Columns

I thought the worst days were behind me in helping my youngest son navigate his bleeding disorder. Caeleb is 16 years old and a junior in high school. During his younger years, an inhibitor wreaked havoc on my son, causing extreme complications and joint bleeds that took an…

My husband, Jared, and I are currently in the process of looking for preschools for our daughter, Cittie. She’s almost 4, but sometimes she acts and speaks as if she’s much older. Cittie often tells us that she wants to go to school. Although we refuse to rush her…

“It’s my party, and I’ll cry if I want to, cry if I want to, cry if I want to. You would cry too if it happened to you.” On Sept. 6, my birthday, this 1963 Lesley Gore song, “It’s My Party,” played in a continuous…

This morning, I took my 16-year-old son, Caeleb, to physical therapy at Carrie Tingley Hospital in Albuquerque, New Mexico. He continues to experience recurring pains from past internal bleeding episodes in his right knee and ankle. The goal is to find the source of the pain and a…

The internet is overflowing with life hacks that can make tasks easier. From using a plastic knife to cleanly cut brownies to using pillowcases to clean ceiling fan blades, there are hundreds of tricks to help people solve problems. For example, I recently grabbed a roll of Press’n Seal…

Last week, I visited an outstanding church member in a local hospital. When I arrived, I saw a friend in the lobby, looked into her eyes, and knew that something was dreadfully wrong. She explained that her baby suffered unexplained medical issues and required immediate care. Parents whose children are…

I’ve never met a parent who enjoys the school drop-off. It’s frustrating when someone doesn’t follow protocol and stops without moving their vehicle to the front of the drop-off zone, thereby forcing everyone behind them to wait. And in my experience, the line forms at least half an hour before…

Shared decision-making in healthcare was a topic at the National Hemophilia Foundation’s Bleeding Disorders Conference I attended virtually last week. Shared decision-making means you have a voice and your overall well-being should be considered as part of any treatment plan. We think of medicine as a science. But as…

As I entered my son’s bedroom this morning to turn on his light and wake him up, I heard him say a phrase that sent shivers down my spine. Caeleb, my boy, said, “Dad, my ankle hurts.” My first instinct wanted to allow him extra time to get himself together.

A recent news story caught my attention. The report highlighted local athletes who unfortunately sustained injuries while serving in the military. These amazing women and men play basketball, tennis, and several other sports while in wheelchairs. Watching these phenomenal veterans play with determination and the physical prowess of professional athletes…