Page 24 - HFA Dateline 2016 Q3 Fall

Combating Anemia Through Education

and Peer-to-Peer Support

By Kari Peepe

iet and nutrition have always had a major influence in my discussions around diet. They too were trying to process all of
Dlife. But it wasn’t until after my two children were born the information available about what constitutes healthy eat-
that I became severely anemic and had to start paying atten- ing. Some people had noticed that certain foods seemed to help
tion to the balance of specific vitamins and nutrients in my alleviate bleeding and bruising while other foods seemed to
daily diet. Fast forward a few years later to when my daughter, make them worse. Many people mentioned the extensive lists
who has a platelet storage pool disorder, started a vegetarian that doctors provide, outlining what supplements to take and
diet. It was a challenge for me to get up-to-speed on how to which to avoid. Everyone shared a natural concern about the
integrate the correct levels of iron, protein, and other vitamins potential for suffering from a lack of iron and other vitamins
into her diet so that she stayed healthy. I knew if I didn’t get and nutrients, and agreed that the community had an obvious
it right, she wouldn’t have the necessary nutrition to keep her need for education on healthy eating.
growing at a healthy rate along with her peers. This proved to After a few short conversations and some hunting for the
be more of a challenge than I expected and it is something that perfect location to host an event to bring everyone together,
I continue researching.
Female Factor planned Girls Getaway, our first-ever overnight
My interest in nutrition has also influenced my involvement campout for women with bleeding disorders. The event agenda
with the bleeding disorders community. While brainstorming would be filled with educational sessions focused on women’s
ideas to host a local Female Factor event, I recalled the talks health, exercise, general well-being, and most importantly, tips
I’d had with other members of the community, specifically the on how to combat anemia.

24 Dateline Federation | Fall 2016