Eric Mamos is living the life of his dreams thanks to his two families – his wife and three young children, and the Los Angeles Orthopaedic Hospital (LAOH) family of physicians who treat his severe hemophilia.

Both Eric and his older brother David were born with the inherited bleeding disorder, in which blood does not clot properly and can cause uncontrolled bleeding in the joints, among other places in the body, leading to serious musculoskeletal issues. The disease requires lifelong care, but can be managed effectively, as the brothers have found through the treatment they both receive at LAOH.

Eric credits David with finding the LAOH Hemophilia Treatment Center (HTC), which this year is celebrating its 50th anniversary. “David did all the research and, with my parents, determined that the best care for both of us would be at Los Angeles Orthopaedic Hospital.”

Among Eric’s LAOH family are orthopaedic surgeons Dr. James V. Luck, Jr., director of orthopaedic surgery at the HTC, and Dr. Mauricio Silva, associate medical director, LAOH, and medical director, LAOH Urgent Care, who have performed multiple surgeries to help preserve Eric’s mobility.

Dr. Doris Quon, medical director of the LAOH HTC, is Eric’s hematologist. She treats Eric by regularly replacing his missing blood clotting factor with a prepared clotting-factor concentrate, reducing incidents of excess bleeding. Eric’s care has been so successful that he is physically fit and very active – even playing basketball, his favorite sport.

Describing the LAOH team’s extraordinary commitment to his health, Eric cites a weekend trip to a local emergency room for an unrelated issue.

“Because of my disease, the ER doctor needed to consult with Dr. Quon immediately. Her response was so fast. At no point did I feel alone.”

Eric’s expert treatment by compassionate doctors and staff at LAOH motivated him to seek out his current job at Santa Monica-UCLA Medical Center and Orthopaedic Hospital (SMUCLAOH), where he is putting into place a sophisticated communications system that will help LAOH physicians and their clinical teams better coordinate treatment that takes place over multiple locations, including LAOH’s downtown campus. The technology will further enhance the quality of care LAOH provides to the Los Angeles community.

About his work, Eric says, “I feel like I am not just a patient anymore and that I am helping Orthopaedic Hospital – like they have helped, and continue to help, me. It makes perfect sense.”