What does it mean to save a life—not just with medication, but with dignity, opportunity, and hope?

In this deeply moving episode, we sit down with Cindy Komar, Executive Director, and Debbie de la Riva, Ambassador Program Coordinator at Save One Life, to explore how one sponsorship, one connection, and one act of compassion at a time is transforming lives for people with bleeding disorders in underserved countries. From scholarships and business grants to life-saving medication and emotional healing, this episode uncovers the ripple effect of empathy—and how you can be part of it.

What You’ll Learn

• Why global inequities in hemophilia treatment persist—and what’s being done
• How Save One Life began, and the vision behind “one child at a time”
• What $35 a month can do for a family living without access to medication
• The impact of scholarships, enterprise grants, and mentorship for long-term change
• How giving empowers the giver—creating a “win-win” mental health boost
• The power of story, advocacy, and how you can use your voice

Episode Highlights

• 00:00 – Welcome and guest introductions
• 01:19 – The origin story of Save One Life and founder Laurie Kelley
• 03:20 – How Save One Life has helped over 2,500 individuals across 18 countries
• 04:51 – Cindy shares her personal connection: her son’s diagnosis and hope
• 05:59 – Debbie on being moved to act after seeing untreated children
• 06:37 – How the Ambassador Program is spreading awareness and action
• 07:55 – $35 a month: what sponsorship really provides
• 08:49 – Why Save One Life’s direct model is so powerful
• 09:21 – The meaning behind the name “Save One Life”
• 10:05 – Story: How a young man in India got his degree and gives back
• 11:01 – Story: Project SHARE saves a boy’s life after a brain bleed
• 11:55 – Story: A single mom’s transformation through business support
• 13:19 – Emotional ripple effect: how confidence and dignity change lives
• 14:40 – Debbie on advocacy as a win-win for giver and receiver
• 15:53 – Cindy reflects on a mother in Nigeria who sparked her commitment
• 17:18 – What’s next: expanding the Ambassador Program and turning 25
• 18:43 – Ways to get involved, from donations to committees
• 19:34 – A message of hope, humanity, and shared responsibility

Meet the Guests

Cindy Komar is the Executive Director of Save One Life and the mother of a son with severe Hemophilia A. With over two decades of personal and professional involvement in the bleeding disorders community, she now leads global initiatives that bring life-changing support to those in need.

Debbie de la Riva is a longtime sponsor and now Ambassador Program Coordinator for Save One Life. As a parent of a son with hemophilia, she brings passion and perspective to her mission of training advocates and building bridges between U.S.-based sponsors and families worldwide.

Tools, Frameworks, or Strategies Mentioned

• Sponsorship Program – $35/month direct support for a specific child or family
• Scholarships & Grants – Support for education and small business development
• Project SHARE – Humanitarian aid program providing donated medication
• Ambassador Program – Advocacy and storytelling outreach initiative
• One-to-One Impact Model – Donors choose a specific child and see their journey
• Committees – Volunteer opportunities for grant and scholarship review

Closing Insight & CTA

“Save One Life gives us a chance to be good humans. To see someone’s pain—and do something about it.”

— Debbie de la Riva

No act of compassion is too small. Whether you're sponsoring a child, sharing a story, or joining a committee, you are changing lives—and helping people rise.

Visit saveonelife.net to get involved.

Resource Links

• Save One Life: https://saveonelife.net
• The Coalition for Hemophilia B: https://www.hemob.org/
• Balancing Life’s Issues: https://balancinglifesissues.com/podcast-bli/
• Subscribe to Boundless B on Apple Podcasts: https://pod.link/1765188875
• Subscribe to BLI’s YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@balancinglifesissuesinc.8501?sub_confirmation=1