FINDING A CURE Despite hemophilia, Windsor boy doesn't slow down

Sherrie Peif, (Bio) speif@mywindsornow.com
May 2, 2008

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When he doesn't have hemophilia anymore, Hunter Ritchie would like to play football.

And when he doesn't have hemophilia anymore, the 8-year-old Windsor boy would also like to play hockey.

But for right now, he's content with riding his bike, skateboarding and playing baseball.

Lucky for Hunter, a second-grader at Timnath Elementary School, there has been so much progress on treating people inflicted with hemophilia that someday, he might be able to say he doesn't have hemophilia anymore.

According to the Hemophilia Foundation Web site, hemophilia A impacts approximately one in every 5,000 males born in the United States. Factor VIII deficiency, which is what Hunter has, stops the blood from clotting normally. While most people have 50 to 150 percent of Factor VIII in their blood, Hunter has nearly none, less than one-third of a percent. Most cases of hemophilia are inherited, with about 30 percent coming from a mutation on the X chromosome of the inflicted party.

Hunter's mother was a carrier, and did not know it until after Hunter was born.

When Hunter gets a bleed, he does not bleed faster, just longer. With proper care, Hunter can lead a near-normal life, with only minor changes in the types of activities he can participate in.

"We don't let him play football. We don't let him play hockey. And when he gets older, we won't let him play basketball because it can get a bit rough," his mother Mindy Ritchie said. "But baseball is one of the less dangerous sports, and we just adjust his infusion schedule before a game to make sure he will be OK if something happens."

Hunter's battle with the bleeding disorder spurred his parents to find a way to keep the hope alive for finding that cure.

Brad and Mindy Ritchie moved to Windsor six years ago from Fort Collins during a time in their life that tested every bit of strength they had.

Their then 2-year-old son had just been through the worst start to life that no toddler should ever have to go through.

At just 1 day old, Hunter started bleeding from his circumcision, and it wouldn't stop. Within the next 24 hours, the Ritchies learned he had a severe case of hemophilia A. From 9 months to 2 years, Hunter had 48 infusions.

"We went through a grieving period," Brad said. "The first five months I can remember we just thought he would never be a normal kid. But we didn't know anything about it. We went down to the hemophilia clinic in Denver, and we had all these preconceived ideas. We got on the Internet and got information and got real scared."

While they were at the clinic, two boys, 16 and 12, both with hemophilia, walked in and Mindy started crying.

"She was bawling because they were normal," Brad said. "From that point on, we've just felt like we needed to give back. They helped us so much those first few years."

First there was the Hemophilia Society's annual fundraising golf tournament, when Brad sent out letters to everyone he knew trying to raise the $1,500 needed to put a foursome in the tournament. He ended up with $5,000.

Then, the family thought they'd develop their own fundraiser called Hunter's Hope. More letter campaigns began, and the first year they sent an additional $6,000 to the society.

Now five years later, Hunter's Hope has grown into an annual event held at New Belgium Brewery each year. This year the event raised more than $15,000 in addition to a $1,500 grant from Wal-Mart Distribution Center in Loveland.

All the money goes to support programs through the Hemophilia Society, such as living and medical expenses, kids camps, family camps and educational opportunities.

"This year the National Hemophilia Foundation is coming to Denver so the money will help send a bunch of families to that," Mindy said. "It's a great opportunity."

Mostly, the family wants people to have a clearer understanding of what hemophilia is. Hunter leads as normal of a life as most 8 year-olds, although he tries to push the limits every so often.

Last year, his venture into playing a game of tackle football with friends at school led Mindy to write a book titled, "When I Don't Have Hemophilia ..." the book describes Hunter's dreams of not having hemophilia and his experience playing football.

The game caused a bleed in his knee that ultimately led to a month of painful injections and recovery. But now when Hunter plays football, he's the coach.

"We'd rather he make his own choices based on experience rather than us just preaching and preaching and preaching," Mindy said. "He is such a boy. If he wants to play video games, sure, but if you tell him he has to, he wants to go outside and ride his bike. Hunter does not slow down. He has energy like the Energizer bunny."

Hunter takes three injections of a synthetic factor each week, costing the family $14,000 per month. If he gets a bleed, he must also go through a more intense regimen of additional injections. Although Mindy and Brad had to bribe him at first to take the "pokes," he now understands they help him and has even learned to poke himself when he's away at camp.

But after everything the family has been through, the family still finds a way to see the bright side of the situation.

"We feel like we've been blessed because our lives would have never been able to meet these great people," Brad said. "Hemophilia is one of those lucky diseases that the drug companies know a lot about and will someday, hopefully, find a cure for. Once that happens, all their efforts can go to finding cures for other diseases."

To help:

The annual Hemophilia Society golf tournament is being held June 20 this year at Hiwan Golf Course in Englewood. For information on how to reserve a spot, contact Mindy Ritchie at (970) 674-9291.