Columns

Years ago, I watched my youngest son, “MacDonald the Younger,” as he struggled with recurring joint bleeds. Each episode took more of his mobility away. He could not extend his leg beyond 45 degrees because his knee was so full of blood, and he used a wheelchair for at least…

Last year was difficult for my mighty warrior Caeleb. Moving to a new school in a town where everyone knows everyone is not something you wish for as an incoming seventh-grader. This year was better until I discovered that a couple of boys were bullying Caeleb and he did not…

Intimacy. Warmth. Comfort. Security. Closeness. These are things that many of us yearn for in relationships. However, when someone has a bleeding disorder, relationships can also be associated with other things, like fear, pain, embarrassment, and shame. Sexuality is hard to discuss,…

Recently, I’ve been reading a lot of online content about hemophilia on forums dedicated to the disease and in articles. It could be because my Google Alerts and scholar searches are sending me plentiful links to browse. I’m noticing some consistent themes online: Moms are desperate for solutions;…

When “MacDonald the Younger” was 5, a social worker from the hemophilia treatment center gave his name to the Make-A-Wish Foundation. They granted my son’s wish to go to Disney World. I couldn’t believe that a 5-year-old child would want to go to a theme park filled with great…

I’m confined to my bed, suffering from a bleed once more. Many hemophiliacs dread having a bleed in this area, called the iliopsoas muscles. It’s considered a very serious bleed, as it can result in permanent femoral nerve damage and, in some cases, amputation of the leg. The…

My 13-year-old son, Caeleb, is a victim of bullying. This school year had a better start than the previous one until a couple of boys decided to pick on my mighty warrior. Name-calling and lies are hurtful, but at least words don’t leave marks on our bodies. But when…

I got home from work and checked my mail. I had received another notice from an “impartial third party” stating: Dear Ms. Horowitz, We have received an inquiry from your insurance company and we have determined your treatment is medically necessary. You are…

Last week, my husband had another random bleed in an extremely unfortunate location: his iliopsoas muscle group. It started as a lump on his hip, which he didn’t initially think much of because bruises with swelling are common among people with hemophilia. He didn’t realize it was another bleeding…

One of my favorite educational philosophers is Ruby Payne. Payne focuses on the unwritten rules of social classes and how various groups respond to and receive information. Payne suggests that the ways we communicate our needs depend largely on our environments. In other words, we are a product of…