There is a moment in every person’s journey when they realize that their story is messy, complicated, and imperfect — and it holds more power than they ever imagined. Living with a bleeding disorder often means navigating a world that doesn’t fully understand what we face. We can feel isolated…

I am a staunch advocate of equality. From a very young age, I was taught that all people are valuable, regardless of their race, ethnicity, social status, gender, or health status. I was brought up to believe that human beings have certain immutable and inviolable rights. Eventually, I learned…

XaTek announced that it has raised $9.1 million to advance the development of ClotChip — a portable test designed to rapidly analyze, using  a single drop of blood, the ability of a person’s blood to clot. The capital was raised in a series A financing round, which marks a company’s first significant…

Sixteen years from symptoms to diagnosis. This statistic is quoted incessantly among women with bleeding disorders, describing the treacherous diagnostic journey we often endure. But what many don’t realize is that this figure came from one study of 75 women diagnosed with von Willebrand disease (VWD) who were registered…

I recently scheduled a consultation with a psychiatrist after years of trying to manage my mental health without professional help. Since I was a teenager, I’ve dealt with chronic mental health issues that manifested in bothersome ways. In the past, I had difficulty sleeping, disordered eating, and fluctuating moods. I…

I have a number of friends working as financial advisors. From time to time, they offer me life insurance policies, stock market deals, and other similar investments. As a young mom and businesswoman, I am right within their target market. I take interest in all sorts of financial tools…

My husband, Jared, recently celebrated his birthday. Hooray for 29 years of fighting and surviving! He opted for a low-key celebration at home with me, our daughter, Cittie, and her nanny. Because it was a weekday and I had to work, we didn’t have much time to do anything particularly…

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…

I love the months of October and November. Leaves change colors, and the air is crisp and cool. It also is the season when we take a moment to count our blessings. I am referring to the things that bring us joy. Sometimes in our chaos with chronic illness, we…

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…