The pain that accompanied my periods was excruciating, exacerbated by my two bleeding disorders, hemophilia B and von Willebrand disease. I vividly recall my gynecologist explaining that during a bleeding episode, the severity of my clots and bleeding was comparable to giving birth during menstruation, and thus it…

The Hemophilia Federation of America (HFA) is now offering a “clinical trial finder” to help people with hemophilia and other bleeding disorders more easily connect with the studies they are eligible for. The platform enables visitors to search across all clinical trials, regardless of sponsor, for key…

“Save the best for last” has been one of my major life philosophies since childhood. Growing up, I’d hoard beautiful pens, colored pencil sets, and other art materials. I’d use the cheap ones first while keeping the best ones in a drawer. I have attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, so I tend to…

My family has rented an Airbnb for a week in Las Cruces, New Mexico. We decided to take a few days for ourselves before turning our attention to the reason for our trip: Through Friday, my wife and I, both pastors, are participating in the yearly meeting of the…

My 4-year-old daughter, Cittie, recently invented a song about her dad. It’s sung to a tune that’s quite popular in children’s short videos, with the words “Daddy is a bleedy boy.” When my husband, Jared, heard it for the first time, he cracked up. He’s often referred to himself as…

Last week proved a time of celebration in the MacDonald house as my oldest son, Julian, came home to spend a few days with our family before going to Big Bend Ranch State Park for the summer. He successfully auditioned for his first paid acting gig in the show “…

Last Friday, I had the honor of presiding over the funeral of my aunt Joyce. As I started to speak, I asked those attending to remember a particular date in 1973 when we, the family, celebrated the wedding of my uncle Pat. Everyone was dancing, and joy just filled…

Note: This column describes the author’s own experiences with Mounjaro (tirzepatide). Not everyone will have the same response to treatment. Consult your doctor before starting or stopping a therapy. Confession time. Since November, I’ve been injecting the medication Mounjaro (tirzepatide) once a week to help me lose weight.

My youngest son, Caeleb, and I recently saw an outstanding production of the musical “Hamilton.” As we watched the performers onstage, I glanced at my son and saw his face glued to the action. He appeared entranced by the dancers and singers moving across the stage with catlike precision.

Pain can alter people’s behavior, causing them to act out in unusual ways. People experiencing a severe degree of pain may hurt others emotionally or physically, often without meaning to. They might say demeaning things to their caregivers while in the throes of pain, even if they’re normally calm,…