Page 7 - HFA Dateline 2022 Q1 Spring

MEMBER ORGANIZATION SPOTLIGHT

Bleeding Disorders Alliance of North Dakota

The Bleeding Disorders Alliance of elements into our future events so
North Dakota (BDAND) covers a small BLEEDING DISORDERS that people who live farther away can
population but a large geographic ALLIANCE OF still participate in some way without
area. Most community members live in NORTH DAKOTA needing to drive.”
remote rural areas in North Dakota and
Northwest Minnesota. Started in 2015 Historically, BDAND’s most successful
program has been its family retreat,
Started in 2015, BDAND includes about 380 people served which is held in different locations
80 people with hemophilia and 300 Serves North Dakota and across North Dakota. “We try to
with von Willebrand disease. BDAND Northwest Minnesota incorporate lots of time for fun and
Executive Director Emily Ouellette connection building,” Ouellette said.
describes this community: “It’s “Our best family retreat was in Medora,
common for our patients to be the only distance to get to us,” Ouellette said. North Dakota, with Pat Torrey from
person with a bleeding disorder in their “We have had blizzards affect two GutMonkey leading the programming.”
town. Many also have to drive several annual meetings so far, which were
hours to visit the hemophilia treatment held in March and April. Sometimes During the pandemic and the switch
center and attend our events,” she said. we get winter snowstorms as early as to virtual programs, BDAND created
October and as late as April.” online cooking classes, which became
As you can imagine, winter weather their most popular offerings.
in North Dakota and Minnesota can Because of that, she said, “Learning
have a huge impact on the community: how to hold virtual events has been
“So many people have to drive a long a blessing in disguise for us because
we can now host programs in the
worst winter months without risking
driving on icy roads. We look forward
to incorporating virtual and hybrid

SPRING 2022 7