When Polly Fielding's son Nathan was diagnosed unexpectedly with severe haemophilia, the only thing she could recall about this blood disorder was "One scratch and you'll bleed to death." Based on the premise that knowledge eradicates fear, Polly thoroughly researched the subject, consulting with sufferers, haematologists and haemophilia nurse specialists. Polly takes us from the shock of diagnosis through the difficulties of coping with the reactions of Nathan's brothers and sister, who also have their say in this book. And she shows us how it is perfectly possible to live a normal, happy family life, with haemophilia receding into the background. This book is invaluable for any family where there is child with a disability. It has been recommended by both the London-based Haemophilia Society and the World Federation of Hemophilia. This is the just the kind of book that Polly would have wanted to read (if it had been available) when her small son was first diagnosed with haemophilia - empathic, informative and reassuring. The late Claire Rayner, writer, broadcaster and onetime chair of the Patients' Association, wrote about the paperback edition of this book: "Reading technical books about haemophilia is the easiest thing to do and the hardest way of learning what it is really like to have the disease in the family. This is the book you really need to get a rounded picture of what a very distressing genetic disorder can do to an average family. By all means read the technical books afterwards, but read this one first."