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After a decade of living alongside my husband, Jared, and his severe hemophilia B, I’ve learned that not all bleeding is as straightforward as it may seem. Bleeds vary widely, not just in size but in severity and impact. What might look minor can be excruciating, while larger bleeds,…

I can still feel the sting of frustration as I replay that night at the recent National Conference for Women and Teens with hemophilia in Detroit. The conference was a place of empowerment — a chance to connect, learn, and share experiences with others who live with hemophilia…

My oldest son, Julian, recently approached me and asked, “Dad, can you play this song for me on the piano? I have to post a singing audition tonight.” Panic filled my body. I responded, “Oh, Julian, this song has too many fast chord changes.” He walked away, trying to find…

As a woman with hemophilia, one of the greatest challenges I face is being believed. This challenge is multifaceted. First, I struggle to convince people that women can and do have hemophilia. Next, I have to explain that it’s possible for us to bleed like men with the…

When people hear about epilepsy, they often picture sudden, dramatic falls, frantic efforts to keep the person safe, and looming threats of injury. For my husband, Jared, these are indeed valid concerns. “What if he falls?” “What if he bumps his head?” These questions cross people’s minds — and…

This month, I attended One Drop, a “rare bleeding disorders consortium” hosted by Comprehensive Health Education Services (CHES) in Tampa, Florida. The event supported individuals and families with deficiencies of factor I, II, V, VII, X, XI, XIII as well as rare platelet disorders, such as Glanzmann thrombasthenia. Janet Brewer,…

When my oldest son, Julian, was 5, our paths crossed in the medical world. My wife, Cazandra, was out of town, and my boy and I were holding down the fort at home. Julian had hemophilia with a low-titer inhibitor and thus needed to infuse factor VIII every day.

Preparing for major spinal surgery has me feeling more than the usual pre-op jitters. There’s something more profound at work — a feeling that connects me to the years of watching my son Caeleb endure numerous surgeries as a result of complications from severe hemophilia with an inhibitor. Because…

Today, when girls and women struggle to obtain a hemophilia diagnosis and proper treatment, I am angry. We need to do better. A timely diagnosis is crucial, as delayed testing or treatment can endanger women — especially if they are in an accident that causes bleeding…

I’ve lately come to realize that pride and dignity are core values in my life, profoundly influencing my sense of self and my interactions with others. Although pride is sometimes seen as a negative trait, there’s a crucial distinction between healthy and unhealthy pride. The former allows us to feel…