Columns

There was a time when I couldn’t make plans because hemophilia was the center of my life. Vacations were dreams, family outings were few and far between, and the mundane happenings of everyday life were nonexistent. There was no sense of complacency. Every waking moment was consumed with the…

As a woman affected by the bleeding disorders hemophilia B and von Willebrand disease, I realize that increasing awareness about bleeding disorders in undiagnosed women and girls is essential. All women should be aware of the symptoms of a bleeding disorder and be tested if warranted. Bleeding disorders, even mild…

This week marks a change of seasons in the life of the church. With Ash Wednesday, Christians worldwide enter a time of Lent, a season of 40 days before Easter, to contemplate and discover the story of hope and how we find deliverance from the darkest parts of our…

March is Bleeding Disorders Awareness Month, when patients and families who live with bleeding disorders post facts on social media and share their stories to educate those with little understanding of how a chronic illness affects daily life. I have participated in numerous events to educate the community, and this…

I recently started seeing a psychiatrist again to confirm the state of my mental health. Though I haven’t been experiencing any serious symptoms lately, I thought it might be good to stay on track with my checkups. Thankfully, my new doctor offered me flexible payment terms, which encouraged me even…

Instead of Powerball, I have won the rare bleeding disorder lottery. I have von Willebrand disease and hemophilia B, a less common form of hemophilia that arises when a blood-clotting protein called factor IX is missing or deficient. My diagnoses are rare within a rare community. I often feel like a…

I will never forget the years when my youngest son lived in the hospital more than he did at home. The stress that we felt as a family threatened to break us and wear us down. Date nights with my wife gave way to tending to emergency medical…

My Facebook friends fall into a few categories: biological family, colleagues and friends from my music and teaching days, high school and college friends and teachers, and my “bleedin’ folk” family. Raising two sons with severe hemophilia is a blessing because of the people in my life (I work…

It’s election season here in the Philippines, and two presidential candidates, both with large bases of support, are going head-to-head. In light of this, I came across a social media post reminding people to get out of their “echo chambers” and make their voices heard during this election cycle. The…

I recently attended a webinar called “Impact of Factor 8 on Bone Mineralization,” sponsored by Factor My Way, a patient support program. It featured Claudio Sandoval, MD, who has over 30 years of experience treating people with bleeding disorders and is passionate about bone health, an often overlooked aspect of…