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I’m sitting at my desk at work, focusing on projects I must accomplish before the day ends, when suddenly my ringtone fills the room with the song “Defying Gravity” from the Broadway musical “Wicked.” I see that my oldest son, Julian, is calling me. I smile when I…

Raising two sons with severe hemophilia A has been a journey filled with ups and downs, joys and fears. I lived in constant fear when my first son, Julian, was a baby. Not only was I concerned about feedings, diaper changes, and making sure he was breathing in…

This past week has been a whirlwind of activity for our family. My husband, Jared, who has severe hemophilia B, experienced a knee bleed that required careful management. But that didn’t stop him from fulfilling his responsibilities around the house and making progress with his budding bottled food business.

This Father’s Day, as we celebrate the role of fathers in our lives, I can think of no one more deserving of recognition in our bleeding disorders community than Iván Girón. At Genentech’s Rare Blood Disease Summit in San Francisco last year, I was immediately drawn to Iván…

Picture this: I’ve finally settled down for some peace and quiet with my wife. I’m holding a nice glass of wine, and she’s sitting in her favorite rocking chair. Our two boys have found refuge in their bedrooms, and all seems right in the world. I turn to Cazandra…

My youngest son, Caeleb, recently graduated from high school and, at 18, is legally recognized as an adult. This milestone brings a host of new responsibilities and rights: He can vote, buy and sell property, sue or be sued, and enter into binding contracts. Despite all our preparation for…

I cannot stress enough how profoundly heavy menstrual bleeding can impact everyday life. Imagine needing to find a bathroom nearly every hour, seven days a week. It can make certain career choices extremely challenging and disrupt daily activities, including school and athletics. When I was young, I didn’t realize my…

For the last two weeks, my family has celebrated a significant milestone for my youngest son, Caeleb. He graduated high school and now looks forward to life as a college freshman. My boy is excited about this new adventure. While I’m grateful that he celebrated a mountaintop experience, I…

Before I became a parent, I never imagined I’d be finding veins and accessing ports. But after my sons were born with severe hemophilia A with inhibitors, my husband and I quickly learned the basics of caregiving, by God’s grace. Over the years, people have said, “Cazandra,…

Good mental health is crucial for caregivers of people with chronic illnesses. As a wife to someone with severe hemophilia B and epilepsy, I’ve seen firsthand how mental health matters to both patient and caregiver. I have to balance my husband’s needs with my own physical and…