Enerca is a network of professionals, research centers and hospitals that are committed to working together to discover the origin, evolution and cure of rare anemias.  Recently, Enerca dedicated a portion of one of their pages to our website.  In doing so, our website has been made visible to specialists throughout Europe.

Thank you!!!

Some people, as a result of seeing our page, have begun to donate blood. Some have become faithful donors.  Others have decided to be marrow donors or to support other similar causes.  Once, some even volunteered to translate our page into English free of charge.  Right now we’re available in many countries: we have visitors from the United States, France, Portugal, Mexico, Argentina, Canada and even Burkina Faso.

Now we want to take another step forward. With this in mind, we have joined Teaming.net.  An online platform for small donations, where people can support causes like ours with a symbolic quantity of one euro a month.  In this way, we can continue doing our work of encouraging people to make gestures of solidarity like donating blood or being a marrow donor, in order to unite forces so that illnesses like Bernat’s are researched and receive more funding, and so that we are able to make more materials available to more people.

If you want to help us, we would be very grateful.  We would love it if you would help to support our Teaming.net group, in whatever form possible: giving one euro a month or any other contribution to the cause.

With all of your help, ElPetitBernat will continue to grow.

A couple of months ago a woman from North Attleboro, Massachusetts (USA) contacted us to tell us that she had seen our web page and that she had loved it. It turns out that she is also afflicted with PDK and had found us on Facebook. She loved the site so much that she asked us if we were planning on translating it into English. We had to tell her that, regrettably, we were unable to translate such technical topics, as they are even difficult to explain in our own language.

A couple of days later, the woman let us know that she was going to try to contact a language teacher from the high school in her town to see if anybody would help to translate the site. It seemed like a great idea to us, an example of solidarity and good faith. To our surprise, a couple of weeks later, we received an email from Anne Marie McGrail, a Spanish teacher from North Attleboro High School. She told us that she and her students would be happy to translate the site. She told us that it would be a great learning opportunity for her students, and she added that her students had been very excited about the opportunity to help such a worthy cause.

Soon after, the translations arrived and not just for the main pages but also for each and every one of the blogs. And if this weren’t wonderful enough, the students and their teacher promised to translate all of the future articles that we wanted to add to the site.

What do you think? It has shown us that there are wonderful people in this world with great hearts and a sincere desire to help others. So from Barcelona, Spain we want to thank the anonymous individual who put us into contact with our translators. We also want to thank Ms. McGrail and all of the North Attleboro High School students that participated in translating our page. THANK YOU!

Salvador started as a volunteer on the Oncology wing but after a time, moved to the Hospital de Día. This year will mark his 12th as a volunteer. That’s twelve years during which he has dedicated his time to this generous and altruistic work.

We have known him since Bernat was almost two months old and he has proven himself to be a person with a great heart. He knows how to deal with children, parents and/or families during delicate times. His presence infects everyone around him with positive energy. It’s undeniable that volunteer work is his vocation. Thank you, Salvador!

The team of volunteers at the Sant Joan de Déu Hospital is indispensable and throughout our years as patient and family, we have met many amazing and kind people. To them we are forever grateful. They have been beside us during each and every moment and day. Empathizing and navigating the situation, they have been able to distract us and to make us all feel better. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

We, as ambassadors, have the fortune of forming part of this great family. Bernat’s health has improved greatly, and he has enjoyed everything that has been done for him. The marathon began with hundreds of red balloons being released into the sky.

We would like to thank all of the people that made this special day possible; there were as many donors as there were recipients, organizers, volunteers, and authorities present at the event. Luckily, there was a ton. But we don’t want to forget anyone! Because of this, we can only give love and thanks from our hearts to each and every person who attended. We encourage people who are considering donating blood to do so in the future to help this beautiful and unique cause.

The interview, hosted by Núria Solé and Cristina Macías, lasted about 20 minutes. Together with Enric Contreras (Coordinator of the Central Territories Blood and Tissue Bank), we were able to speak a little bit about Bernat and the history of his illness. Most importantly we were able to discuss the importance of the Blood Donation Marathon, the excellent work of the Blood and Tissue Bank, and to give a message of gratitude to all of those who donate blood.

Many thanks to Núria y Cristina for the opportunity given to us and for the fantastic broadcasting of the cause.

Ruben, who has been with us since Bernat was a baby, just published a book that had nothing to do with him being a doctor:“Entre turrones“, a fun and original book based on a town in Spain called Jijona. What else could we have done besides buy it immediately at the hospital kiosk? Whether it’s for his great personality, or his literary talent, the point is that the book is selling well, and getting a copy isn’t exactly easy.

Taking advantage of our visit, we asked him to sign our copy of the book, and above all, to dedicate it to Bernat. Although still small, Bernat’s hematologist is rapidly gaining fame. Frankly, if the book is even half as good as he is at being hematologist, it’s a guaranteed masterpiece.

As for Bernat and his status before the transfusion, today his red blood cell levels are luckily not as low as earlier this year. Even still, a blood transfusion is necessary; perfect in order to feel strong before the Day of the Three Kings (A Spanish Christmas tradition).

For this reason, Bernat has participated in the emotional campaign “The Fate of Donating Blood” (the featured video) made by our friends at the Blood and Tissue Bank of Catalonia.

This year, the marathon was accompanied by the slogan, “The Luck of Giving Blood.” Those in charge wanted 7,000 extra donations during the Christmas period to add to the low amount of existing reserves. Another point of emphasis is that apart from being able to make donations to major hospitals, the town hall of Barcelona had 5 bloodmobiles on loan that were stationed in the Cataluna Plaza Friday, January 15 and Saturday, January 16 from 10 am – 9 pm. During the day there were many activities and entertainment run by magnificent volunteers.

In the ceremonies, there were also representatives from the Blood and Tissue Bank for whom we have a very special appreciation for. Also, there were members of the Red Cross and the association of blood donors. They were presenting what are called “ambassadors” that are dedicated to spreading the marathon through social networks. Until now, this group was made up of blood donors, but this year it was also partially made up of people who are or who have been blood recipients. And we have had the privilege of being a part of it.

Finally, we want to say thanks for the ceremony in the Barcelona Town Hall, and for giving us an opportunity to be able to explain Bernat’s case and to give thanks to the generous blood donors. Also, to give thanks to the Blood and Tissue Bank for all of the marvelous work that they have done.

Signing up for the marathon is very easy, and you can help save lives at http://www.maratodonants.cat/ And remember that other ways to help are to spread awareness on social networks and to talk about the need for blood donors, so as to follow the campaign. You can follow us on Facebook or Twitter.