Dear Younger Self, Congratulations! You’ve found a person who’ll stick with you for life. What a blessing! Jared happens to have hemophilia B and a seizure disorder, and you’re going to be his carer. Big deal, right? I’m sure you’re feeling brave and unfazed now, as is…
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People with hemophilia experience prolonged bleeding, even from minor injuries, and may also experience spontaneous bleeding into joints, muscles, and other organs. These bleeds can cause pain, joint damage, and other complications, making pain management an essential aspect of hemophilia care. To alleviate intermittent pain, I employ…
My oldest son, Julian, called me last Saturday evening with exciting news. He successfully auditioned to sing in a cabaret with a New York-based theater group. He’ll perform a solo at a West 34th Street theater near Times Square on June 26. I could feel the excitement through the phone…
When my sons were little, there were always mountains of laundry. How could such a tiny human go through so many onesies? There were dozens of little socks to be matched, stains to be treated, and hundreds of pieces of clothing to be folded. It was never-ending. There were weeks…
It usually starts as an innocent question in an attempt to make friendly conversation with my husband, Jared, and me. “So, how’s Jared? How’s his health?” Those who ask this question are often aware that Jared has hemophilia B and a seizure disorder. But not everyone knows how…
Historically, hemophilia has been viewed as a disease that affects men and boys, which has led to significant gender bias against women with the disease in research, diagnosis, and treatment. As a result, there’s a lack of awareness and understanding of how hemophilia affects women and…
When my youngest son, Caeleb, was 5 years old, he participated in our church’s yearly Easter egg hunt. We divided the children into younger and older categories to help even the playing field. The smaller church members started first, gathering as many eggs as they could find. After the little…
It’s bluebonnet season in Texas. The state flower crawls across the hillsides and along the roads, bringing a vibrant blue to the landscape. People flock to the most prominent patches to sit among the flowers and capture pictures. It’s a Texas tradition. The last time I took pictures in a…
Lately, I’ve been reading a great deal of news about Hemgenix (etranacogene dezaparvovec), a one-time gene therapy approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration last November for adults with hemophilia B. Hemgenix, which also was approved by the European Commission in February, was found in…
Significant disparities in access to hemophilia treatment exist around the world. In general, people with hemophilia can live a relatively normal life if their condition is properly managed and they have access to appropriate medical care. However, in developing countries, access to adequate treatment and medical care can…
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