Paying tribute to ballerina Michaela DePrince and her mother, Elaine

I have long admired the world-renowned ballerina Michaela DePrince. Like many others, I was captivated by her inspiring journey from being a war orphan in Sierra Leone to her rise as a star on the global dance stage.

Tragically, DePrince recently died at the young age of 29, just one day before her adoptive mother, Elaine DePrince, also died.

I’d been in awe of Michaela’s resilience and extraordinary talent, but I hadn’t realized the deep connection her family had with hemophilia.

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Born during the civil war in Sierra Leone, which lasted from 1991 to 2002, Michaela — who was then named Mabinty, her birth name — lost both of her parents when she was just 3 years old. After being placed in an orphanage, she endured further hardship, including being ostracized for having vitiligo, a disease that causes the skin to lose its pigmentation.

Her adoptive mother wrote a book in 1997 titled “Cry Bloody Murder: A Tale of Tainted Blood,” which I read several years ago. It recounts the devastating loss of Elaine’s adopted sons, all three of whom had been born with hemophilia and tragically contracted AIDS from contaminated blood-clotting products used to treat their condition.

Elaine and her two biological sons also had von Willebrand disease, a bleeding disorder similar to hemophilia.

The book chronicles Elaine’s courageous battle against what an emotional Amazon editorial review of the book described as “a healthcare cum legal system that allows pharmaceutical companies to rush their blood products to market without fear of product liability lawsuits.”  The review added:

“If you are not made of wood, tears will stain most every page of your copy of this book. Elaine DePrince is a housewife and mother of five, two of whom died of AIDS when they were young boys. They were hemophiliacs who were exposed to HIV via their use of contaminated blood-clotting products. This is the story of their brief lives and of their mother’s fight against a healthcare cum legal system that allows pharmaceutical companies to rush their blood products to market without fear of product liability lawsuits, a system that made their unnecessary deaths possible. What makes the story all the more affecting is that the two boys were very bright and well aware of the whole awfulness of their tragedy.”

The profound loss of her sons motivated Elaine and her husband, Charles, to adopt more children who might otherwise struggle to find homes due to medical or social circumstances. In the late 1990s, Elaine met Mabinty at an orphanage in a refugee camp. Moved by the young girl’s resilience, the DePrinces adopted her and another girl, also named Mabinty, and brought them to the United States. The second Mabinty became Michaela’s sister Mia.

Once settled in New Jersey, Elaine quickly recognized Michaela’s passion for ballet and enrolled her in classes. Michaela’s talent and determination flourished with Elaine’s support. Michaela soon became a beacon of hope, breaking barriers as a Black ballerina on the international stage.

Elaine’s compassion and strength continue to inspire, while Michaela’s remarkable resilience and talent made her a global symbol of overcoming adversity. Their legacy will forever remain a testament to the power of perseverance and love.

Note: Hemophilia News Today is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or another qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of Hemophilia News Today or its parent company, Bionews, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to hemophilia.