Columns

I am an advocate, born and bred. Being an advocate is simply part of my DNA. Even when I was a young girl, seeing someone be mistreated or experience prejudice angered me. The years have taught me how to fight my battles and fight for others, but when my first…

Mistakes can be costly. The damage of a single mistake can cost a few dollars or an entire livelihood. In an ideal world, we’d learn our lessons before we had the chance to make any mistakes. That way, we could avoid ever making them. It’s like going to school,…

Many years ago, when my youngest son was 11 months old, he was hospitalized during the Christmas season due to hemophilia complications. We enjoyed the different community groups, such as performing arts groups, school groups, and church ministries, that came to share a tiny part of the holidays with…

I love a good laugh. When things are terrible and the world seems to be imploding, a well-timed joke or story can completely change the direction of the day. I am grateful to live in a home that is filled with love and laughter. I can count on…

Last Sunday, I preached about a blind man named Bartimaeus. The people told the blind beggar to arise and go to Jesus, who wished to see him. It dawned on me that the people surrounding the man functioned as his advocates. Upon hearing the words of Jesus, the crowd…

I live with depression, anxiety, and chronic pain, and I rely on talk therapy at least once a month to keep my emotional well-being in check. The process of talking through my emotions and trusting a professional to give me new perspectives on the issues I deal with brings…

I recently took a photo of my husband, Jared, looking after our daughter, Cittie. They were both snuggled up on a foam mattress laid out in front of the television. It was a sweet photo, but their perfect smiles and adorable cuddles obscured a dark reality: At the time, Jared…

“L’hitraot” is a word I learned while living in Israel. It is a gentle way to say goodbye, essentially meaning “see you later.” I am transitioning to a new job at a nonprofit organization, and this will be my last column here at Hemophilia News Today. It has been an…

I sit waiting for my youngest son to complete an MRI of his right ankle. He has been overwhelmed with pain from constant breakthrough bleeding episodes. For a while, recombinant factor VIII was working to treat his hemophilia and we were euphoric, but we soon learned that internal…

I use a handicapped placard for my youngest son, Caeleb, who has hemophilia and deals with complications from the clotting factor used to treat his illness, which causes him to have pain. Caeleb, 15, participates in his school’s marching band and practices after school four days a week. At the…