Bombardier Blood Parent Guide

Chris Bombardier was born with hemophilia, a rare genetic condition that means his blood doesn’t clot. Even minor injuries left unattended could prove fatal, since Chris will just continue to bleed. Growing up, this meant a lot of frustration for the naturally active and competitive boy. Baseball games were fraught with danger for Chris, and no small amount of anxiety for his parents.

But Chris is determined not to be defined by his illness. Launching a fundraiser to help others with hemophilia get access to the only treatment, an injectable clotting factor which allows them to lead normal lives, Chris has decided to complete the Seven Summits, climbing to the peak of the tallest mountain on each continent. He’s already made it up five of them, and Everest is next…

Bombardier Blood tells an amazing story of determination and perseverance in the face of difficulty. While his access to clotting factor means that Chris can do almost anything, it is offset by his borderline phobia of needles. Having to inject himself regularly is one of the hardest things for him to do – but it’s also the cost of admission to do the things he loves. His willingness to confront that fear and cope with the associated anxiety makes his achievements that much more impressive.

Even more astounding is the emotional resilience of his family. His parents had one of the hardest jobs I’ve ever heard of: managing an active hemophiliac who refuses to tell them about some of his injuries so he can keep playing baseball. If that weren’t enough, Chris’s wife, Jessica, has to watch him haul himself up and down some of the most dangerous peaks in the world, all while worrying that he might develop a dangerous bleed which he won’t have the resources to treat. Their sacrifice to help Chris realize his dreams, and in doing so inspire so many with hemophilia, is truly remarkable.

This film doesn’t come with any content issues for parents to be too worried about, unless you or your child shares Chris’s aversion to needles. Or if your child has a reckless streak that you aren’t inclined to encourage – the Bombardier lifestyle might appeal a little too much, and not necessarily in the way you want. But Bombardier Blood is short, exciting, and inspiring, and it’s hard to ask much more from a documentary. On top of that, the documentary raises awareness for a good cause, and that’s something you definitely can’t say about most movies that hit the theaters.