Columns

Second in a series. Read part one. The birth of our oldest son, Julian, was a milestone event in our lives. After all the excitement and drama of that stormy June evening in 1996, things calmed down for the rest of the night. My wife, Cazandra, rested in her…

Even now, I hesitate to tell doctors I have hemophilia. I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve been met with blank stares, skepticism, or outright dismissal. Instead, I’ve learned to say, “I have a bleeding disorder.” It’s safer. It avoids the uncomfortable silence, the subtle smirk, or the…

I am in a video game. My mission: Fight the medical bureaucracy and access care. I must complete three levels and capture the golden key, which unlocks a fortress where healthcare is obtained. I’m stuck on Level 2. No matter what I try, I can’t gather the tools to unlock…

First in a series. My story starts on a hot and humid night in June 1996 in Houston. As my wife, Cazandra, and I entered the hospital, we couldn’t help but notice the storm gathering outside. We approached the check-in counter, and I explained to the attendant that…

The summer months bring relentless heat. In the desert of New Mexico, where we live, the thermometer often hits triple digits. While some people love the heat, others tolerate it, seeking shelter in the shade of a tree or in an air-conditioned area. Staying cool isn’t just a…

I receive an email saying the test results from my second bone density scan are in. Shaking and holding my breath, I click on the link and sign into my patient chart. I am exhausted. As I continue to wait for insurance to approve a trial of my fourth factor…

Living with hemophilia and epilepsy has shaped much of my husband’s life — but fatherhood transformed it. Before our daughter was born, Jared, my husband, already carried the weight of two chronic conditions. He’d long made peace with a life of calculated risks, limited physical activity, and the unpredictability…

When I was diagnosed with hemophilia B and von Willebrand disease in the 1970s, I was just 10 years old. Back then, most people didn’t believe girls could have hemophilia. I was told that my “deep blood” didn’t clot properly and sent on my way. Bleeding…

At 6 p.m., Monday through Friday, my television is faithfully tuned to “Jeopardy!” The theme song and sounds of the buzzers usher in a comforting ritual each night that’s part of my home. “Jeopardy!” is a long-running quiz show where contestants are given the answers and must respond with a…

I groggily sat up in the hospital bed, sipped some water, and stared into the distance. Suddenly, a nurse pointed at my gown and shouted, “You’re bleeding!” But I’d taken so many painkillers that I barely reacted. This was 2003, when I had laparoscopic surgery to treat endometriosis.