Hemophilia and Me
— Jennifer Lynne

What do all the people with bleeding disorders I’ve interviewed for this column have in common? Each of them has a story about certain doctors not listening to them. I have a story…

The 2024 Paris Olympics have been a mesmerizing spectacle of human achievement and have captivated my attention for more hours than I care to admit. Sacrificing sleep to witness the gymnastics finals live was…

I met Jennifer Hastie last year at the Hemophilia Federation of America’s Mild Matters Summit in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Along with two of her three daughters, Jennifer has von Willebrand disease (VWD)…

Priscilla Oren, a member of the hemophilia community, recently shared her family’s history with me. Her son was a victim of the “hemophilia holocaust” in the 1980s. During that time, many people…

I spent part of a day this week trapped in my condo’s elevator. Since Hurricane Ian hit my town of Punta Gorda, Florida, in September 2022, the elevator has been temperamental, frequently trapping…

Feet and ankle problems are common for people with bleeding disorders, including hemophilia B and von Willebrand disease. As someone living with these conditions, I’m no stranger to these challenges. I…

The past two weeks have been a whirlwind of activity for me, highlighted by two significant events. First, I attended an event in Washington, D.C., called “Voices of Hemophilia,” which was sponsored by the…

Saying no has always been a challenge for me. I tend to overcommit, take on too many tasks, and then feel resentful toward the people or activities I didn’t want to engage with in…

I first met Kim Phelan, chief operating officer of The Coalition for Hemophilia B, in person at a recent symposium in Dallas. From the moment we spoke, I was in awe…

This Father’s Day, as we celebrate the role of fathers in our lives, I can think of no one more deserving of recognition in our bleeding disorders community than Iván Girón. At Genentech’s…

I cannot stress enough how profoundly heavy menstrual bleeding can impact everyday life. Imagine needing to find a bathroom nearly every hour, seven days a week. It can make certain career choices extremely challenging…

Iron deficiency has been a hot topic at the online hemophilia summits I’ve attended recently, and it’s encouraging to see this important issue being addressed. Hemophilia doesn’t directly cause iron deficiency, but…