It’s important for anyone with a chronic illness to eat a balanced diet, but children and adults with hemophilia should also include iron-rich foods as some of the body’s store of iron is lost during bleeding. MORE: How diet can help with hemophilia management There are two different types of…

One of the challenges for individuals with hemophilia — whether severe, moderate, or mild — is bleeds. Often people with hemophilia will struggle with bleeds into their joints. The bleeds are painful and limit mobility. If left untreated, they can cause long-term damage, such as arthritis.

I’ve lived in New Mexico for 20 years, but I only recently visited the Loretto Chapel in Santa Fe. The chapel is known for its spiral staircase, built in 1878 with wooden pegs only, no nails. The staircase rises 22 feet to the choir loft without any central support.

At times I struggle with documenting my journey as a caregiver for a loved one with a bleeding disorder. I can’t offer medical advice because I am not an expert. The most I can do is share my experiences and hope that something I write might speak to someone…

A blood test to determine the amount of active factor IX — the clotting factor that is missing in hemophilia B — in patients ages 2 and older is now available in clinical labs in Canada, the European Union, Australia, and New Zealand. The test, called CRYOcheck Chromogenic…

Sometimes, conversations lead me to reveal that my boys have hemophilia. It is usually a harmless conversation without any agenda. However, I am not always sure how to reply when someone tells me how sorry they are to hear that my boys have an illness. It often depends on…

I work as a pastor in the United Methodist Church. One of the many challenges of participating in a denomination that calls ministers to move quite frequently in an itinerant system is the continuous upheaval regarding medical care. For those who live with chronic issues, picking up stakes and heading…

My husband, Jared, and I are both in our late 20s. In a few months, Jared will be turning 30, and I will follow next year. I used to fear the day I would reach the big three-oh, but now I am excited. I view the 30s as a decade…

We find ourselves in a delightful spot regarding hemophilia. My youngest boy’s last internal bleeding episode occurred nearly eight years ago. Using prophylactic treatment, we’re managing his bleeding disorder well. My older son, who struggled with breakthrough bleeding episodes despite using a recombinant factor VIII product, now finds…

I will not baby my husband. I will not carry all the weight on my shoulders just because he is “sick.” His disability does not mean that he is brittle. He has the capacity to grow, develop, and become more resilient over time. But that is something he won’t be able…