A Cruel Healing

David Widdas Pescod was born in 1951, when there was no treatment for Haemophilia. Smudge, his mother, a carrier who lost a brother to haemophilia, gave birth to two sons, complicating a difficult marriage. The boys tested positive, had the usual childhood accidents, exposing the crude treatments available. They managed to avoid special schools, yet negotiated general ignorance of their condition, while their mother fought depression and reminded them that Haemophilia is the Royal disease.

When David discovers art, its creativity provides him with a positive energy to counteract the pain.

But he was later infected by factor VIII in 1980, from contaminated American prison blood. Inmates with HIV and Hepatitis demand cash for their donations, regulating the blood-letting business. Hepatitis C caused David depression and liver problems, affecting his young family.

His marriage broke down, and he lived alone. He lost a mortgage, explored Chinese Medicine, and eventually found love. Interferon treatment challenged him, but the virus was cleared. He joined the campaign for justice, to celebrate his life and be vindicated. This story needs to be told, and how blood supply should never be compromised by profiteering.