Page 10 - HFA_Dateline_2018_Q2_Summer

HAPPENING HIGHLIGHTS

LETTING THEM FLY

From the time children are born, parents focus on the health and well-being of
their children. Having a bleeding disorder is an added stress, which can lead
to over-protectiveness. This can cause teens and young adults to be resentful,
dependent, and unable to thrive as capable adults.
HFA’s inaugural Reach Your PEAK event, held in Colorado in July, sought to break
the cycle. The two-day workshop brought together teens and parents for an intensive
experience on transitioning into adulthood. Speakers from the bleeding disorders
community, medical professionals, and secondary and higher education helped
attendees envision their futures and challenged them to set goals for adulthood.
One mom summed it up, “I’ve got to learn to let go, while giving him the opportuni-
ties and resources to grow up. This helped me realize it’s not just about sending him

off to college, but it’s about giving him the tools to be a productive adult.” S

Photos credit: Michael DeGrandpre

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10 Dateline Federation | Summer 2018