Columns

As I write this, I’m battling my first major cough and cold since the COVID-19 pandemic started. Regular mask-wearing seems to have lowered our chances of getting sick, which is good. But now I’m no longer used to feeling ill. At the same time, my husband, Jared, is bedridden…

Dust off those backpacks, girls, it’s time for the school year to begin! When your daughter has hemophilia or another type of bleeding disorder, sending her to school can be overwhelming. But we’ve come a long way since my school days. Children today are fortunate to have access to…

Last Sunday, I preached about the idea of faith and how it informs our lives as we look toward the future. I drew from scripture to define my terms when speaking about the meaning of faith. According to the text, “Faith is the reality of what we hope for, the…

The age of 18 is when teens legally move from minor to adult status, becoming able to vote in the U.S. It’s also when kids graduate from high school and move on to the workforce or college. For me, 18 was not a milestone. It simply meant I was going…

My husband, Jared, and I are both in our late 20s. In a few months, Jared will be turning 30, and I will follow next year. I used to fear the day I would reach the big three-oh, but now I am excited. I view the 30s as a decade…

As a person with multiple bleeding disorders, I’m an expert at removing blood from many materials, including carpet, clothing, and furniture. Sometimes the blood wins and will ruin a new shirt. Although I’m in my 50s, a blood stain can still get the best of me, as happened last…

Earlier this week, I stopped the car and let my youngest son, Caeleb, out for his first day as a junior in high school. I looked at him and told him that I loved him and that this year could be the start of something extraordinary. His laugh let me…

My youngest son, Caeleb, is 16 and preparing to begin his junior year in high school. School has been difficult for him since before kindergarten. With complications from hemophilia and an inhibitor, he missed numerous days of school through his third-grade year, which caused him to…

My daughter’s nanny left last week for a two-week vacation to her hometown. Since then, my husband, Jared, and I have been getting by without an extra pair of hands to help with chores and childcare. So far, it’s been a tiring, albeit interesting, journey. Ever since we became a…

Hemophilia B and experimental gene therapy have been in the news lately. I was even surprised to hear a story on the topic while listening to my local NPR station. Hemophilia B is the less common form of the disorder that arises when a…