A dreary day is unusual in the desert of New Mexico, where we live. When it happens, the sky opens, releasing a much-needed downpour of liquid gold. The dry ground is soaking up this scarce commodity. It’s a bad hair day for many who aren’t used to double-digit humidity, and…

The holiday season means different things for different people. Wrapping presents, taking a family vacation, or simply baking cookies are some of the activities that bring people happiness during this time. Regardless of a person’s faith, tradition, or experience, the holidays are meant to bring joy, love, hope, and…

I often put myself in uncomfortable situations, especially when the health and well-being of my sons are at risk. There was a time when my youngest son, Caeleb, 17, was in the hospital more than he was at home. During those years, dealing with his hemophilia and inhibitor became…

I’m a hospice chaplain, and one day I was at the nurses’ station, completing my notes from a patient visit, when the fire alarm sounded. Startled, I turned to the nurse, who said the alarm had been going off all day due to a system glitch. The piercing, unrelenting sound…

The first gene therapy for adults with hemophilia B — branded as Hemgenix (etranacogene dezaparvovec) — has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Meant to be a one-time treatment, Hemgenix is expected to keep bleeding in check in the long term, while also allowing patients…

When you are around someone day in and day out, there are things that you don’t notice. A few pounds lost, a change in mood, or even a change in their daily habits. My 14-year-old son Caeleb has endured quite a bit of trauma over the years as a result…

Last week, my husband had another random bleed in an extremely unfortunate location: his iliopsoas muscle group. It started as a lump on his hip, which he didn’t initially think much of because bruises with swelling are common among people with hemophilia. He didn’t realize it was another bleeding…

I cut my thumb above my knuckle a few weeks ago. It didn’t seem like a big deal, but five Band-Aids later, I began to wonder. A few hours later, I noticed my knuckle was swollen, painful, and a bit blue. My thumb wouldn’t bend, and the swelling extended down…

Affirmation: one word with significant connotations. From the day we come into this world, we seek an acknowledgment that our presence on this planet matters. To be affirmed by those around us reinforces the idea that our contributions to our community hold special significance. When we hear others give…

A newly identified class of stem cells in blood vessels, called vascular endothelial stem cells, were able to repair injured vessels and ease bleeding symptoms in a mouse model of hemophilia, researchers at Osaka University in Japan report, suggesting these cells may treat this bleeding disorder. The vascular endothelial stem cells, or VESCs,…