Easton was born with severe hemophilia A, a rare blood disorder that affects the blood’s ability to clot, a diagnosis that could have changed everything for his family.
“Although we knew there was a risk when we conceived, we hoped maybe we got lucky,” said his mom, Keisha Velcich.
Keisha and Easton’s dad, Mitch, worked closely with their obstetrical team to create a safe birth plan, opting for cord blood testing immediately after delivery rather than prenatal testing. The results came quickly, but their doctor waited until morning to share them.
“He walked in and said, ‘We had these results within a few hours last night, but I wanted to give you a night of normalcy with him,’” Keisha said. “Then he told us: severe hemophilia A.”
For Keisha, the diagnosis hit especially hard, because she had watched her own father live with the condition.
“In that moment, it was devastating. We cried about everything; the fears, the unknowns, all the things we thought he might never get to do,” she said. “My husband looked at me and said, ‘He’ll never get to play hockey.’”
But Easton had other plans.
While many children with hemophilia begin treatment as toddlers, he required factor replacement therapy at just four months old after a hand bleed. Over the next years, he faced inhibitors, PICC lines, port-a-cath surgeries, and frequent hospital visits, while navigating changes in treatment availability.
Through it all, his family leaned on a strong, collaborative care team, including specialists at SickKids and the Hemophilia Program at Health Sciences North, which provides comprehensive, lifelong care for patients and families living with inherited bleeding disorders.
Tammy Bourque, Clinical Lead RN at HSN, said care for hemophilia patients has changed dramatically.
“Over the past 13 years, we’ve seen major advancements in hemophilia and other inherited bleeding disorders,” Bourque said. “Patients now have options that move from multiple weekly IV infusions to treatments that can be given weekly, or even monthly through subcutaneous injections. Awareness and early diagnosis remain critical.”
Today, nearly a decade later, Easton is thriving.
“I can say with certainty that he has not missed out on anything,” said Keisha. “He may start some things later or do them a little differently, and sometimes not safely at all, because he’s a typical nine-year-old, but he’s doing it all.”
He plays sports like hockey, dirt biking, and snowboarding with minimal to no bleeding issues, she said.
Thanks to advances in treatment and a care plan his family and care team trust, Easton is living proof of how far hemophilia care has come.
“I am amazed at how much the hemophilia world has changed in such a short time,” Keisha said. “I can’t wait to see what’s next as he continues to grow and chase whatever he wants to do.”
April 17 marks World Hemophilia Day, and Easton’s story of resilience, progress, and possibility is a reminder that with the right care and support, children with hemophilia can live full, active lives.