This Season of Thanks and Giving
Horizons in Hemophilia, November 2012
By Trish Dominic, CEO
As the last months of the year speed toward us, I think of the times we will gather with family and friends to share memories of the past and to be thankful we are together for another season of holidays.
I often hear from all of you about how thankful you are for HoG. I believe it is mutual. We are also thankful for you. Throughout the year you provide our staff with opportunities to share in your triumphs – your child learns to infuse; your child goes to camp; your child leaves for college. You share what we taught you about your bleeding disorder. Your child remembers the product he uses to infuse. You attend family camp and participate in Hemophilia Day at the Capitol. And we in turn, provide camp, teach your child how to infuse, visit you in your home and see you at clinic, educate your child’s teacher about bleeding disorders, identify community resources, fund scholarships for college educations and fund treatment centers to provide care.
One of the things that I am most thankful for this year is HoG’s funding of two major gene therapy research projects that seek to cure hemophilia. The Emory/Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta project is focused on hemophilia A (factor VIII deficiency) and will begin enrolling patients soon. The other at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is targeted at hemophilia B (factor IX deficiency). The St. Jude’s clinical trial has been underway for months with good results. Hemophilia of Georgia has committed over $3 million dollars to these projects and we are looking forward to exciting results in the next year.
I hope you will remember the good times we have shared this past year and the triumphs, small and large. I also hope you will remember the programs we support on your behalf and that have hopefully made a difference in your life.
In this Season of Thanks and Giving, I invite you to participate in Hemophilia of Georgia’s year-end campaign to raise funds for research as well as for the programs and services that benefit you and the bleeding disorder community. Please donate online at www.hog.org/donate or simply mail a check to the HoG office. As always we continue to give thanks for your support and generosity.