The Hemo Mama Bear Olympics

There are some moments in my life while raising two sons with severe hemophilia that I have thought, “Wow! You, Cazandra, have just won the gold medal in the Hemo Mama Bear Olympics!” And there are other times I failed so miserably that I would not have even made the team.

When you think back to your child’s bleeding disorder diagnosis, the overwhelming grief, anger, and doubt flood your heart and soul, and you wonder how you will handle it. You start to educate yourself. The first bleed happens, and you don’t fall apart. All the firsts come and go, and you slowly get your footing. 

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Originally published by Hemophilia News Today, 2/14/18.

With the Second Diagnosis Came Depression

Second in a series. 

I have been on medication for my clinical depression for over 25 years. There is no other option. Even throughout my second pregnancy, I took medication under my psychiatrist’s supervision. I’ve never been ashamed to admit my need for medication, but one thing that has still been difficult for me after 12 years is understanding the postpartum depression I experienced after the birth of my second child.

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With the Second Diagnosis Came Depression

First in a two-part series.

I had never heard of hemophilia until the doctors came into my hospital room the day after my first son, Julian, was born. I soon learned that about two-thirds of those diagnosed with hemophilia are because of a spontaneous mutation. Simply put, a spontaneous mutation happens for no reason. It’s like being the winner of the lottery, except this diagnosis can hardly compare to winning large sums of money. I had no reason to think that Julian was anything other than a spontaneous mutation.  

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Tips for Managing Your Bleeding Disorder in the New Year

When you have a year that is best left in the past, ushering in the new year is a time of celebration. You start with a clean slate and an attitude of hopefulness for what is yet to come.

For many years I based the quality of a year on how many times hemophilia and an inhibitor disrupted our lives; how many hospitalizations, days missed from school, and events canceled were significant in the lives of my family. I even thought about how many times we were infusing and how many products we would need to control a bleed. 

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7 Tips for Holiday Travel Success

When you have a bleeding disorder and you are traveling, there are many things to remember. Forgetting factor or Huber needles can leave you in a bind, because these are not items that are easily found at your local drugstore. Making a list and keeping it handy, regardless of how experienced you are with your bleeding disorder, is always a great tool.

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