Young Pop Warner Player with Rare Disease Fulfills Dream

By Michael Lyle, Las Vegas Review-Journal
October 31, 2012

It was quite the sight for Amanda Cardiff as she watched her 5-year-old son spike the ball after his first touchdown, something she never thought she'd see because of his rare blood disorder.

"He ran up to me and said: 'Did you see me? Did you see my touchdown?" Cardiff said.

Despite Drew Douglas-Cardiff's love for sports, his recent diagnosis of Von Willebrand disease prevents him from partaking in most activities, which made the touchdown all the more memorable.

Drew has been playing for the Tiny Mite Wolves, a Pop Warner football team, since August. He earned the nickname "Little Giant" because, despite being one of the youngest players - the team is composed of 5- to 7-year-olds - and possibly the smallest player, he never let any obstacle get in his way.

While playing, Drew kept having chronic nose bleeds. After 17 nose bleeds in one day, Cardiff, a Henderson resident, took him to a hospital emergency room.

Drew was diagnosed with two rare blood disorders, Von Willebrand type 2N and low factor 8, which affects the body's ability to clot blood.