OUR STORY

BEGINS when my mother in her quest to enrich my gustatory taste buds decided to use a middle eastern staple food, a "new and improved way" to introduce me to organic protein rich foods.  The menu trial of the day for lunch was Fava Beans, after I ingested a small portion, we had a pleasant rest of our day as routine as any other.  

Then abruptly, the unimaginable happened...

Red bloods cells within my body were rapidly being destroyed as such a precipitous speed that I had a near death experience, and if it wasn't for the superior care I received once transported to Children's Hospital ICU unit with immediate full body blood transfusions, I would not be here to tell the tale.

To my parent's astonishment, it was discovered that I had a genetic condition enzyme deficiency (a disorder affecting 400 million worldwide) which can be fatal if exposed to certain triggers (long list food coloring, inhaling mothballs smells!)  The destruction of red blood cells (catalytic hemolysis) is immediate and sends the body to a hypovolemic shock state with critical oxygen deprivation while organs start simultaneously shutting down.  Recently I had another similar experience and ended up again at Children's Hospital ICU; same floor, same room, same bed....Just a coincidence? or perhaps the call of the universe reminding me to fulfill my responsibility?

My little brother Marc (who also has enzyme deficiency) and I, decided together that raising awareness for this condition could help families never experience such dramatic situations.  BloodBrothersUSA's mission is to have the State of Massachusetts include deficiency in the routine infant screening at birth as they do with many other disorders.

BloodBrothersUSA will strive to use our own artistic skills to create hand drawn painted cards and other items.  All net proceeds will be contributed exclusively to the G6PD deficiency Foundation to help achieve our goal. 

Our journey has just begun, and we hope you will find some BloodBrothersUSA items to share with your loved ones.

                                                                                                            Handcrafted with much love,

                                                                                                            From our home to yours,

                                                                                                            Luke and Marc Charchaflian