Becoming a parent changes everything in life. This was certainly true for my husband, Jared, who’d always dreamed of being a father, despite having severe hemophilia B and frequent seizures. When our daughter, Cittie, was born, that dream came to life, giving him more purpose and even improving…
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I have long admired the world-renowned ballerina Michaela DePrince. Like many others, I was captivated by her inspiring journey from being a war orphan in Sierra Leone to her rise as a star on the global dance stage. Tragically, DePrince recently died at the young age of 29, just one…
This year’s annual Bleeding Disorders Conference began a week ago in Atlanta and ended on Saturday. While it wasn’t my first such event, it brought several new opportunities. For one thing, as my wife, Cazandra, and I packed for the event, I felt mixed emotions. At recent conferences,…
I was honored to speak with my husband last week at the National Bleeding Disorders Foundation‘s annual Bleeding Disorders Conference, held this year in Atlanta. It was a memorable experience to share our story with fellow community members. While I’ve spoken at conferences nationwide for many years,…
Lately, I’ve been feeling burned out in my day job as a virtual assistant. While it helps pay the bills, the tasks are sometimes repetitive, and I often long for something that keeps me motivated for longer. Sustaining motivation is a constant challenge for me, as I’m diagnosed with attention-deficit/hyperactivity…
At 32, Ashley Zebley from Arkansas is no stranger to bleeding disorders. I recently interviewed her over the phone. Ashley explained that her father has severe hemophilia B, and both her maternal grandmother and great-grandmother exhibited bleeding problems, although neither was diagnosed with hemophilia. Ashley herself is a…
Many times, I find myself overwhelmed by the weight of my responsibilities, particularly when it comes to managing issues related to my sons’ hemophilia. The stress from different directions can be paralyzing, and I often grapple with anxiety about how to handle everything at once. The burden…
“Be prepared.” Scouts around the world have this motto ingrained in their hearts. While I was a Girl Scout for only a short time, this practice remains essential to me. I look ahead and consider the numerous ways a situation may manifest. As the mother of two sons with…
As a mom and piercing enthusiast, I’ve always looked forward to the day my daughter, Cittie, would want her ears repierced. They were pierced when she was a baby, but her curiosity back then led her to constantly play with her earrings, which caused an infection. Her father and my…
For those of us living with bleeding disorders, a critical question often looms large: In the event of an emergency, if we rush to the emergency room (ER), will the hospital administer our own factor treatment or will we be forced to use theirs? On the surface, it…
