“It looks like a murder scene every time.” “I place multiple towels under me and make sure they’re a dark color.” “I gave up on towels and turned to doggie pee pads, which protect my bed better!” I’ve heard countless women share such quotes and more when we gather at…

March is Bleeding Disorders Awareness Month (BDAM), and patients, caregivers, advocates, and supporters are working together to call attention to and provide resources for coping with the bleeding disorders estimated to affect more than 3 million people in the U.S. Bleeding disorders such as hemophilia, von Willebrand disease, and…

There’s a saying that’s been on my mind a lot lately: “Action is the antidote to anxiety.” It resonates deeply, especially in our household, where uncertainty is part of daily life. My husband, Jared, has severe hemophilia B and epilepsy — two conditions that bring unique challenges. Together, they…

Last night, I had very little left in the tank. The past few weeks have brought unique challenges and responsibilities that left me weary. As I started thinking about my column for this week, I realized how much time I’ve spent writing about when my children were small. But what…

Note: This column describes the author’s own experiences with getting three vaccines at once. Not everyone will have the same response to treatment.   I consider myself quite adept at managing my bleeding disorders, von Willebrand disease and hemophilia B. Decades of experience have taught me how to…

As my family started contemplating the people and routines we’ll leave behind in our upcoming job change and move, my thoughts turned to one routine in particular: For over 12 years, I’ve visited my therapist regularly. Her support was a beacon of hope in some of the darkest times;…

Some people get birthday blues. Jared got a birthday bruise. So we found ourselves heading to a café to get some birthday brews. — A rhyme by yours truly My husband, Jared, celebrated his 32nd birthday on Jan. 13. A couple of days before that, he had a run-in with…

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…