My Story

Emmanuel is 9 years old and in 2nd grade.  He does well in school and would like to become a medical doctor in future. He also enjoys dancing.  When he is at home, he helps out with chores and plays with his siblings.

He has been diagnosed with severe hemophilia A. The health clinic is more than an hour from his home. To get there, the family must rely on public transportation. This cost $3 per trip and is very expensive for this poor family.

Emmanuel is part of a large family. He lives with his mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and 5 brothers. Four of his bothers also have hemophilia. His grandmother, who is 70 years old, works as a farmer to help support their family. The family's monthly income is approximately $5. Caring for 5 children with hemophilia is expensive and very stressful for his mother.

Emmanuel's family lives in a rural village in a two-room home. It’s made of bricks, mud and cement and has an earth floor. It does not have running water, indoor toilet facilities or a refrigerator. His family gathers water from a village well and uses a public toilet. Food is cooked on a charcoal fire. Their home is very rustic and is located in a rural area.