I just returned from the Hemophilia Federation of America (HFA) Symposium in New Orleans, and like many gatherings in the bleeding disorders community, it left me inspired, reflective, and deeply grateful. This was my first HFA Symposium, and I’m truly grateful to the organization for including me. There’s something…
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Last Friday, my wife, Cazandra, and I drove to Albuquerque from our home in Las Cruces, New Mexico, for doctor visits and other personal business. One of the best parts of the trip was taking our youngest son, Caeleb, to lunch. I know he’s 20, but sometimes I have to…
Watching gymnasts Nadia Comaneci and Olga Korbut in the 1976 Olympic Games inspired me to do front rolls in my backyard. I knew back flips and aerial twirls weren’t in my reach, so I set my sights on mastering the cartwheel. But it was never to…
I struggle when I lie down to sleep, and my legs hurt so much that I need to move them. I don’t get a good night’s sleep, and when I awake in the morning, my brain is foggy and I feel like I’m moving around in a bubble. I am…
Sleep has always been a troublesome subject for me. Even as a child, it felt optional — something I could push aside in favor of thoughts, ideas, or whatever held my attention in the moment. In high school, that tendency only intensified. Sleep became negotiable, almost expendable, as if I…
There are moments when I’m reminded just how much I depend on something most people rarely think about. I live with von Willebrand disease, and my treatment depends on Humate-P (antihemophilic factor/von Willebrand factor complex [human]), a plasma-derived therapy. This medication is more than just a vial;…
My day started like every other day — at my desk, sorting through emails inviting me to attend meetings on church activities and other community opportunities. But then, my phone lit up with a message from my son Julian, encouraging me to open a link to a song he recorded…
In a society where reality television is king, passing judgment is easier than ever. Contestants in competitions such as “Dancing with the Stars” and “American Idol” are eager to hear the judges’ remarks in hopes of advancing to the next round. On shows like “Judge Judy,” litigants demand arbitration to…
The pool was loud in the way summer pools usually are — whistles, splashes, kids calling out to each other, coaches raising their voices above the noise, parents chatting on the sidelines. Our 7-year-old daughter stood at the edge, waiting for her instructor to guide her into the Olympic-sized pool.
Most people probably don’t think twice about getting dressed. For me, it’s never just about what looks good. It’s about what feels right. Every morning, a quiet calculation happens before I even leave my closet. What am I doing today? How far will I be walking? Will I be sitting…
