My recent columns have focused on my experience at the National Bleeding Disorders Foundation’s (NBDF) annual Bleeding Disorders Conference, held Aug. 21-23 in Aurora, Colorado. I wrote about fun times with colleagues and new friends, and offered my gratitude to salespeople who truly care. I shared that my…

Usually, as the year comes to a close, we turn our attention to resolutions. It’s often a reflective time, when the prior year’s events and actions come under scrutiny. The most common resolution usually has something to do with health and fitness. But 2020 is far and away a different…

My son Caeleb called me last night, sounding stressed. “Dad, I have so much to do that I don’t know where to start,” my youngest son told me. “I have big projects due early next week in three of my classes, my knee is killing me, and I have…

I recently took a photo of my husband, Jared, looking after our daughter, Cittie. They were both snuggled up on a foam mattress laid out in front of the television. It was a sweet photo, but their perfect smiles and adorable cuddles obscured a dark reality: At the time, Jared…

Families who live with chronic illness have quickly learned to place trust in medical teams to determine the best course of action. If doctors and nurses suggest we quarantine, we may not like it, but we follow the guidelines, believing that the prescribed course of action will deliver the…

Advocacy is a beautiful thing. Many people find it fulfilling because it’s a way to show kindness to others while championing something close to one’s own heart. But advocacy isn’t always easy. I’ve come across some disability advocates whose dedication to the cause was tested by their experiences…

I will never forget the years when my youngest son lived in the hospital more than he did at home. The stress that we felt as a family threatened to break us and wear us down. Date nights with my wife gave way to tending to emergency medical…

CSL Plasma is donating $125,000 to the American Red Cross in an effort to help lessen the burden of natural disasters to local communities in the U.S., including areas that affect plasma donors and employees involved in the manufacturing of plasma-derived therapies. Plasma protein therapies are one of the…

Having a service dog can greatly enhance the life of someone living with a chronic disease. They allow patients to regain some of their independence by helping with small everyday tasks like opening and closing doors, fetching meds, acting as a prop or support as their owner stands, switching on lights and attracting attention…

Recently, I preached a sermon that focused on advocacy. The basis of the message came from the Gospel of Mark 6:53-56. In the Scripture passage, people carried their friends and loved ones on mats to Jesus’ feet so that those who suffered from illnesses could touch his garment and…