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Rick Linfors Ackerman defies conventional expectations. Living with Von Willebrand Disease Type 3 – one of the rarest and most severe forms of this bleeding disorder – Rick has built an extraordinary decade-long career as a search and rescue dog handler serving Minnesota law enforcement agencies.
From the moment of his birth when doctors noticed unusual bleeding from a minor cut, Rick's life has been shaped by the challenges of managing a condition that affects his body's ability to form blood clots. Yet rather than limiting his horizons, these challenges sparked a remarkable journey that led him from wearing a medieval-looking ankle brace for nine years to scaling mountains and rescuing lost hikers in treacherous wilderness conditions.
During our conversation, Rick shares heart-pounding stories from the field – including a dramatic rescue of a hypothermic woman lost overnight in dense forest and his first mission extraction from an aptly-named "Hell Hole" ravine. Through these experiences, we discover how his intimate knowledge of medical emergencies gives him a unique perspective in crisis situations. There's a poetic symmetry to Rick's life: the child who once faced a medical port failure in the backcountry now rescues others from similar wilderness perils.
We also explore exciting developments in bleeding disorder treatments, including the recent FDA approval of Q-Fitlia, a potential game-changer offering subcutaneous administration just once every two months. Rick offers valuable insights on building resilience when facing setbacks, emphasizing the importance of perspective-taking and self-awareness during difficult moments.
This episode illuminates how someone with a serious medical condition can find purpose through service to others. Whether you're navigating your own rare disorder or simply seeking inspiration to overcome life's obstacles, Rick's story demonstrates that our greatest challenges often become the foundation for our most meaningful contributions. Ready to discover how adversity can become a launching pad for extraordinary achievement? Listen now and prepare to see limitations in an entirely new light.

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