Stephanie was my foster child in the ’90s. She was the cutest little girl on the planet. With curly, bright-red hair and freckles, she had a charisma and charm that were hard to ignore. Stephanie was born with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. She developed full-blown AIDS when she…
Hemophilia is a rare bleeding disorder. It leads to uncontrolled bleeding, hospitalizations, doctor visits, and the need for expensive medications. Bleeds result in costly absences from work and school. Receiving care at a federally funded hemophilia treatment center (HTC) is essential. Most hematologists focus on blood cancers or…
Dear Hemophilia Dad, I am writing to you today to protect the health of your beloved daughter. Trust me, I know the struggles you encounter daily. In my mind, you are a superhero. Your daughter is at risk for hemophilia, too. She is a carrier and needs testing…
Kendall Fitzpatrick and I have much in common. Like me, she has hemophilia B and von Willebrand disease. She’s a registered nurse, works for a specialty pharmacy, and is an outspoken advocate for women with bleeding disorders. She lives in New Kent, Virginia, and is mother to a…
I recently watched the eight-episode Canadian drama miniseries “Unspeakable,” which was inspired by real events and first televised a few years ago. The series is the creation and passion of Robert C. Cooper, a writer and producer best known for his work on the television series “Stargate…
I have von Willebrand disease (VWD) and hemophilia B, a less common form of hemophilia that arises when a blood-clotting protein called factor IX is missing or deficient. Hemophilia is often thought of as a condition that only affects men, but women can and do have it, too.
Hurricane Ian, which battered the southeastern United States and the Caribbean in late September and early October, nearly destroyed the home of a client of mine. She compares the damage to a violent tornado combined with a devastating flood. Parts of her home were gutted. In the aftermath, she…
Greetings! I’m writing from Orlando, Florida, my temporary oasis from the wrath of Hurricane Ian. Last week, my mom and I evacuated to this inland city from Punta Gorda, on the coast in the southwest part of the state. Staying was not an option as my mom is oxygen-dependent…
Well, hello, Ian. Please go away. As I write this, the track of Hurricane Ian has shifted south from Tampa, Florida, and toward my home in Punta Gorda. Not my first time at this rodeo. In 2004, Hurricane Charley, which was Category 4, devastated my hometown. But this…
The end of 2022 is rapidly approaching, and I’ve made nary a dent in my fitness and diet goals for this year. Oh, sure, I have a ton of excuses — like my foot that swells up when I walk more than a mile — but there really…
Get regular updates to your inbox.
