Pennsylvania – Chaplain Speaks On Life with Hemophilia & Hep C

Stephen Weisser is 52 years old and has lived a full life with ups and downs.  NewsWorks recently did a story about Weisser’s life with a bleeding disorder that goes hand in hand with most WeBleed stories. Last year, pastor Weisser was going through treatment for hepatitis C that brought back memories of his struggle growing up with hemophilia. For those that do not know, a hemophiliac has blood that does not contain the necessary clotting factors needed for coagulation and is a genetic disorder carried by females and passed down to their children.  Weisser’s maternal grandfather was a hemophiliac and died of a stroke at age 40 while his mother never knew that she carried the disease because the illness was not discussed in the family.

For Weisser, he has experienced being close to death many times from internal bleeding. So far, he has survived hepatitis, a stroke and managed to avoid HIV infection through blood transfusions growing up during the 1980s when the blood supply was compromised. Weisser has seen a revolution in the treatment of the disease over his 52 years.

“When I was born, the age expectancy of life was maybe 37 years,” he said.  “I sort of see the healing that I longed for when I was a kid and I consider myself really lucky to see that.”

Weisser plans to write a memoir of his life to share with those who have experienced the same kind of situations he went through as a child into adulthood.

Photo Credit – NewsWorks/Jeanette Woods/For The Pulse

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