STM Blog
Finding the Missing Piece: One man’s journey to a von Willebrand disease diagnosis
Frank, a 65-year-old man, spent decades suffering from von Willebrand disease (VWD) without a diagnosis. His journey, marked by severe bleeds and uncertainty, changed when his granddaughter was diagnosed with VWD. This discovery led to Frank’s diagnosis and treatment with VONVENDI, which allows him to better manage his condition and regain control of his life.
Last Updated on October 19, 2025 by Daily News Staff
Finding the Missing Piece: One man’s journey to a von Willebrand disease diagnosis
(Family Features) “I wanted to live my life like there was nothing wrong, but the fear was always there.”
That’s how 65-year-old Frank described life with von Willebrand disease (VWD), the most common bleeding disorder, affecting more than 3 million Americans.
For Frank, the signs started early with nosebleeds so severe they seemed unstoppable. In his 30s, one gastrointestinal bleed required nearly 7 pints of blood to stabilize him – a staggering amount, considering most adults only have 8-12 pints total.
Life with VWD can mean living in constant uncertainty. Any injury, surgery or even simple dental procedure can trigger a dangerous bleed. Symptoms like frequent bruising or heavy menstrual bleeding in women can affect quality of life. The consequences for Frank, even before his diagnosis, were often urgent and life-threatening.
Hospital visits and bleeds became routine, draining both his body and spirit. Frank lost weight, struggled with temperature swings and each trip home from the hospital felt like borrowed time before his next bleeding episode.
Eventually, his body began rejecting the blood transfusions meant to treat him during these mysterious bleeding episodes – a complication known as hemolytic anemia. With few options left, Frank and his partner, Carla, faced a future filled with fear and uncertainty, unsure how much longer his body could keep going.
Journey to a Diagnosis
Like many living with VWD, Frank spent years searching for answers – managing symptoms without understanding their cause. Bleeds came without warning. Triggers were a mystery. A diagnosis felt out of reach.
Through it all, Frank and Carla were their own fiercest advocates. Carla became his second set of eyes and ears by researching symptoms, writing down questions and sitting beside him in countless exam rooms.
“I realized when he was in the hospital, I must be there with him,” Carla said. “I needed to be there when the doctors and the nurses were talking to him. I slept in his room to be there for morning rounds to make sure everyone had the correct information.”
For years, they pressed on without answers or an official diagnosis until 2013, when everything changed.
Frank’s granddaughter was diagnosed with VWD, which they learned is a hereditary bleeding disorder. In that moment, something clicked. After decades of uncertainty, Frank finally had a clue and a connection.
He and Carla immediately sought out VWD education. Testing confirmed what they suspected: Frank had been living with VWD all along.
“Getting the diagnosis was a turning point,” Frank said. “For the first time, we weren’t just waiting for the next bleed – we finally had a way to take control.”
A Path Forward
Frank finally found hope and a path forward. After discussing which treatment option may be right for him with his health care team, Frank began using VONVENDI® [von Willebrand factor (Recombinant)] on-demand to treat and control his bleeding episodes.
VONVENDI is the only von Willebrand factor (VWF) treatment made without human blood or plasma with approved uses in both adults and children with VWD. For someone whose body had begun rejecting transfusions, having a recombinant option was important. But more than that – it worked for Frank.
“Since starting VONVENDI, I feel like I finally found the right path forward for me,” Frank said. “I can control my bleeds when they happen, and I have a plan in place to treat the next one.”
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently approved an expanded indication for VONVENDI, which is now indicated for adults and children with VWD to treat and control bleeding episodes (on-demand), to prevent excessive bleeding during and after surgery (perioperative) and for adult patients only, to reduce the number of bleeding episodes when used regularly (prophylaxis). Please see below for Detailed Important Risk Information or click here for the full Prescribing Information.
With this expanded indication, VONVENDI can now help more patients like Frank – not just control bleeds but also try to prevent them. Frank and Carla know there’s no cure, but for the first time in a long time, they have a plan to address Frank’s VWD bleeds.
Visit VONVENDI.com or speak with your doctor to learn more about VWD and discuss if treatment may be right for you.
VONVENDI [von Willebrand factor (Recombinant)] Important Information
What is VONVENDI?
VONVENDI is used in adults and children with von Willebrand disease to:
- treat and control bleeding episodes
- prevent excessive bleeding during and after surgery
For adult patients only:
- reduce the number of bleeding episodes when used regularly (prophylaxis)
Detailed Important Risk Information
Who should not use VONVENDI?
You should not use VONVENDI if you:
- Are allergic to any ingredients in VONVENDI.
- Are allergic to mice or hamsters.
Tell your healthcare provider if you are pregnant or breastfeeding because VONVENDI may not be right for you.
How should I use VONVENDI?
Your first dose of VONVENDI for each bleeding episode may be administered with a recombinant factor VIII as instructed by your healthcare provider.
Your healthcare provider will instruct you whether additional doses of VONVENDI with or without recombinant factor VIII are needed.
What should I tell my healthcare provider before I use VONVENDI?
You should tell your healthcare provider if you:
- Have or have had any medical problems.
- Take any medicines, including prescription and non-prescription medicines, such as over-the-counter medicines, supplements or herbal remedies.
- Have any allergies, including allergies to mice or hamsters.
- Are breastfeeding. It is not known if VONVENDI passes into your milk and if it can harm your baby.
- Are pregnant or planning to become pregnant. It is not known if VONVENDI can harm your unborn baby.
- Have been told that you have inhibitors to von Willebrand factor (because VONVENDI may not work for you).
- Have been told that you have inhibitors to blood coagulation factor VIII.
What else should I know about VONVENDI and von Willebrand Disease?
Your body can form inhibitors to von Willebrand factor or factor VIII. An inhibitor is part of the body’s normal defense system. If you form inhibitors, they may stop VONVENDI or factor VIII from working properly.
Consult with your healthcare provider to make sure you are carefully monitored with blood tests for the development of inhibitors to von Willebrand factor or factor VIII.
What are the possible side effects of VONVENDI?
You can have an allergic reaction to VONVENDI.
Call your healthcare provider right away and stop treatment if you get a rash or hives, itching, tightness of the throat, chest pain or tightness, difficulty breathing, lightheadedness, dizziness, nausea or fainting.
Side effects that have been reported with VONVENDI include: headache, nausea, vomiting, tingling or burning at infusion site, chest discomfort, dizziness, hot flashes, itching, high blood pressure, muscle twitching, unusual taste, blood clots and increased heart rate.
Tell your healthcare provider about any side effects that bother you or do not go away.
You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch, or call 1-800-FDA-1088.
Please see VONVENDI full Prescribing Information.
©2025 Takeda Pharmaceuticals U.S.A., Inc., 500 Kendall Street, Cambridge, MA 02142. 1-877-TAKEDA-7 (1-877-825-3327). All rights reserved. TAKEDA and the TAKEDA Logo are registered trademarks or registered trademarks of Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited. VONVENDI is a registered trademark of Baxalta Incorporated. US-VON-1006v1.0 10/25
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Urbanism
LA Metro’s D Line Extension Phase 1 Officially Opens, Bringing Subway Service to Mid-Wilshire and Beverly Hills
LA Metro’s D Line Extension: LA Metro officially opens Phase 1 of the D Line Subway Extension, connecting Downtown Los Angeles, Mid-Wilshire, and Beverly Hills with three new underground stations.
The future of transportation in Los Angeles has officially arrived.
LA Metro’s D Line Extension Phase 1 Officially Opens
The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) officially opened Section 1 of the long-awaited D Line Subway Extension on May 8, 2026, expanding underground rail service westward through the historic Mid-Wilshire corridor and into Beverly Hills.
The 3.92-mile extension is one of Metro’s most ambitious transit infrastructure projects and marks a major milestone in Los Angeles public transportation. The new section extends subway service beyond the current Wilshire/Western station in Koreatown and introduces three new underground stations:
- Wilshire/La Brea
- Wilshire/Fairfax
- Wilshire/La Cienega
The expansion is part of Metro’s larger “Twenty-Eight by ’28” initiative designed to improve mobility across the region ahead of the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Downtown Los Angeles to Beverly Hills in About 20 Minutes
With the extension now open, riders can travel from Union Station in Downtown Los Angeles to Beverly Hills in approximately 20 minutes with no transfers required.
The D Line extension is expected to significantly improve travel along the heavily congested Wilshire Boulevard corridor, offering commuters, visitors and residents a faster and more reliable alternative to driving.
“Traveling through Mid-Wilshire to experience the culture, cuisine and commerce across diverse neighborhoods will be easier, faster and more accessible,” said Fernando Dutra, Metro Board Chair and City of Whittier Council Member.
Metro CEO Stephanie Wiggins also highlighted the importance of the project in connecting Angelenos to some of the city’s most iconic destinations.
“Angelenos and visitors alike will love the extended service from Downtown Los Angeles to Beverly Hills, delivering greater access to the iconic and culturally diverse communities, institutions and destinations that define the deep history along Wilshire Boulevard,” Wiggins said.
New Stations Connect Riders to Cultural Landmarks
Wilshire/La Brea Station
Located near Hancock Park and the western edge of Koreatown, the station provides access to cultural and entertainment destinations including:
- Korean Cultural Center
- Marciano Art Foundation
- Ebell Theater
- Popular restaurants including Republique and Sycamore Kitchen
Wilshire/Fairfax Station
Known as the heart of Museum Row, this station serves some of Los Angeles’ most recognizable cultural institutions and attractions, including:
- Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA)
- Academy Museum of Motion Pictures
- Petersen Automotive Museum
- La Brea Tar Pits
- The Grove
- Original Farmers Market
The station also connects neighborhoods including Little Ethiopia, Park La Brea and the historic Fairfax District.
Wilshire/La Cienega Station
Serving as the eastern gateway to Beverly Hills, the station provides convenient access to Restaurant Row and destinations including the Beverly Center.
A Major Milestone for Los Angeles Transit
The D Line extension has been decades in the making and is widely considered one of the most important transit projects in Los Angeles history.
The project was funded primarily through Measure R, the voter-approved transportation sales tax passed in 2008, along with substantial federal funding support that included:
- $1.25 billion Full Funding Grant Agreement (FFGA)
- $66.4 million supplemental New Starts funding
- $749.3 million TIFIA loan
All three stations feature modern amenities including public artwork, enhanced lighting, cell phone service, bicycle hubs and improved pedestrian access.
Metro officials hope the extension will encourage more residents and visitors to use public transportation while helping reduce roadway congestion ahead of major international events scheduled for Los Angeles later this decade.
What’s Next for the D Line?
Construction is already underway on future phases of the D Line extension.
Phase 2 will continue west into Beverly Hills and Century City, while Phase 3 will eventually extend subway service to UCLA and the West Los Angeles VA campus.
Once completed, the D Line will provide a direct subway connection between Downtown Los Angeles and the Westside, dramatically reshaping mobility across one of Southern California’s busiest corridors.
Learn More
For official project details and station information, visit:
Metro D Line Opening Information
Stay connected with STM Daily News for the latest updates on Los Angeles transportation, Metro expansion projects, infrastructure developments, local news, technology, culture, and more. Visit STM Daily News for breaking stories, in-depth coverage, and exclusive content from across Southern California and beyond.
Last Updated on May 4, 2026 by Daily News Staff
Cinco de Mayo is a holiday that commemorates the Mexican army’s victory over the French Empire at the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862. In the United States, the holiday has become a celebration of Mexican-American culture and heritage, often involving parades, parties, and traditional foods such as tacos and margaritas.
How will you celebrate Cinco de Mayo?
https://stmdailynews.com/category/the-bridge/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cinco_de_Mayo
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The Substitute Teacher Who Wanted Blueprints of Our House
A fifth-grade assignment took a strange turn when a substitute teacher asked students to draw schematics of their homes. What followed — a wildly fictional floor plan and a priceless reaction from my mom — turned into one of my funniest childhood memories.
The Substitute Teacher Who Wanted Blueprints of Our House
Elementary school memories tend to blend together — cafeteria pizza, playground arguments, the eternal struggle of times tables — but every once in a while, something happens that sticks with you for life. For me, that moment came in the fifth grade during a week when our regular teacher was out, and we cycled through substitute teachers like we were testing models for durability.
By midweek, in walked a substitute with a mysterious, slightly intense energy — the kind of vibe that suggested he either meditated at dawn or worked a graveyard shift doing something he couldn’t talk about. We settled into our seats, expecting worksheets or quiet reading time.
But nope.
He had other plans.
“Today,” he announced, “we’re going to draw schematics of our houses.”
Schematics. Not drawings. Not little houses with smoke coming out of the chimney. Actual blueprint-style schematics. He wanted the layout of our bedrooms, our parents’ rooms, and where the pets slept. Every detail.
Now, to be fair, Highlights Magazine did have a feature that month teaching kids how to draw floor plans. So maybe he was just a bit overenthusiastic about cross-curricular learning. Or maybe — and this is my completely rhetorical adult theory — he worked the graveyard shift as a cat burglar gathering intel between heists. Just moonlighting between blueprints.
While the rest of the class tried their best to recreate their actual homes, my imagination sprinted in a totally different direction. The house I drew had:
- A massive master bedroom with an oversized bathroom for my parents
- Separate bedrooms for us kids on the opposite side of the house
- A kitchen placed right in the center like a command center
- And the dog — the true VIP — had a luxurious two-story doghouse
I had basically created a dream home designed by a 10-year-old watching too much Fantasy Homes by the Yard.
Later that day, my mom asked the usual question: “So, what did you guys do today?”
“We drew schematics of our house,” I said casually.
The look on her face was instant and intense. She wasn’t panicked, but there was definitely a “Why does a substitute teacher need to know the exact layout of my home?” expression happening. Parental instincts activated.
But then I showed her my diagram.
She stared at it. Blinked. Then sighed with massive relief.
“This isn’t our house,” she said.
“Nope! I made it up,” I replied proudly.
Her shoulders relaxed so much she probably lost five pounds of tension in one instant. If the substitute was secretly planning a heist, my masterpiece of misinformation would have sent him to the wrong house entirely.
Looking back, the whole moment feels like a sitcom setup — a mysterious substitute collecting “house schematics,” me creating a completely fictional piece of architecture, and my mom going on a full emotional journey in under 30 seconds.
Maybe he was just excited about the Highlights Magazine floor-plan activity. Or maybe — just maybe — he moonlighted in cat burglary. We’ll never know.
But if he was, I like to think I threw him completely off the scent.
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Our Lifestyle section on STM Daily News is a hub of inspiration and practical information, offering a range of articles that touch on various aspects of daily life. From tips on family finances to guides for maintaining health and wellness, we strive to empower our readers with knowledge and resources to enhance their lifestyles. Whether you’re seeking outdoor activity ideas, fashion trends, or travel recommendations, our lifestyle section has got you covered. Visit us today at https://stmdailynews.com/category/lifestyle/ and embark on a journey of discovery and self-improvement.
