Hemophilia and Me
— Jennifer Lynne

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 Rare Blood Disease Summit in San Francisco last year, I was immediately drawn to Iván…

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 and disrupt daily activities, including school and athletics. When I was young, I didn’t realize my…

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 heavy menstrual bleeding can lead to iron loss. Women with hemophilia who experience heavy menstrual…

I live in the small town of Punta Gorda, Florida. Though I have hemophilia B and von Willebrand disease, I don’t know anyone here or in the surrounding Charlotte County with a bleeding disorder. While living in such a community can present challenges when dealing with…

Speaking at the Hemophilia Federation of America’s Mild Matters Summit last year, former Hemophilia News Today columnist Shellye Horowitz shared how her treatment plan changed after she researched the genetic variant that caused her hemophilia A. Although she’s classified as “mild,” her factor treatment…

Note: This column shares a woman’s self-described experience administering herself factor despite a doctor’s advice. Consult your doctor before starting or stopping any therapy. For the first time, I attended the Coalition for Hemophilia B’s annual symposium, held late last month in Dallas. It was an enriching experience where…

Last week, as I was leaving the Coalition for Hemophilia B’s annual symposium in Dallas, I found myself in an Uber headed to the airport. Usually, I wouldn’t discuss my bleeding disorders — hemophilia B and von Willebrand disease — with strangers, but a chance encounter…

I’ve generally had an all-or-nothing mindset when it comes to working out. In the past, anything under 30 minutes would feel like a waste of time. The problem with my fitness regimen has been sustainability and consistency. However, I’ve found that starting slowly and gradually building up has been effective…

The Hemophilia Federation of America recently hosted its annual symposium in Indianapolis. Despite my desire to attend, circumstances didn’t align for me this year. One of the event’s highlights was the debut of digital content agency Believe Limited‘s latest cinematic offering, “On the Shoulders of Giants,” now…

Several members of my family are diehard Purdue University basketball fans. This year was particularly exciting for them due to Purdue’s performance in the recent NCAA basketball tournament. During a gathering at their house on Easter Sunday, which included watching an important March Madness game, I gained insight…

As someone who typically sees the glass half full, I’ve found myself to be the go-to adviser for my nephews, especially when they’re having a full-blown panic attack, which unfortunately seem to be increasingly common among young people, at least in my family. Whether they’re venting about their jobs or…

Navigating social media for information about hemophilia and other health issues can produce mixed results, but amid the noise are shining beacons of knowledge and support. In honor of Bleeding Disorders Awareness Month, which is now coming to an end, the following are five exceptional social media accounts…