Hemophilia and Me
— Jennifer Lynne

My mom passed away a few weeks ago. Over the past six years, it has been a great honor and privilege to be able to care for her. It was an opportunity to show love…

In the marketing world, we have a concept called the elevator pitch. An elevator pitch is a short, persuasive speech delivered in the time it takes to ride an elevator, hence the name. The…

As a person with von Willebrand disease (VWD) and hemophilia, bruises have been a near-constant presence in my life. VWD and hemophilia are bleeding disorders that affect the body’s ability to…

I’ve learned to expect the unexpected when dealing with my bleeding disorders. A few days ago, I took a bike ride with my twin nephews who were visiting from Wisconsin. My small city…

In September, I decided to revamp my pathetic and inconsistent fitness routine. In a moment of desperation, I ordered a Peloton bike. I needed to lose weight and was out of shape. Not…

Last year, I met Kayla Mack through a Facebook group for people with von Willebrand disease (VWD). Kayla has type 3, a severe form of the condition. She reached out to the group…

Christmas season has always been stressful for me. I live in Florida, but my family lives in the arctic tundra of Illinois and Wisconsin. I can’t understand why my mom and I travel north…

Last week, I set out in my car to donate some household items to Goodwill. I’ve been there probably a dozen times, but this time I drove past the Goodwill building twice. Why? Because…

Stephanie was my foster child in the ’90s. She was the cutest little girl on the planet. With curly, bright-red hair and freckles, she had a charisma and charm that were hard to ignore.

Hemophilia is a rare bleeding disorder. It leads to uncontrolled bleeding, hospitalizations, doctor visits, and the need for expensive medications. Bleeds result in costly absences from work and school. Receiving care at a…

Dear Hemophilia Dad, I am writing to you today to protect the health of your beloved daughter. Trust me, I know the struggles you encounter daily. In my mind, you are a superhero.

Kendall Fitzpatrick and I have much in common. Like me, she has hemophilia B and von Willebrand disease. She’s a registered nurse, works for a specialty pharmacy, and is an outspoken advocate…