For most of my life, “tired” was the only word I had, and it was never enough. I’d say it to doctors the way you’d mention the weather — a fact so ordinary it wasn’t worth writing down. And mostly, it wasn’t. Tired was normal. Heavy periods were normal. Being…
Columns
My sons, Julian and Caeleb, were both diagnosed with hemophilia as babies. Although they’re 10 years apart, each diagnosis was overwhelming and affected my wife, Cazandra, and me differently. I remember feeling helpless, not knowing anyone who had the slightest idea how to manage a bleeding disorder. For the…
I grew up in a mostly white suburb of Houston. My dad, who was of Mexican descent and had dark skin, spoke English as his second language. He worked hard, went to school, and earned both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in education from the University of Texas. He became…
I don’t usually ask myself whether I want something. I ask whether I can justify wanting it. Is it practical? Financially responsible? Useful enough? Meaningful enough? Will I regret spending the money? Could I explain the decision to someone else without sounding irresponsible? I suspect many care partners know this…
When I was in high school, I wasn’t just excused from gym class; I was prohibited from participating in every sport except swimming. While my classmates learned volleyball, basketball, and track, I sat on the sidelines because my bleeding disorders made physical activity too risky. At the time, I accepted…
Note: This column was updated July 2, 2026, to correct the year of the author’s hospitalization for iliopsoas bleeding to this year. Having severe hemophilia A means everything can be life-threatening. In February, I had a tooth extraction that required sedation after a year of preparation. It took that…
I woke up on Saturday morning and struggled to stand upright. My back had given out, and I could hardly take a step forward. Sunday morning was no better, but I had to prepare for worship, so I was determined to get dressed, get to church, and fulfill my duties…
I have two dogs, Laggie and Hildie, that are a mix of border collie and Australian shepherd. They’re 5 years old and came from the same litter, even sharing the same sac, which is pretty rare. Laggie looks more like a border collie, while Hildie takes after the Australian shepherd…
When I first started writing for Hemophilia News Today in 2018, I never imagined it would become part of my career. At the time, I was a young woman preparing for marriage and trying to make sense of life with hemophilia. I had stories to tell, lessons to…
My son Julian posted a picture on Facebook this week that took my breath away. I had to look at it twice to make sure it was really him. In the photo, he was sitting on large rocks on the shore, water swirling around his feet, his hands open as…
