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Youth News - December 2017

Thu 21 Dec 2017

Youth delegates at the 2017 Conference talk about their experiences

What was your favourite session in the Conference? 

The gene therapy session because it showed that we are on our way to a lot better treatment or a kind of cure.

Dale

The youth discussion as it allowed us as a community to raise some questions and answer them from all viewpoints. This allowed us to fully understand what the youth, parents and health care professions think and know.
Alan

Evolving concepts in pain management - pain is something almost all haemophiliacs suffer. Understanding the root cause of this and the way that we perceive this was really valuable in evaluating my own situation. 
Josh

What did you enjoy most about the Conference?

Catching up with certain people I haven't seen in a long time, being from different states I rarely get to see them.
Dale

I very much enjoyed the networking with other fellow bleeders and to get a chance to interact with the doctors and pharmaceutical companies.
Alan

Sharing stories with other people was the highlight. I haven’t met another hemo since I was really young. To talk to others who understand exactly what you're going though is always nice.
Josh

What message would you give other young people about the Conference?

Advice I'd give is to get behind your local foundation for the chance to see bleeding disorders on a national level at conferences. People with bleeding disorders have a lot of community support and if you're struggling, you're bound to find someone who can help you out.
Dale

I greatly encourage all the youth to get involved and make the most out of all the things the HFA do for our community. Connect with other youth and make the whole foundation grow as a whole.
Alan

Just go! If you're at all interested about learning about something that is a big part of your life, this is a great place to grow that knowledge.
Josh

What did you find most interesting about the Youth Myth Busting session?

What I found interesting was having the audience interact with the panel and share their thoughts and experiences.
Cara

Read more articles from the special Conference edition of National Haemophilia (December 2017)

Last Reviewed: 21 December 2017