Intended for US audience only.
Siblings
As the parent of a child with hemophilia, it probably took some time for you to adjust to the fact that your son was born with a chronic disease. If there are other children in your family, it will take time for them to adjust, too. This section contains practical information to assist you in helping siblings adjust to living with someone who has hemophilia.
The Impact of Hemophilia on Siblings
When you bring your son home from the hospital, his siblings may worry that simply holding him will cause a bleed. As time goes by, siblings may feel abandoned if they don't receive as much personal attention from their parents as their brother. It's also common for siblings to feel guilty that they don't have hemophilia or another chronic health condition.
You can help siblings adjust by understanding the common issues that siblings face when dealing with a brother who has hemophilia, and by helping them to recognize and overcome any negative reactions. Educating siblings about hemophilia, for example, will help them to understand and accept why you may need to spend more time with their brother.
