Special Blood

2017 • 60 minutes

About this movie

A poignant, no-holds-barred documentary chronicling the lives of four patients with a dramatic, rare disease. Due to the rarity of their condition, Ava, Noah, Kelsie, and Lora face misdiagnosis, improper treatment, and preventable tragedy in the emergency room all as they fight to live normal lives. Struggling to be heard by an ignorant healthcare system, they join their voices together to conquer adversity and create change. Special Blood explores the intersection between human frailty and strength, giving an
intimate look into the personal lives and struggles of rare disease patients in America. As she enters the community which these determined patients have created around their shared disease, filmmaker Natalie Metzger uncovers stories of inspiration, struggle, renewed purpose, and untimely death. As they tell their stories, we see how these brave underdogs are changing the future for rare disease patients on a global scale.

Ratings and reviews

Insightful and Inspiring. This movie gives a public validation to a condition that has been misdiagnosed or overlooked for decades. Hereditary Angioedema is a real condition and thank you Natalie, Bob and your crew for taking us even further in Awareness BUT most importantly, drawing those that suffer everyday out of isolation and reminding us each and everyday YOU ARE NOT ALONE!

This documentary shows the real struggles that all patients with HAE go through. It shows the triumphs and the let downs of this disease, and how we can all help each other through the tough times. Great video!

The film has a wider reach than is immediately obvious, as much as the film is about a rare disease it's also about systems and people. Unfortunately every year there are more stories of rare, unknown, unacknowledged, misunderstood and missed altogether illnesses and diseases emerging, you have to ask why aren't they being taken seriously and what is the medical profession doing?