Columns

We received some unexpected news this week from the University of New Mexico, where our youngest son, Caeleb, is a rising sophomore. Although we had thought he’d be able to move into a dormitory on campus this fall, it appears he’s still on a waiting list, and the chances…

In kindergarten, my teacher had a daily ritual: story time. My friends and I would race to the corner and sit “crisscross applesauce” on the boldly colored carpet, eagerly awaiting the story. Next to recess, it was the best part of the day. The teacher read with excitement, allowing us…

“There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle.” — often attributed to Albert Einstein I live with a bleeding disorder, hemophilia A. Survival often is truly about attitude, optimism, and perseverance.

People often assume that loving someone with hemophilia — and in my husband’s case, epilepsy, too — must come with endless patience, unshakable optimism, and the kind of soft, gentle pity we reserve for those we imagine can’t carry their own weight. But mine is a different kind of…

“Don’t let anyone cut into you without talking to your hematologist first.” That’s what my hematologist told me decades ago, and I’ve never forgotten it. It’s advice that may have saved my life more than once. For people living with hemophilia, von Willebrand disease, or rare factor…

The kitchen buzzed with energy. Cookies were in the oven, a skillet of deliciousness simmered on the stove, and fresh tortillas were being rolled out on the counter. When my oldest son, Julian, and I cook together, we’re like Fred and Ginger, knowing each step and anticipating…

Forty-six. That’s how old I was when I finally accessed the hemophilia care that I’d needed my entire life. I believe the reason it took so long was that I’m a woman. It may seem crazy to those who aren’t familiar with the bleeding disorder. For years, the misconception…

My husband, Jared, and I both have marketing backgrounds. We’re used to thinking in terms of value. In branding, you ask: What makes this product worth noticing? What problem does it solve? Why should people care? It’s strange to apply that mindset to something like hemophilia. But when you…

A few years ago, I woke up to find my right breast swollen, hot, red, and extremely painful. Beneath the skin was a lump that felt about the size of a golf ball. I’d had mastitis before, in the other breast, so I wondered if this pain could be…

To say my youngest son, Caeleb, is excited to start his second year at the University of New Mexico is an understatement. He lived at home during his freshman year, but next month, he’ll move into a dormitory. He can’t wait to spread his wings and live on his own(ish).