11 Dec 2012
WE ALL KNOW CHRIS GORDON FROM HIS ‘LOVING FOOTY WITH A PASSION’ BLOG ON FACTORED IN. NOW CHRIS TALKS TO HFA ABOUT PROPHYLAXIS, HIS HAEMOPHILIA CENTRE TEAM AND BEING INDEPENDENT…
I’ve had prophylaxis treatment to prevent bleeds since I was two years old and have infused my treatment myself since I was 10 or 12.
These days haemophilia doesn’t have much impact on my lifestyle. It only takes me about 10 minutes in a day to do my prophylaxis treatment, usually in the morning. It takes me 5 minutes to arrange the components and 5 minutes to inject and remove it. I think my high level of fitness from umpiring has helped me to have greater resilience, strong muscles to support my joints and better health.
I used to visit the children’s hospital every 6 months when I was young. Now that I am at the adult hospital, I have regular contact with the Haemophilia Centre but it doesn’t intrude into my life too much. I have an annual appointment and I have face-to-face visits only if I need them.
Because I can do my own treatment, I have independence and can travel. I could go on school camps from the time I was about 16. My teachers and close friends were aware of my haemophilia – they were interested and would offer help. Haemophilia didn’t stop me from trying anything that the other kids did and I’ve never used haemophilia as an excuse not to participate.
I have been to Bali twice and Thailand, and travel all over Australia with football. I need hospital letters for carrying the treatment with me and I organise that with the Haemophilia Centre. It’s great to have the documentation sorted out. Once you have the hospital letter and treatment organised, you can focus on what else you need to do – medication is often the least of your worries! I’m also training to be a primary school teacher and with umpiring, training and study, life is pretty full-on.
Chris Gordon was interviewed by Trish Godden from HFA.
Photo supplied by AFL with permission.