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I couldn’t believe Caeleb was about to get his first dose of Hemlibra (emicizumab-kxwh). I have been following several people whose children participated in the Hemlibra study (NCT02622321) before the Food and Drug Administration approved the therapy, and I saw how it changed their lives. After…

When my sons were born and diagnosed with hemophilia, we lived in Houston and had access to the Gulf States Hemophilia and Thrombophilia Center. I had access to treatment and never considered that I’d be kept from it. When my youngest, Caeleb, was only 7 months old, my…

There are moments that forever alter lives. Sometimes we celebrate educational goals, while others encounter the excitement of new love. Other times leave us breathless as we attempt to rise again from a catastrophic event, unsure whether we will ever recover. Whatever we experience, our worlds change and none of…

  I have a few rituals on Sunday evenings. I check to make sure clothes are washed and ready for the week, I set the menu so that we have a plan for dinner throughout the week, and I fill the infusing bucket and bring it to the…

  I had the amazing privilege of speaking to the women of the Gateway and Midwest hemophilia associations at their annual retreat for women with bleeding disorders. There is just something about folks in the Midwest. They are kindhearted, compassionate, and tons of fun. Every time I…

I am still waiting to hear from our hemophilia treatment center about whether our insurance will cover Hemlibra (emicizumab-kxwh) for Caeleb. Honestly, I’ve put it out of my mind for a bit because I know it is not a “done deal” until I have the product in my…

Last week, my husband and I took our mighty warrior Caeleb to the hemophilia treatment center so that we could touch base with his hematologist. Caeleb recently had labs drawn, and it was time to sit for a meeting about his treatment. We were called to the back to…

The Olympic medal ceremonies are some of my favorite moments as a spectator. Seeing the athletes with their hands over their hearts as the flag is raised and the national anthem is played is a beautiful sight. With their medals hanging proudly around their necks, one can see…

The favorite Winter Olympics sport in my home is figure skating. My husband can tell you who won which medal in any Olympic games, and when he hears a piece of music that was used by a skater, he can not only tell you the name of the…

There are some moments in my life while raising two sons with severe hemophilia that I have thought, “Wow! You, Cazandra, have just won the gold medal in the Hemo Mama Bear Olympics!” And there are other times I failed so miserably that I would not have even…