# Healing and Advocacy Through the Stitches Doll Project, Part 1 with Kathleen Gerus-Darbison

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/beyond-the-bleeds-7074228/healing-and-advocacy-through-the-stitches-doll-project-part-1-with-kathleen-gerus-darbison
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/beyond-the-bleeds-7074228/healing-and-advocacy-through-the-stitches-doll-project-part-1-with-kathleen-gerus-darbison.md
Podcast: [Beyond the Bleeds](https://stenobird.com/podcast/beyond-the-bleeds-7074228)
Published: 2026-03-02T05:00:00+00:00
Episode link: https://hemophiliaoutreach.org/healing-advocacy-through-stitches-doll-project-part-1/
Audio file: https://media.blubrry.com/3770961/content.blubrry.com/3770961/Stitches_Dolls_Part_1.mp3
Processing state: not_requested
JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/beyond-the-bleeds-7074228/episodes/healing-and-advocacy-through-the-stitches-doll-project-part-1-with-kathleen-gerus-darbison
Duration seconds: 1928

## Resource

In this episode of Beyond the Bleeds , John and Heather talk with Kathleen Gerus-Darbison, a sociology professor and founder of the Stitches Doll Project, about love, loss, advocacy, and the power of storytelling in the bleeding disorders community. Kathleen shares her personal journey alongside her late husband, Michael, who had hemophilia and contracted HIV during the blood crisis of the 1980s. She speaks openly about navigating stigma, grief, and raising her daughter while living with HIV. Through unimaginable loss, Kathleen found purpose in education and advocacy. The conversation highlights the early days of the HIV epidemic, the fear and discrimination families faced, and the strength of women who created support networks when few resources existed. Kathleen also shares how the Stitches Doll Project began. What started as a simple idea grew into a powerful creative movement where women use handmade dolls to tell their stories. Through art, participants find connection, healing, and a voice. This episode reminds us that community saves lives. It shows how storytelling, creativity, and courage can turn pain into purpose. “We needed a way for women to tell their stories. When one woman speaks, it gives others permission to do the same.” — Kathleen Gerus-Darbison This episode of Beyond the Bleeds explores: Living through the HIV crisis within the bleeding disorders community The impact of stigma and silence Women-led advocacy and support networks How the Stitches Doll Project creates healing through art Why storytelling builds connection and resilience Looking for practical tips, expert advice, and a sense of community while living with or supporting someone with a bleeding disorder? Subscribe to Beyond the Bleeds , the podcast that explores life with hemophilia, von…

## Actions

- request_transcript: `POST https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/beyond-the-bleeds-7074228/episodes/healing-and-advocacy-through-the-stitches-doll-project-part-1-with-kathleen-gerus-darbison/transcription-requests` — Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode.
- read_markdown: `GET https://stenobird.com/podcast/beyond-the-bleeds-7074228/healing-and-advocacy-through-the-stitches-doll-project-part-1-with-kathleen-gerus-darbison.md` — Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource.

A page view does not enqueue transcription. Agents should invoke `request_transcript` explicitly when they need this episode processed.

## Transcript

Full transcripts are not published on public pages unless there is a clear rights basis.