“Mom, I want to visit somewhere famous!” “Sweetie,” I replied to my youngest child, “We live in one of the most famous cities in the world.” Exasperated, she chirped back, “But it doesn’t feel famous.” A few months later, our family took a cruise. We started in Genoa, Italy, sailed…
The Forgotten Factor - a Column by G Shellye Horowitz
In the spring of 2025, I set out to create a piece of art depicting both the challenges and the beauty of navigating treatment for hemophilia A. However, soon after I started the piece, my health plummeted, and I could no longer focus on art. Over the course of…
Artificial intelligence (AI) in healthcare? You’ve got to be kidding me! What a ridiculous idea! That sounds horrifying. We don’t want computers diagnosing us; we want trained, experienced professionals who can think for themselves. As someone with hemophilia, I felt this way. Strongly. Until last week. As I’ve mentioned…
In recent years, there has been a massive shift in the understanding that female hemophilia carriers can indeed have the condition themselves. Fellow Hemophilia News Today columnist Jennifer Lynne and I both write regularly about the struggles women with hemophilia face, though more are now being properly diagnosed…
I don’t get headaches often, but when I do, I absolutely hate them. They can be particularly worrisome for a person with hemophilia. Because I am not prone to headaches, it is a bit disconcerting when I get one. Having hemophilia A means I am often worried about…
When I was in the fifth grade, I’d look in the mirror every morning and hate who I saw. I believed I was ugly, unpopular, and weird, and the hand-me-down clothes I wore made me look different. I’d say horrible things to myself, like, “You really are a dog.” I…
I once arrived late to an event and offered no explanation. I’d been standing at my door, ready to go, when I realized I needed to infuse factor VIII before I could proceed safely. Because I have hemophilia, I infuse factor every 48 hours to prevent bleeding. I use…
Editor’s note: This story includes discussion of sexual abuse. If you or someone you know needs help, the RAINN national sexual assault hotline in the U.S. is available 24/7 by calling 1-800-656-4673 or texting HOPE to 64673. There is also an online chat at rainn.org/help-and-healing/hotline. Internationally, the University of…
Editor’s note: This story includes discussion of sexual abuse. If you or someone you know needs help, the RAINN national sexual assault hotline in the U.S. is available 24/7 by calling 1-800-656-4673 or texting HOPE to 64673. There is also an online chat at rainn.org/help-and-healing/hotline. Internationally, the University of…
I recently wrote a paper that compared how different religious traditions address bleeding disorders, starting with where they are mentioned in sacred texts. The study of theology is one of my many interests. As someone who identifies as a polysectarian (I’m connected to two religions, both of which often demand…
