Columns

My husband, Jared, lives with severe hemophilia B and a seizure disorder. Despite these challenges, he’s active in ways that many people wouldn’t expect. He swims, lifts weights, and plays badminton. He can also keep up with our 5-year-old daughter, who is a huge ball of energy. We recently…

Many of us resume our schedules after the holidays, when we start a new year. We recommit ourselves to following a health plan or finding ways to let go of past hurts. Just to be clear, I didn’t say New Year’s resolutions. When we decide to redirect unhealthy behavior and…

Two and a half years ago, I purchased a manufactured home in need of a few repairs. Truthfully, it had really good bones, but was a dump. But I saw the potential in it and knew that with enough love, time, and renovation it would be a beautiful place to…

At age 28, I received a diagnosis that changed the way I saw myself. Learning that I had attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) felt like a missing puzzle piece finally clicking into place. Suddenly, everything that had once confused me about my life made sense: my struggles to stay engaged in tasks…

One of the most frequent questions I hear is, “How do I find community?” The question resonates deeply with me because, like many others in the bleeding disorders community, I’ve struggled with feeling isolated and misunderstood. Finding a sense of belonging has been a journey, one filled with trial…

In winter, when the trees no longer hold their leaves, and the cold and shorter days can make us feel like something has been lost, we can find in the peculiar evergreens a contrast to all those feelings of hopelessness. There is life still growing amid all that lifeless darkness,…

December not only marks the end of the year, but it’s also the time for my annual visit to the specialists at my regional hemophilia treatment center (HTC). I live more than two hours away from them, so I appreciate the convenience of telehealth appointments, which are far more…

As I write this column, it’s my 32nd wedding anniversary. I met my wife, Cazandra, when we were in college. At first, we didn’t get along because we’re pretty different people: She’s an introvert while I feed off other people’s energy. College friends continue to ask us if we’re…

I suddenly felt wet when I shouldn’t have. I ran to the bathroom and began pouring blood into the toilet, turning the water there a bright red. I gave myself an IV infusion of factor VIII, a protein I’m missing that’s necessary for blood to clot. As a result, the…

When someone we love is diagnosed with a chronic illness, our instincts often compel us to search for solutions: stricter routines, healthier diets, more discipline, or the willpower to push through. While self-help culture tends to praise these strategies, our family’s experience with chronic illness has shown that they can…