Living with a rare health condition can be an isolating experience, not to mention stressful – especially during the already difficult phase of teenagehood. This weekend at the annual Texas Bleeding Disorders Conference, high school students affected by hemophilia will have an opportunity to connect with one another and find empowerment through creative expression. The event, which hosts about 800 people each year, is launching a new art therapy workshop for teens on Saturday, June 22.
“Living with a bleeding disorder can be scary, and they’re rare and you don’t necessarily meet people in your neighborhood,” says National Hemophilia Foundation local chapter director Melissa Compton. The foundation, along with Breaking Through Hemophilia, started its new program to give young people an outlet to talk about managing life with a bleeding disorder, and to find some psychological relief in art-making. The workshop includes activities like photography, painting, and music. It also touches on breathing and relaxation as techniques for pain management.
The larger conference takes Friday through Sunday at the Gaylord Texan. It encompasses educational sessions, networking, an exhibit hall, and a Final Night event tailored to families. It’s open to individuals affected by bleeding disorders, their families, and their caregivers. It’s free for first-time attendees, $69 for individuals, and $99 for families. (Register here.)
“We have between 25-30 first time attendees [every year], and especially for them the biggest takeaway is being around other people like them with a bleeding disorder and finding that community,” says Compton.
