A Tireless Physician, Finally at Rest

Dr. Carol Kasper was tireless; it seemed nothing could ever slow her down. Working at the hemophilia clinic at Orthopaedic Hospital in Los Angeles, globe-trotting as vice president, medical, for the World Federation of Hemophilia, she effortlessly attended conferences, board meetings, met with patients, conducted research and published. She was a force unto herself.

I recall meeting her and wishing I could be like her, to have her energy and drive; I would never have her intelligence. She was one of the most intelligent women I ever met. The other who fit that description was Renée Paper, an emergency room nurse who had von Willebrand disease. Renée and I became colleagues, then friends, then co-authors. And I learned that Renée had been given a hysterectomy long ago when not properly diagnosed with VWD. It was Dr. Carol Kasper who finally gave her the correct diagnosis, treatment, and changed her life forever.

As the years went on, she gave me compliments on my work, how I conducted my business, and the impact I had made. This made me shine, because coming from her, it was the highest praise I could get.

When I first opened my office in 2002, she was the first person to visit, and she brought a floor plant. I felt bad, because I am known to eventually kill off house plants. But this plant? Still alive to this day.

In her later years, retired, she enjoyed quilting, and apparently still generously donating to bleeding disorder causes, judging from her Facebook page. Here she was, in her 80s, and active on Facebook. She sent me lovely messages from time to time, very supportive and kind.

She passed away on July 8. Her passing leaves a hole in my life with hemophilia. Dr. Kasper was like a giant, in a little five-foot frame. I will miss her so much. Her son Evan wrote:

“She died peacefully and without suffering. She was 89 years old and had lived a wonderful, full and rich life. After an extraordinary career as a leading world figure in research and treatment of hemophilia, her later years were filled with quilting, avid figure-skating fandom, and involvement in the lives of her four grandsons. We will carry her love forward into our lives.”

I hope to keep my humanitarian work for hemophilia going too, as Dr. Kasper, my role model, did, until it’s time to rest as well.