Columns

I recently had the opportunity to spend the afternoon with a group of teens from our local bleeding disorders organization, HACA, which stands for Hemophilia Association of the Capital Area. Some of these kids have gone to camp together for years, and some were brand new to the group.

I work as a pastor in the United Methodist Church. One of the many challenges of participating in a denomination that calls ministers to move quite frequently in an itinerant system is the continuous upheaval regarding medical care. For those who live with chronic issues, picking up stakes and heading…

Most people will tell you that their children are opposites. One is outgoing, the other would rather be left alone. One will talk until your head hurts, the other will utter only a few words when prompted. Their personalities are different, yet they have the same biological parents. I see…

Hemophilia takes a toll not just on the life of the individual who struggles with the disease, but also on the family unit. It is not easy to have a genetic disorder as a life focal point that does not go away. When a woman has hemophilia, it…

It’s been nearly five months since I became a mom to baby Cittie. In those months, my life has been transformed into something completely different. My social media feed, which used to be full of items about academics and career, is now full of articles about babies and…

The other day, I picked up “MacDonald the Younger” from hemophilia camp. I enjoyed the trip through the mountains. The air felt fresh as I grew anxious to see my son. I wanted to hear all about his camp experience. What friends did he see? Did he try the…

I am a believer in the benefits of summer camp — hemophilia camp to be specific. Children with bleeding disorders across the U.S. have the opportunity to spend time away from home and participate in activities they may not usually experience. Hemophilia camp is a place where kids can…

I have a confession: I hate to self-infuse. I am really bad at it. Well, at least most of the time I am. The multitude of blown and missed veins over the past few years have synthesized to wholly deflate my confidence with this critical skill.  …

The toughest part about moving to a new city or state is locating health providers that are covered (most likely) by a new insurance plan. It’s difficult for families with hemophilia, like ours, to find pediatricians and internists. But dentists are by far the most challenging to locate. Fellow…

Living with a chronic bleeding disorder brings a whole new set of words into our vocabulary. Around my house, when it is time to infuse, we say, “Hey guys, its time to get liquored up.” While that may sound odd, our word choices help to remind us that each treatment…