Indiana: Local High Schooler Raises Awareness for Hemophilia

High school senior Jonna Williams has low von Willebrand Disease factor and is a hemophilia carrier – she bleeds for long amounts of time.

“I was diagnosed when I was in the third grade,” said Williams via the Times Herald Online. “I’ve learned to live with hemophilia and I haven’t let that stop me from doing things. I don’t live in a bubble but this was something I was born with.”

Williams has been active in sports and extra curriculars since she began high school and has had to go through all of the normal growing pains like having her wisdom teeth removed.  “When I had my wisdom teeth removed, I had to have my levels checked first. The  extractions didn’t really cause a lot of bleeding but the needle used for numbing did,” Williams said. “I had to spent time at Peyton Manning Children’s Hospital after that.”

Williams wants to raise awareness for bleeding disorders, like hemophilia and von Willebrand Disease, by participating in the upcoming Hemophilia Walk on September 13th in Indiana.  The funds raised are able to help with local bleeding disorders summer camps, educational events and scholarships.

“We, (Williams and her grandmother, Kay Stafford) went to the Indiana Hemophiliac Convention and learned about the walk,” said Williams whose team is called Jonna’s Joggers.  “I’m hoping that we can get others with hemophila involved in the walk to raise awareness.”

Best of luck to Jonna as she continues to work hard for the bleeding disorders community!

Photo Credit – Times Herald Online

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