Daniel Cruz

A camp counselor, community mentor and art enthusiast, Daniel is living out his dreams
while giving back to the hemophilia community.

Daniel Cruz

A camp counselor, community mentor and art enthusiast, Daniel is living out his dreams while giving back to the hemophilia community.

Watch Daniel’s Story

Every hemophilia A patient has a unique perspective and journey. Hear Daniel share why KOVALTRY® is right for his lifestyle.

Daniel Cruz

As a child, Daniel struggled to open up about his bleeding disorder. With the help of empowering mentors, his mother, who works in healthcare and a dedication to his own mental and physical health, Daniel now advocates for himself and others with his condition.

Daniel has been compensated by Bayer to share his story and experience with KOVALTRY.

Hear more from patients and caregivers by attending a KOVALTRY Conversation

Connect with your Rep for more information

Meet Daniel

How did you learn to manage your hemophilia A?

“In addition to asking my doctor treatment-related questions, camp was another avenue to learn general information. I had access to patients with more life experiences than me. I really learned by looking up to the older generation, asking them questions about their experiences living with hemophilia.”

What are your tactics for managing the mental aspect of living with a bleeding disorder?

“For me, one of the main ways I worked through some of the mental ‘hardships’ of hemophilia while growing up was through the arts. Since I was a kid, I’ve explored many different art forms as a means to express myself–music, photography, dancing, theater, cinema, all of it. A lot of those hobbies helped me get through mental struggles, helping me express some of the bottled-up emotions that I couldn’t express any other way.”

What do you hope to achieve in the future as you continue advocating for others living with bleeding disorders?

“Going back to my parents’ village in Oaxaca, there isn’t as much accessibility to healthcare providers or HTCs, nor is there a hemophilia foundation or strong community like I have here in California. One of my goals for the future is to bring advocacy back to my parents’ village in Mexico, because we hear these stories about children experiencing symptoms that go undiagnosed.”

" Now that I’m older, I realize that there are so many wonderful opportunities out there because of my bleeding disorder."

Hemophilia A patient, Daniel Cruz, reading a book on a bench

The journey to self-advocacy

Daniel’s early childhood memories of living with hemophilia A include wearing jeans to hide bruises and finding it difficult to talk to his friends about his condition. Over time, he found confidence in managing his hemophilia A through self-infusing, communicating with his doctors and connecting with peers about what his condition means for him. By his teenage years, Daniel was advocating for his own treatment and representing the hemophilia A community on a national platform. “Learning how to express those feelings at a young age was difficult, but I just stayed resilient,” Daniel says. “I have continued advocating for our strong community at the local, state and national level.”

Hemophilia A patient, Daniel Cruz, playing guitar

From challenge to change

Daniel is a strong advocate for mental health in the bleeding disorder community. Through his work with hemophilia A camps and other advocacy platforms, Daniel works to raise awareness around the mental impact of having a physical disorder. In his own life, he utilizes the arts and exercise to express himself and keep his mind healthy. "Personally, I would say the bleeding disorder community has a lot of trauma," Daniel says. "For the mental health of the younger generation, it's important that we pay more attention to this issue."

Daniel’s path to KOVALTRY

As a camp counselor and active individual, Daniel was in search of a treatment option with potential for 2 times per week or 3 times per week dosing.

When Daniel learned about KOVALTRY in 2016, he and his family reviewed the clinical trial data and spent time with his Bayer Rep asking questions. Daniel worked with his doctor to discuss various available FVIII treatments and review different product data before deciding KOVALTRY was right for him. “Since then, I've felt confident in my factor levels with KOVALTRY. For me, I appreciate infusing factor every other day, so if I do get a bleed, I can target it right then and there with an infusion,” Daniel says.

Whether he’s spending time with his family, traveling to national advocacy events or exercising, Daniel’s dosing regimen works for his lifestyle. “I would say that it’s important to find the lifestyle that suits you and the one you want to live, because ultimately your treatment will revolve around it,” Daniel says.

KOVALTRY works for Daniel, but you are unique. Speak with your doctor to find out if KOVALTRY could be right for you.

Hemophilia A Patient, Daniel Cruz, smiling with his family outside in nature

Hemophilia A Patient, Daniel Cruz, smiling with his father

Hemophilia A Patient, Daniel Cruz, holding a stick and hiking with his brother and father

Hemophilia A Patient, Daniel Cruz, smiling as a young child

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Billy Eshleman

Educator. Musician. Community Advocate.

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INDICATION FOR KOVALTRY®

KOVALTRY® is a medicine used to replace clotting factor (Factor VIII or antihemophilic factor) that is missing in people with hemophilia A.

KOVALTRY is used to treat and control bleeding in adults and children with hemophilia A. KOVALTRY can reduce the number of bleeding episodes in adults and children with hemophilia A when used regularly (prophylaxis). Your healthcare provider may give you KOVALTRY when you have surgery.

KOVALTRY is not used to treat von Willebrand Disease.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

You should not use KOVALTRY if you are allergic to rodents (like mice and hamsters) or any ingredients in KOVALTRY.

Tell your healthcare provider if you have heart disease or are at risk for heart disease.

The common side effects of KOVALTRY are fever, headache, and rash, in addition to inhibitors in patients who were not previously treated or minimally treated with Factor VIII products.

Your body may make antibodies, called “inhibitors” against KOVALTRY, which may stop KOVALTRY from working properly. If your bleeding is not adequately controlled, it could be due to the development of Factor VIII inhibitors. Consult with your healthcare provider to make sure you are carefully monitored with blood tests for the development of inhibitors to Factor VIII.

Allergic reactions may occur with KOVALTRY. Call your healthcare provider right away and stop treatment if you get tightness of the chest or throat, dizziness, decrease in blood pressure, and nausea.

Tell your healthcare provider about any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away.

Call your healthcare provider right away if bleeding is not controlled after using KOVALTRY.

For additional important risk and use information, please see full Prescribing Information.