Our Journey Saving One Life And Making A Difference For Many More

Many years ago, our family learned about Save One Life. For decades, Save One Life has helped individuals living with bleeding disorders in developing countries gain the medical and economic resources they need to live independent and productive lives. Through generous monetary donations, sponsorships of children and families, and humanitarian donations of factor, countless individuals around the world have had the chance to live longer, healthier lives.

Our family sponsors a Save One Life child in the Philippines, ensuring he can benefit from direct financial assistance and access to medical treatment. This personal connection has deepened our commitment to supporting the hemophilia community and inspired our most recent journey.

This summer, my son, Luca, and I visited the Philippines, the homeland of my mother. It had been 25 years since my last visit, and this was Luca’s first. At the top of our list was meeting the local hemophilia community in Cebu and making a humanitarian donation of unused, recently expired blood-clotting factor from Luca and others in our community. Though expired, in developing countries where access to factor is a struggle, it is still usable for treatment and of great benefit.

Our journey began through correspondence with Save One Life, the Hemophilia Advocates–Philippines and the Haemophilia Association of the Philippines (HAPI). Plans were made for us to be greeted at the Cebu airport by members of HAPI and for a formal visit to the Hemophilia Center of Cebu at Perpetual Succour Hospital. Soon, a large cooler bag filled with life-saving blood-clotting factor would begin its long journey across the globe.

After nearly 24 hours of travel, we arrived late in the evening in Cebu. True to the reputation of the Filipino people, we were welcomed with extraordinary warmth. Members of HAPI, including Edwardson Co and his mother, Ines, met us at the airport and brought us to our hotel. Soon after, we handed over the cooler of factor. Gratitude filled the room, tears were shed, and our hearts were deeply moved. We were told that three patients were hospitalized at that very moment who would immediately benefit from the donation.

Hospitality is a deeply ingrained Filipino value, and it was evident everywhere we went—from our first greeting by HAPI members to our visit at Perpetual Succour Hospital. Touring the hospital and meeting with staff, we gained firsthand understanding of the challenges patients face. Edwardson Co gave a moving presentation on living with hemophilia in the Philippines.

Across the country’s 7,500+ islands, only about 1,600 people have been diagnosed with a bleeding disorder—yet experts estimate that more than 9,000 others remain undiagnosed. Access to treatment remains a formidable challenge—either because of geography or the prohibitive cost of care. For most families, prophylaxis is unaffordable, and treatment is provided only on demand. This reality often results in joint damage, disability, and tragically, in some cases, death. Even in Cebu, one of the country’s larger cities with more intact healthcare infrastructure, families from outlying islands must often travel long distances by ferry or plane to receive care.

During our visit, we heard heartbreaking stories. One young man who required surgery delayed starting prophylaxis due to limited supply, began treatment too late, and ultimately lost his life. Another family with a son who has both severe hemophilia and severe autism poured their entire livelihood—the earnings from their father’s small restaurant—into his care. Over and over again, we were struck by the desperation families face, the dire circumstances created by limited supplies, and the life-and-death difference access to factor can make. It is through these stories that we are reminded of our common humanity and the responsibility we carry to uplift one another, especially for our global blood brothers and sisters.

We are profoundly grateful to our hosts—the Hemophilia Association of the Philippines, Perpetual Succour Hospital, and the families who welcomed us with open arms—for their hospitality and for sharing their powerful stories. Our visit underscored both the urgent need for greater access to care and the extraordinary resilience of the hemophilia community in the Philippines. While the challenges are immense, we left Cebu with deep gratitude and renewed hope. Humanitarian donations such as ours, alongside the ongoing efforts of organizations like Save One Life, truly make a difference—saving lives today and building a healthier future for generations to come.

Thank you to those who also donated their expired factor to those in need. Your generosity and compassion have truly left a lasting impact.