Lately I’ve been pondering how to achieve long-term happiness and fulfillment while managing finances and chronic illnesses. My husband, Jared, battles hemophilia B and seizures while I manage attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and bipolar II disorder. Receiving Jared’s medication through humanitarian aid is a blessing, yet its consistency isn’t…

I first met Connie Montgomery at the Hope Conference in Orlando, Florida, one of those rare moments when you instantly recognize a kindred spirit. Over lunch, we fell into deep conversation about women with bleeding disorders, the challenges we face, and the determination it takes to keep…

As a person with multiple bleeding disorders, I’m an expert at removing blood from many materials, including carpet, clothing, and furniture. Sometimes the blood wins and will ruin a new shirt. Although I’m in my 50s, a blood stain can still get the best of me, as happened last…

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…

Preventive treatment with Hemlibra (emicizumab) was not considered cost-effective at its current price compared with standard replacement therapies in adults with mild or moderate hemophilia A without inhibitors, according to a modeling study. The cost of Hemlibra would need to drop by at least 35% to become cost-effective…

Some days, my husband, Jared, who has severe hemophilia B, is unstoppable. He’ll haul a heavy plant pot across the living room, rearrange furniture, or even knock out a workout that would leave me sore for days. On other days, he’s down for the count; there’s no negotiating with…

There are moments in life that seem to disappear, while others have burned into my memory. I can remember a moment that took place 20 years ago, and my heart rushes as though it happened only seconds ago. Sometimes that can be a good thing, but sometimes the…

Kendall Fitzpatrick and I have much in common. Like me, she has hemophilia B and von Willebrand disease. She’s a registered nurse, works for a specialty pharmacy, and is an outspoken advocate for women with bleeding disorders. She lives in New Kent, Virginia, and is mother to a…

Trauma comes in all shapes and sizes. People often associate trauma with physical injuries, such as a horrific accident, amputation, or burn wound, but it can be caused by many other situations as well. For example, early childhood trauma can develop when kids grow up with an abusive parent. Trauma…

Growing up in Texas meant Friday night football games. It’s a religion there. As a girl in elementary school, I’d go with my family to games — not so much to watch football as to see the halftime show. But I found myself enamored with the cheerleaders. They were athletic…