Emergency preparedness is a broad and crucial topic, especially for those of us in the bleeding disorders community. With natural disasters becoming more frequent and severe across the U.S. — think of the Los Angeles wildfires — planning ahead is more important than ever. As a Florida resident, I’ve experienced…

When our oldest son, Julian, was about 6 years old, the hemophilia treatment center (HTC) in Houston invited my wife, Cazandra, and me to participate in a program that changed our lives. It was called Parents Empowering Parents, better known as PEP in the bleeding disorders community. Created by social…

My husband, Jared, often spent his childhood navigating two very different worlds. In one, he was a regular kid with big dreams and boundless imagination. In the other, he was a young boy living with severe hemophilia B, which meant being confined to hospital beds for weeks while receiving…

On Monday, my youngest son, Caeleb, will begin his second semester as a freshman at the University of New Mexico. Last night he asked me if I had a few minutes to talk. I might not be the sharpest tool in the shed, but when my 18-year-old asks outright for…

My husband, Jared, lives with severe hemophilia B and a seizure disorder. Despite these challenges, he’s active in ways that many people wouldn’t expect. He swims, lifts weights, and plays badminton. He can also keep up with our 5-year-old daughter, who is a huge ball of energy. We recently…

Many of us resume our schedules after the holidays, when we start a new year. We recommit ourselves to following a health plan or finding ways to let go of past hurts. Just to be clear, I didn’t say New Year’s resolutions. When we decide to redirect unhealthy behavior and…

At age 28, I received a diagnosis that changed the way I saw myself. Learning that I had attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) felt like a missing puzzle piece finally clicking into place. Suddenly, everything that had once confused me about my life made sense: my struggles to stay engaged in tasks…

One of the most frequent questions I hear is, “How do I find community?” The question resonates deeply with me because, like many others in the bleeding disorders community, I’ve struggled with feeling isolated and misunderstood. Finding a sense of belonging has been a journey, one filled with trial…

In winter, when the trees no longer hold their leaves, and the cold and shorter days can make us feel like something has been lost, we can find in the peculiar evergreens a contrast to all those feelings of hopelessness. There is life still growing amid all that lifeless darkness,…

I’ll open this column with a riddle for you. Question: How can you tell you’re at a bleeding disorders conference? Answer: Beautiful business casual clothing and sensible shoes! I’ve had a love-hate relationship with shoes over my lifetime. From a very early age, my parents and pediatrician noticed my ankles…