The Seven Summits: A Hemophilia Triumph

Save One Life is proud to welcome Tamarrow Mitchell to our Ambassador team. He has hemophilia as do two of his eight siblings. Early in life, he hid his diagnosis because it made him feel different from his peers, but over time, he learned how to embrace it and wanted to use his experiences to inspire and empower others. Tamarrow’s passion for helping people led him on humanitarian trips to St. Vincent and the Grenadines and Zambia, where he taught sustainable living practices. His dedication to service earned him the Hemophilia Federation of America’s Community Service Award, but it was an experience in Zambia that had an even greater impact on
him.

While playing soccer, he injured his ankle, which resulted in a bleed. Fortunately, he had brought his medication from the US and was able to treat himself immediately. The incident made him realize how difficult it would have been to access treatment in that setting and deepened his awareness of the challenges faced by people with bleeding disorders in under-resourced countries. Determined to make a difference, he vowed to use his experiences to help others and found a way to meld his musical talent with his desire to serve.

As a talented musician, songwriter, and singer, he composed songs in hopes that others could use self-expression to relieve the mental and physical pain they are experiencing. Many of his songs can be found on popular streaming platforms and one of them won a
Clio Music Award.

As a Save One Life Ambassador, Tamarrow encourages everyone to discover what drives them, to believe in themselves, and never give up. Armed with a degree in music performance and a heart for service, he is poised to make a lasting impact on our community and beyond.

At Save One Life, we are proud to work alongside volunteer ambassadors like Eliza VanZweden, whose lived experience with Glanzmann Thrombasthenia fuels her passion for advocacy and support for others in the bleeding disorders community. Through her leadership, compassion, and willingness to share her story, Eliza is helping women and girls around the world feel seen, connected, and empowered to use their voices.

Eliza VanZweden understands firsthand the challenges that can come with living with a rare bleeding disorder. Shortly after birth, she was diagnosed with Glanzmann Thrombasthenia. Although her siblings had the same medical condition, she largely felt different from her peers. Childhood experiences such as being self conscious of visible bruises, missing class due to bleeding episodes, and being unable to participate in many typical kids’ activities tended to reinforce this narrative. 

Additionally, given the fact that treatment for bleeding episodes involved lengthy trips to the emergency room for a platelet transfusion or an infusion of Factor VII medication, she was very cautious, which furthered her isolation.

However, things began to change for Eliza when she met another person with Glanzmann Thrombasthenia at a conference in her teens. For the first time, she felt she belonged and embraced the power of community.

She became an active advocate in the Hemophilia Foundation of Michigan, was later selected for the National Bleeding Disorder Foundation’s Youth and Leadership Institute Program, and was awarded the Susan Skinner Memorial Fund Scholarship of the World Federation of Hemophilia.

Through her international travel, she became aware of the enormous challenges women with a bleeding disorder face on a daily basis. In 2025, she agreed to serve as an Ambassador for Save One Life to help identify and support women and girls in this community. It is her hope that sharing her story and lending her
encouragement, others living with rare disorders will use their voices, advocate for their needs, and recognize the healing power of being seen and supported.

Every member of the bleeding disorders community has a story, and Farah Pavri’s is one that highlights the powerful role siblings play in shaping care, compassion, and connection. Over time, she transformed what once felt like being “just a sibling” into a deep sense of purpose. Today, Farah is using her voice to support others, encourage young people in the community, and give back in meaningful ways, including being a Save One Life Ambassador! 

Farah Pavri is proof positive that when a family member has a bleeding disorder, the whole family is affected. She remembers the distress she felt while watching her brother endure prolonged bleeds resulting from hemophilia and inhibitors. She also remembers what it was like to feel included in the community yet also have a sense that she might not be as important because she was “just a sibling.”

However, over time, Farah realized that she mattered too and had something valuable to offer. In fact, she wants to encourage young people in this community to embrace the idea that you are never too young to help; a family value that was instilled in her at a very young age. She has distinct memories of watching her mother gather unused factor and send it to Save One Life. Her mother explained that there are thousands of children in their home country, India, who suffer tremendously because there is an inadequate supply of medication.

When Farah got older, she began to understand that her brother’s journey with hemophilia and inhibitors in an under-resourced country would result in permanent damage or worse. It is for this reason and others that Farah answered the call to serve as an ambassador to Save One Life. Welcome to the Save One Life team, Farah! We are grateful for all your efforts to bring hope and healing to others.

Empowering the next chapter of global support for individuals with bleeding disorders

Save One Life is proud to announce the election of Michelle Kim as the new President of the Board of Directors. A longstanding advocate and leader in the rare disease and bleeding disorders communities, Michelle brings a wealth of experience, passion, and vision to guide the organization into its next phase of growth and impact.

Michelle officially joins the Board following years of distinguished service in the nonprofit and healthcare advocacy sectors. Most notably, she served as Executive Director of the Hemophilia Foundation of Southern California from 2015 to 2022, where she launched more than ten innovative programs, including leadership initiatives for youth. Her leadership earned her the title of Businesswoman of the Year for Non-Profits in 2019 by her State Senator.

Throughout her career, Michelle has been a tireless champion for underserved communities. She co-founded Familia de Sangre, now the largest Spanish-speaking conference dedicated to bleeding disorders, and developed critical legal resources for patients and families navigating school advocacy, special needs trusts, and immigration challenges.

Michelle is also a published advocate for patient-centered care. She co-authored the article, “Lived experience experts: A name created by us for us,” which calls for deeper inclusion of patient and caregiver voices in research and policy-making. She was nominated and approved by the White House as the only patient advocate member of the ACBTSA (Advisory Committee for Blood and Tissue Safety) reporting to the HHS (recently defunded). 

Her advocacy is deeply personal. For over 20 years, Michelle cared for her daughter, who lived with five rare diseases until her passing in March 2024. This lived experience continues to shape her commitment to improving the lives of families facing similar challenges.

Michelle resides in Southern California with her husband and two sons, one of whom has severe hemophilia A. In her personal time, she enjoys pickleball, fishing, and traveling.

In taking on this new role Michelle shared, “Over the past decade, treatment for bleeding disorders has advanced tremendously. Yet despite this progress, a majority of people around the world still have little to no access to life-saving medications. It is my sincere hope that our community will come together to make a meaningful impact in the lives of those less fortunate. I am truly excited to partner with Cindy and her phenomenal team, whose vision and dedication will help drive this important work forward.”

“We are thrilled to welcome Michelle as our new Board President,” said Cindy Komar, Executive Director of Save One Life. “Her leadership, compassion, and lived experience bring extraordinary strength to help advance our mission and deepen our global impact.”

Save One Life extends its deepest gratitude to its supporters and community members for their continued commitment. With Michelle’s leadership, the organization looks forward to an inspiring new chapter – continuing to change lives, one life at a time.