As a hospice chaplain, I visit patients and their families as they are in their last months and days of life. It is humbling. Whether they’re at home or in a nursing home, these patients have something in common: They are being cared for by others. Family caregivers are the…
Search results for:
For people with hemophilia B, switching to Rixubis (nonacog gamma) as a factor IX (FIX) replacement therapy was not associated with increased bleeding rates, dose changes, adverse blood clotting events, or the development of inhibitors among patients with moderate to severe forms of the disease,…
Weekly use of the experimental therapy efanesoctocog alfa maintains therapeutic levels of factor VIII (FVIII) — the missing clotting factor in hemophilia A — and significantly improves physical and joint health, while reducing pain, in adolescents and adults with a severe form of the disease. These are the…
I use a handicapped placard for my youngest son, Caeleb, who has hemophilia and deals with complications from the clotting factor used to treat his illness, which causes him to have pain. Caeleb, 15, participates in his school’s marching band and practices after school four days a week. At the end…
Many years ago, when hemophilia came into my family’s life, rearing its ugly head like a lion ready to devour its prey, we held on to anything we could. As the chaos of chronic illness overtook our lives, my wife and I made plans to help our children manage their…
The U.K. charity Veganuary challenges people to eat only vegan foods in the month of January as part of an effort to promote health, protect the environment, and end animal farming. People choose to follow a vegan diet, which excludes all animal products such as eggs, dairy, and meat,…
No one likes to feel out of control of their body, but those of us affected by chronic illness know that when the disease rears its ugly head, we may struggle to find a sense of power. As the father of two sons with hemophilia, I understand how the storms…
It usually starts as an innocent question in an attempt to make friendly conversation with my husband, Jared, and me. “So, how’s Jared? How’s his health?” Those who ask this question are often aware that Jared has hemophilia B and a seizure disorder. But not everyone knows how…
I am still waiting to hear from our hemophilia treatment center about whether our insurance will cover Hemlibra (emicizumab-kxwh) for Caeleb. Honestly, I’ve put it out of my mind for a bit because I know it is not a “done deal” until I have the product in my…
Apologies aren’t easy. Sometimes when hurtful words are shared, an apology is in order. Likewise, a mistake that affects another person is also a time when an apology is needed. But why do people apologize when something is out of their control? My youngest son, Caeleb, is 16 and lives…