I don't let haemophilia stop me

Haemophilia is a type of bleeding disorder.

Press Packer Connor has severe haemophilia which means he can bleed inside his body into his joints and muscles, even from tiny bumps and knocks.

Here's his story.

"I have haemophilia, which means my blood doesn't clot properly.

So if I get a knock or a bump I can get something called a 'bleed' which is where the joints and muscles fill up with blood.

If that happens I need to put ice on it quickly to try and stop it swelling up and I have medication I have to take.

Some bleeds can heal really quickly but sometimes it can take weeks.

Hard to slow down

I'm still able to do most things my friends do, especially playing football.

My team mates know about my haemophilia and they know when they have to step off the ball.

What is haemophilia? It's a blood condition which causes a person to bleed longer than normal The main problem is internal bleeding into joints and muscles Girls are carriers of the haemophilia gene But it's boys who inherit the condition About 8,000 people have haemophilia in the UK

But it's sometimes hard to slow down when you're in the middle of playing a sport.

The sports I'm not allowed to play are rugby and boxing. But I don't mind.

Down days

My favourite thing is acting and haemophilia doesn't get in the way of that.

I do have down days when I can't be bothered with it and wish I didn't have it.

But I've also met lots of new people and other kids who have haemophilia through a special group who organise trips for us.

No cure

The best thing about them is not having to explain what you have or answering loads of questions about haemophilia.

At the moment there is no cure for haemophilia, so I just have to get on with things and understand that is just the way it is.

Get on with it

My advice to anyone who know someone with haemophilia would be to not treat them differently.

Sometimes I can go through a lot of pain but I try not to let it get me down.

You just have to get on with it."

Connor, 12, Northamptonshire

---

Why don't you write us a Press Pack report - and get it published on the site!

It can be about anything that's happened in your local area - or your views on the news.

Click here to find out how to do it