Helping others is in her blood

Working as a nurse’s aid when she was 16 was a turning point in Rueleen Lavergne’s life.

“I was painfully shy and insecure, but I felt so compassionate about the patients that I forgot about myself,” said Lavergne, RN, 61.

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Barry Williams / AJC Special

Rueleen Lavergne is a nurse for Hemophilia of Georgia. ‘I love being able to know my families for years — to see them go from outright terror to being independent to being examples for others,’ she said.

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A nurse took Lavergne under her wing and encouraged her to pursue the profession.

“My whole nursing path is lined with people who have supported me, pushed me and helped me,” Lavergne said.

For almost 20 years, she has done the same for hundreds of Georgia families affected by hemophilia — first at the Emory University/CHOA Hemophilia Treatment Center and, since 1997, as a quality assurance nurse for Hemophilia of Georgia in Atlanta. The nonprofit organization provides services and support to Georgians with inherited blood disorders.

Lavergne wrote the group’s first nursing guidelines and keeps abreast of new research and standards of care. Over the years, she has seen hemophilia become less disabling.

“With infusions of clotting factor and education, patients can live a normal life,” she said. “I love being able to know my families for years — to see them go from outright terror to being independent to being examples for others.”

Lavergne and her nurses visit homes and communities to dispel myths and teach people about blood disorders.

“For many parents, Rueleen is a source of knowledge, reassurance and comfort,” co-worker Karen Daniel said.

Parents are scared when their babies are first diagnosed with a blood disorder.

“You have to talk them through their fear… to know when to encourage, when to empower and when to step in,” Lavergne said.

As young patients grow up, she welcomes them to Camp Wannaklot, a weeklong residential camp for children with hemophilia. Campers learn they aren’t alone in having the disease.

Lavergne uses games and a willingness to be poked herself to teach children as young as 7 how to safely insert their own IVs for the clotting factor they need to stay healthy.

“My mother told me that we’re all put here for a reason,” Lavergne said. “It’s not about who you are, but about what you can do for others.”