Columns

2019 Was Rough, So I’m Embracing a New Year

With 2019 behind us, it’s time for everyone to start anew and welcome 2020 into their lives. It’s hard to be fond of 2019 considering the impact my chronic illness had on my life. I spent practically a third of the year on bed rest because of severe…

Remembering the Diagnosis

I received an email from a friend I hadn’t heard from in some time. She told me that her nephew and his wife just had a baby and he has been diagnosed with hemophilia. She had ordered my book to send to her niece and was hoping I would…

The Joys of an Occasional Reprieve

I’d been sick with acute respiratory troubles for almost a week. Not a minute had gone by without a sniffle or a sneeze. My sinuses had been painful and horribly congested, my throat inflamed, and my stomach upset due to the collection of phlegm in my digestive tract. (Don’t get…

I’m Thankful for Lessons Learned

My family entered the hemophilia community more than 23 years ago with the birth of my oldest son. During our time with the bleeding disorders community, my wife and I learned to access ports, treat and perform peripheral sticks, and negotiate difficult circumstances. We did not receive a manual…

Enjoying the Gifts and Counting Our Blessings

As early as September, colorful Christmas lights adorn all sorts of spaces in the Philippines. Families begin decorating their homes and stores start to roll out out holiday promotions: holiday-themed drinks, planners for collecting stickers — you name it. At the onset of such traditions, one can feel the so-called…

Moving from Darkness into Light

This month has brought a holiday rush of hemophilia news on potential new treatments, studies, and acquisitions — all of which serve to raise hope during this solstice season, as we move past the shortest day of the year. Solstice can be a…

A Quick Look Backward Before Moving Forward

As the year draws to a close, I cannot help but review the successes and failures of the past 12 months. How do I continue to honor the many roles that I play as a husband, father, caregiver, and pastor? Where is there room for improvement? How can I improve…