Please help us to save Clark's life!

**WARNING- There are graphic pictures included.** Hi, I'm Lanie and this is my nephew Clark. Clark is suffering and needs more help than what my family can give him. Clark suffers from hemophilia-A (severe) with inhibitor, a blood disorder that causes his body to not properly clot his blood. There is no cure for this disease, only treatment. In his case the slightest bump or scratch can lead to a major medical emergency. Clark lives in the Philippines with his mom, dad, and brother. His eldest brother, Chester, was afflicted with the same disease and, sadly, he passed away in December of 2019; the day before his 16th birthday. Clark was diagnosed with hemophelia when he was 15 months old. Since then, it has been a constant effort to manage any injuries that arrise, no matter how small. Imagine just bumping your head and the swelling never stops. This happened to Clark.

As the swelling continued and the blood inside did not clot, his situation continued to get worse. Eventually his forehead split and the swelling went down, but the bleeding continued both on and beneath the surface.

After several treatments with his medication, called NovoSeven, and a blood transfusion the bleeding stopped. The family went back to managing as best as could be.

As the years have passed, the family has fought to keep him safe and protected. But as time goes by, and as he grows, his situation becomes more dire. Today, Clark is 15. The same age his brother was when he passed away. He has endured more pain and agony than anyone I have ever known, and far more than any child should have to. We have all done our best to keep up with this terrible disease and the affect it has on his body. The medication and quite expensive. One vial of the NovoSeven medication costs a little more than $900. Each treatment consists of at least 8 vials. Medical insurance as we know it here in America does not exist in the Philippines. There everything is cash up front. Contributions from my husband and I and from my extended family, along with dontations from fundraisers have allowed us to keep up with the costs up until now. His situation, however, has taken a turn for the worse.

In January of this year Clark's leg and knee started to swell. The pain was severe. he could not stand or sleep. He would cry and, sadly, even say he wanted to die to escape the pain.

Despite the best efforts of the doctors, his leg and knee have only continued to get worse. Several times the skin has split open allowing some of the fluid to leak out. While this provided him with a temporary break from the intense pain caused by the swelling, it also exposed him to infection. It has been a long and constant battle to help him. As his leg deteriorates, the doctors have said that in order to save him, they will need to amputate his leg. The following picture is what his knee looks like now and is quite graphic so please take care in looking at it:

Doctors have continued to treat him and prevent infection, but insist the leg must be amputated to save his life. In order for the surgeons to perform the life-saving operation they require his family to have the NovoSeven medication he will need to stop the bleeding ahead of time. The treatment plan calls for 14 days worth of medication to be on hand before the surgery. Estimates ranging from $40,000 to $75,000 have been given depending on the availability of the medication. This does not include the cost of the amputation itself. The treatment plan is below.

The estimates provided are beyond our capabilities, which is why we are seeking your help. We, as a family, have exhausted all other options before turning to the public. Clark is a bright and respectful young man. He has endured so much to this point in his life. He has already watched his brother lose to the same affliction that has stricken him and sees himself dwindling to the same fate. Through it all, he has tried to stay positive, mostly for his mother's sake, I think. He can still smile when the pain subsides a bit and wants to help people like him when he gets older.

Please help us save this young man's life. Anything helps, no matter how big or little. Please share Clark's story and help us bring awareness for others who suffer like he and his brother have. Please like, share, donate, whatever you can do as, again, anything helps. Thank you all for taking the time to read Clark's story.