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Focusing on Myself to Stay Sane

My husband is down with a bleed for the second time since the COVID-19 quarantine began.   It hasn’t even been a week since he recovered from his latest abdominal bleed. We were only starting to settle back into our usual routine. I was happy to…

The Lure of the Open Road

“A River Runs Through It” is one of my favorite movies, but calling it that doesn’t conjure up just how deeply I feel about it. This movie is more than a favorite — it is like a cherished dream. With Robert Redford’s voice richly narrating the story of…

Caring for Yourself Is Not a Selfish Act

I can’t complain too much about my quarantine life. In my home are my husband, Joe, and 14-year-old son, Caeleb. There’s also my 14-year-old spunky, one-eyed, geriatric Corgi mix, Betty. I don’t have to worry about homeschooling little children or entertaining anyone. This is a good thing. But…

My Husband Is Starting a Bleeding Journal

My husband, Jared, has a new resolution: to start keeping a bleeding journal. In his journal, Jared plans to write about recent bleeding episodes. Each entry will describe the sensation of a particular bleed, the affected area of the body, and steps he took to nurse the injury back to…

In Times of Crisis, Hope Reigns Supreme

With all the issues surrounding the new coronavirus, I can’t help remembering about 15 years ago when we faced the possibilities of a medical shortage in the bleeding disorders community. A shortage of factor VIII meant that many in the hemophilia population faced a lack of medicine…

I’m Learning to Be Grateful Despite Quarantine

Our world is changing. Shelves are partially stocked, hugging friends is discouraged, church services are online, and we study and work remotely. We crave connection. Things will improve eventually, but that seems a lifetime away. Finding routines and things in our lives that are “normal” is not always easy,…

Finding Gratitude in My COVID-19 World

COVID-19 has upended our lives. It is hard. As an individual with a chronic condition, I find myself worrying about how it will affect me in ways that may be different from those of my neighbors or co-workers without chronic conditions. Thankfully, the hemophilia community has…

Mama Bears, It’s Time to Take Action

A few weeks ago, the news media broadcasted a video of Jill Biden — spouse of presidential hopeful and former vice president Joe Biden — physically blocking a protester in California from coming into contact with her husband. Not only did Jill put herself in between her husband and the…

Making Lasting Memories While in Isolation

As an introvert, coronavirus isolation is not problematic for me. I have plenty of projects to keep me busy. My graduate schoolwork is online, and the normalcy of school has been nice during these uncertain times. I hear about people who have a hard time in isolation, and honestly,…