

“[My Dad] didn’t even understand that I was an obligatory carrier – I learned when I was 16 years old in biology class!”
Discovering the Chapter
After moving from Montana to Pittsburgh, Dawn wasted no time in contacting the Hemophilia Treatment Center in the area. She was also delighted to know there was a local chapter too! The first event she attended with her family was a Christmas Party at Children’s Hospital when Gino was four years old. Dawn says, “I remember walking in the room, not knowing another soul, and the first person who approached me was the Novo Nordisk representative and she was so welcoming and inviting. Eventually we met every single person there and forged lasting friendships in that very first event!”
Dawn has participated in the walk since she started the first one back in 2009! “I had heard about the Highmark Walk for a Health Community and reached out to see if our chapter could be part of that,” she said. “We participated in that walk for about three years before the National Hemophilia Foundation created their [Unite] walk program.”
“My dad and my son are our inspirations… we are grateful.”
– Dawn Rotellini
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