(BPT) - Whether verbal or physical, bullying can cause real
suffering for its victim and can ultimately interfere with a
person’s social and emotional development. A common target for
bullying and intolerance are those people with qualities that
may set them apart from their peers, such as health-related
issues. For the 30 million people in the United States living
with a rare disease, standing out can often subject them to
increased intolerance over time. Thirty-six year old Dennis is
living with a rare swelling disease called hereditary angioedema
(HAE) and knows firsthand the affect intolerance can have on a
person. The rare disease journey Dennis would take began at age
five when he was diagnosed with HAE after experiencing swelling
attacks in his hands, feet and face. HAE is a genetic disease
that affects about 6,000 people in the United States. The
disease causes repeated swelling attacks that can occur anywhere
in the body, including arms, legs, hands, feet, stomach,
genitals, face or throat. HAE attac