CHES Foundation, Inc.

CHES Foundation, Inc. CHES is currently owned and managed by Janet Brewer and Eric Lowe, both of whom live with chronic conditions, their own or those of family members.

CHES Foundation seeks to empower those affected by rare bleeding disorders through education, personalized support, and community connection, ensuring every person has the knowledge, resources, and advocacy they need to live confidently and thrive. CHES provides support for individuals with chronic medical conditions that allows them to assert their independence and the knowledge to more fully engage in their treatment. Over the years CHES has grown in scope and reach, attracting national and international attention for our unceasing work on behalf of our ever-widening community. With the important help of our funders, CHES offers those in need with a wide range of resources, including on-site patient programming, education, and the latest information on research and treatment. For info, please visit our website.

Starting with a focus on the Ultra-Rares, we already have our eye on Rare Disease Day at the end of February! In the US,...
01/12/2026

Starting with a focus on the Ultra-Rares, we already have our eye on Rare Disease Day at the end of February! In the US, a rare disease or disorder is defined as one that affects fewer than 200,000 people. vWD is the most common while approximately 33,000 males are affected by Hemophilia A or B. The less-common factor deficiencies such as I, II, V, VII, X, XI, XII and XIII, are all considered ULTRA Rare Disorders.

Many people, especially women with VWD, are unaware they have a bleeding disorder or undiagnosed and underrepresented in the numbers of bleeding disorders in this country. Swipe through the stats we have put together shedding light on the Ultra-Rare numbers!

WE'RE BACK! The team had a needed rest but the time has come to kick off the new year! In this edition Heather shares hi...
01/09/2026

WE'RE BACK! The team had a needed rest but the time has come to kick off the new year! In this edition Heather shares highlights from 2025 and what the road has on it for 2026. Our first two programs will be the re-scheduled One Drop Feb 27 - March 1, 2026 and then LadyBugs in VA April 24-26, 2026 with the ! While on the short side, this edition covers a few important topics: Healthcare cost calculator tools, weight loss in the BD community and an update on the adverse event for Marstacimab ๐Ÿ˜ณ

Read this edition and more here โžก๏ธ https://ches.education/newsblog/2025/bdnews1-9-back-with-glows-grows2526

Happy New Year from CHES! ๐ŸŽ†โœจAs we step into a new year, we want to express our heartfelt gratitude to each and every one...
01/01/2026

Happy New Year from CHES! ๐ŸŽ†โœจ

As we step into a new year, we want to express our heartfelt gratitude to each and every one of you for being an integral part of the CHES community. Your support, resilience, and dedication made 2025 truly remarkable, and we canโ€™t wait to see whatโ€™s in store for 2026.

Letโ€™s continue to uplift one another, celebrate our achievements, and embrace the challenges ahead with strength and unity. Together, we can make this year our best one yet!

What are you most looking forward to in 2026? Share with us below! ๐ŸŒŸ

Holiday Health Tip  #4: Embrace the Uncertain ๐Ÿ’œAs we step into a new year, we are reminded of the uncertainties that lif...
12/30/2025

Holiday Health Tip #4: Embrace the Uncertain ๐Ÿ’œ

As we step into a new year, we are reminded of the uncertainties that life brings, especially for those navigating health challenges. At CHES, we believe in facing the unknown with hope and optimism, knowing we are not alone. Together, we can embrace the uncertainty and find strength in each other.

In her insightful LifeLines for Health article, CHES contributor Krystyn Strother reminds us that uncertainty, while unsettling, is a fundamental part of life. Through mindfulness, we can engage with these feelings and transform them into opportunities for growth and understanding. By focusing on what we can control and accepting what we cannot, we learn to ground ourselves in the present and prepare for whatever comes our way.

Read more from Krystyn: https://ches.education/lfh-blog/2020/8/3/engaging-uncertainty?rq=uncertainty

๐Ÿ‘ฉโ€๐Ÿ‘ฆ๐—ฃ๐—ฎ๐˜๐—ถ๐—ฒ๐—ป๐˜๐˜€ & ๐—–๐—ฎ๐—ฟ๐—ฒ๐—ด๐—ถ๐˜ƒ๐—ฒ๐—ฟ๐˜€: How do you embrace uncertainty in your daily life, especially when managing a bleeding disorder? Share your experiences and strategies for staying grounded and hopeful ๐Ÿ’ฌ
๐Ÿฅผ๐—›๐—ฒ๐—ฎ๐—น๐˜๐—ต๐—ฐ๐—ฎ๐—ฟ๐—ฒ ๐—ฃ๐—ฟ๐—ผ๐—ณ๐—ฒ๐˜€๐˜€๐—ถ๐—ผ๐—ป๐—ฎ๐—น๐˜€: How can you support your patients in navigating uncertainty with confidence and resilience? Share tips and resources that encourage mindfulness and acceptance, like Krystynโ€™s article, linked above.

As we begin a new year, remember that CHES is here for you, embracing the uncertainty together. Let's enter 2026 with courage, strength, and community ๐Ÿ’—โœจ

As we gather to celebrate the joy and warmth of Christmas, we want to extend our heartfelt wishes to each member of our ...
12/25/2025

As we gather to celebrate the joy and warmth of Christmas, we want to extend our heartfelt wishes to each member of our incredible community. Your strength, support, and resilience inspire us every day, and we are so grateful to have you as part of the CHES family โค๏ธ

May this Christmas fill your hearts with love, your homes with laughter, and your lives with peace. Let's cherish the moments of togetherness and create beautiful memories with our loved ones ๐ŸŽ„โœจ

What are you most grateful for this Christmas? Share your thoughts in the comments below and spread the festive spirit! ๐ŸŽ…

Holiday Health Tip  #3: Build a Self-Care Menu ๐Ÿง˜โ€โ™€๏ธEver feel like your holiday season is more tangled lights than twinkl...
12/23/2025

Holiday Health Tip #3: Build a Self-Care Menu ๐Ÿง˜โ€โ™€๏ธ

Ever feel like your holiday season is more tangled lights than twinkling stars? ๐Ÿ˜ตโ€๐Ÿ’ซโ€‹โ€‹ We've all been there!

In CHES contributor Emily Taylor's LifeLines for Health article, she reminds us that self-care isnโ€™t selfishโ€”itโ€™s essential. Read more here: https://ches.education/lfh-blog/2023/1/16/self-care-is-self-love?rq=self-care

So, what does self-care look like, and where should you begin? Here are a few ideas from Emily's self-care menu to get you started:

๐Ÿ˜ฎโ€๐Ÿ’จ๐—•๐—ฟ๐—ฒ๐—ฎ๐˜๐—ต๐˜„๐—ผ๐—ฟ๐—ธ: Calm your nerves with simple breathwork. Inhale for 4 counts, hold briefly, exhale for 4 counts. Try extending the exhale to 6 counts for added relaxation.
๐Ÿง˜โ€โ™€๏ธ๐— ๐—ฒ๐—ฑ๐—ถ๐˜๐—ฎ๐˜๐—ถ๐—ผ๐—ป: Spend seven minutes on meditation to shift your mindset and find calm. Use apps like Insight Timer for guided sessions, which can reduce stress and improve mental clarity.
๐Ÿƒโ€โ™‚๏ธ๐— ๐—ผ๐˜ƒ๐—ฒ๐—บ๐—ฒ๐—ป๐˜: Engage in joyful activities like yoga, walking, or dancing. Choose movements that feel enjoyable and help release tension, boosting your mood.
โ˜€๏ธ๐— ๐—ผ๐—ฟ๐—ป๐—ถ๐—ป๐—ด ๐—ฅ๐—ถ๐˜๐˜‚๐—ฎ๐—น: Begin your day with purpose by rising early for quiet time. Enjoy writing in a gratitude journal, sipping a morning drink, or sitting in silence to set a positive tone.
๐ŸŒ™๐—˜๐˜ƒ๐—ฒ๐—ป๐—ถ๐—ป๐—ด ๐—ฅ๐—ถ๐˜๐˜‚๐—ฎ๐—น: End your day with a soothing shower or bath, using bath bombs or essential oils to unwind. A gentle self-massage can also help prepare your body for restful sleep.

๐Ÿ‘จโ€๐Ÿ‘ง๐—ฃ๐—ฎ๐˜๐—ถ๐—ฒ๐—ป๐˜๐˜€ & ๐—–๐—ฎ๐—ฟ๐—ฒ๐—ด๐—ถ๐˜ƒ๐—ฒ๐—ฟ๐˜€: How do you incorporate self-care into your routine during the holidays? Share your self-care menu in the comments! ๐Ÿ’ฌ
๐Ÿง‘โ€โš•๏ธ๐—›๐—ฒ๐—ฎ๐—น๐˜๐—ต๐—ฐ๐—ฎ๐—ฟ๐—ฒ ๐—ฃ๐—ฟ๐—ผ๐—ณ๐—ฒ๐˜€๐˜€๐—ถ๐—ผ๐—ป๐—ฎ๐—น๐˜€: Have you ever discussed the concept of a self-care menu with your patients? Encourage adopting small practices that promote well-being during the holiday season and beyond.

๐Ÿง  Check Up From the Neck Up ๐Ÿ’™ | Digital DigestOur latest Digital Digest continues the conversation around mental healthโ€”...
12/19/2025

๐Ÿง  Check Up From the Neck Up ๐Ÿ’™ | Digital Digest

Our latest Digital Digest continues the conversation around mental healthโ€”especially important during the holidays, when stress, comparison, grief, and loss can surface. A simple check-in can open the door to meaningful connection and care for one another.

Read this Digital Digest and past editions here! โžก๏ธ https://ches.education/news

Plus, a quick note from us: the CHES team is taking a well-deserved breather from Dec 22โ€“Jan 5 to rest, reset, and recharge. We canโ€™t wait to come back energized and excited for whatโ€™s ahead in 2026.

12/18/2025

We commend Hemab Therapeutics for their steadfast dedication to advancing science and developing therapies for those with underserved bleeding disorders like congenital Factor VII deficiency (FVIID).

CHES proudly supports all those affected by FVIID, with special considerations for women and girls. Since 2012, our Factor 7 Retreat, now part of the One Drop program along with the Glanzmannโ€™s Thrombasthenia Symposia, has provided invaluable experiences for those with rare bleeding disorders.

In addition, we've worked with experts like Dr. Diane Nugent and ATHN under the direction of Dr. Tami Singleton to offer ATHN 10 genetic testing for better diagnoses and treatment access.

Together, we are committed to advancing care for this community. Let's continue making strides toward transforming outcomes for all affected!

To learn more about One Drop, visit: https://ches.education/one-drop

Save the dates for 2026:
๐Ÿ—“๏ธ ๐—ข๐—ป๐—ฒ ๐——๐—ฟ๐—ผ๐—ฝ: Tampa, FL - February 27-March 1, 2026 (rescheduled from November 2025)
๐Ÿ—“๏ธ ๐—ข๐—ป๐—ฒ ๐——๐—ฟ๐—ผ๐—ฝ ๐Ÿฎ๐Ÿฌ๐Ÿฎ๐Ÿฒ: Tampa, FL - November 6-8, 2026

Holiday Health Tip  #2: Follow the 80/20 Rule ๐Ÿง Ever feel like your life is more 80/20 beef than filet mignon? ๐Ÿ” Well, yo...
12/17/2025

Holiday Health Tip #2: Follow the 80/20 Rule ๐Ÿง 

Ever feel like your life is more 80/20 beef than filet mignon? ๐Ÿ” Well, youโ€™re not alone! This holiday season, letโ€™s embrace the beauty of imperfection with the 80/20 rule, a concept shared by CHES contributor Gary McClain, PhD in LifeLines for Health.

Read more from Dr. McClain: https://ches.education/lfh-blog/stressing-out-how-about-using-the-80/20-rule?rq=holiday

During the holidays, itโ€™s easy to get caught up in the whirlwind of expectations and strive for perfection in everything we do. However, aiming for 100% can lead to unnecessary stress and disappointment. What if you lowered your expectations to, say, 80%? By lowering your expectationsโ€”for yourself, and othersโ€”you can focus on what truly matters. Prioritize your health, both physical and mental, and remember that sometimes a little mess can create more space for joy and less tension.

๐Ÿ‘ฉโ€๐Ÿ‘ฆ๐—ฃ๐—ฎ๐˜๐—ถ๐—ฒ๐—ป๐˜๐˜€ & ๐—–๐—ฎ๐—ฟ๐—ฒ๐—ด๐—ถ๐˜ƒ๐—ฒ๐—ฟ๐˜€: How do you incorporate the 80/20 rule into your daily life, especially during the holiday season? Whether it's balancing caregiving responsibilities or handling the physical and emotional burden of living with a bleeding disorder, weโ€™d love to hear your experiences ๐Ÿ’ฌ
๐Ÿฅ๐—›๐—ฒ๐—ฎ๐—น๐˜๐—ต๐—ฐ๐—ฎ๐—ฟ๐—ฒ ๐—ฃ๐—ฟ๐—ผ๐—ณ๐—ฒ๐˜€๐˜€๐—ถ๐—ผ๐—ป๐—ฎ๐—น๐˜€: How can you support your patients in embracing the 80/20 rule this holiday season? Consider sharing practical tips and resources (like Dr. McClainโ€™s blog, linked below) that encourage them to prioritize what truly matters while being gentle with themselves.

By aiming for balance rather than perfection, you can enjoy the season more fully. Letโ€™s give ourselves the gift of balance and remind ourselves that itโ€™s okay to let things be a little less than perfect ๐ŸŽฏ

Happy Hanukkah from CHES! ๐Ÿ•ŽโœจAs we light the menorah and celebrate the Festival of Lights, we extend our warmest wishes t...
12/15/2025

Happy Hanukkah from CHES! ๐Ÿ•Žโœจ

As we light the menorah and celebrate the Festival of Lights, we extend our warmest wishes to everyone in our community. May this Hanukkah bring joy, peace, and blessings to you and your loved ones.

Let's cherish the miracle of each night, creating lasting memories filled with laughter, love, and light. What are your favorite Hanukkah traditions? Share with us in the comments below! ๐Ÿ•ฏ๏ธ๐Ÿ’™

We're thrilled to announce our 2026 in-person events, continuing our mission to provide meaningful and instructive educa...
12/11/2025

We're thrilled to announce our 2026 in-person events, continuing our mission to provide meaningful and instructive education for the ultra-rare bleeding disorder community. Mark your calendars and join us for these incredible opportunities to connect, learn, and grow together:

๐Ÿ—“๏ธ ๐—ข๐—ป๐—ฒ ๐——๐—ฟ๐—ผ๐—ฝ: Tampa, FL - February 27-March 1, 2026 (rescheduled from November 2025)
๐Ÿ—“๏ธ ๐—Ÿ๐—ฎ๐—ฑ๐˜†๐—•๐˜‚๐—ด๐˜€ ๐—ก๐—ฎ๐˜๐—ถ๐—ผ๐—ป๐—ฎ๐—น ๐—ช๐—ผ๐—บ๐—ฒ๐—ป'๐˜€ ๐—–๐—ผ๐—ป๐—ณ๐—ฒ๐—ฟ๐—ฒ๐—ป๐—ฐ๐—ฒ: Colonial Williamsburg, VA - April 24-26, 2026, in partnership with the Virginia Hemophilia Foundation
๐Ÿ—“๏ธ ๐—”๐—ณ๐˜๐—ฒ๐—ฟ ๐˜๐—ต๐—ฒ ๐—ฆ๐—ต๐—ผ๐—ฐ๐—ธ ๐—œ๐—ป๐—ต๐—ถ๐—ฏ๐—ถ๐˜๐—ผ๐—ฟ ๐—™๐—ฎ๐—บ๐—ถ๐—น๐˜† ๐—–๐—ฎ๐—บ๐—ฝ: Camp Zeke - June 19-22, 2026
๐Ÿ—“๏ธ ๐—œ๐—ป๐—ต๐—ถ๐—ฏ๐—ถ๐˜๐—–๐—ผ๐—ป: New Orleans, LA - September 10-13, 2026 (First day is Leverage in partnership with GutMonkey)
๐Ÿ—“๏ธ ๐—ข๐—ป๐—ฒ ๐——๐—ฟ๐—ผ๐—ฝ ๐Ÿฎ๐Ÿฌ๐Ÿฎ๐Ÿฒ: Tampa, FL - November 6-8, 2026

As always, CHES is grateful to our funders and community for the support! Please continue to spread the word about CHES. We welcome new individuals and families and remain true to our 3 pillars: Women, Ultra-Rares, and the Inhibitor Community ๐Ÿ’ชโค๏ธ

Stay tuned for more updates on our 2026 events!

Holiday Health Tip  #1: Find Your Glue Crew ๐ŸคYou may be thinking to yourself, "what's a Glue Crew? ๐Ÿค”โ€ We're so glad you ...
12/10/2025

Holiday Health Tip #1: Find Your Glue Crew ๐Ÿค

You may be thinking to yourself, "what's a Glue Crew? ๐Ÿค”โ€ We're so glad you asked!

As Heather explained in the recent Digital Digest, your Glue Crew is your backbone of support during challenging times. They're the volunteers ensuring CHES events run smoothly, friends bringing activities for your child when a sibling is in the hospital, or those organizing meal trains for community members recovering from surgery. The details of your Glue Crew arenโ€™t as important as the showing up for each other.

๐Ÿ‘จโ€๐Ÿ‘ง๐—ฃ๐—ฎ๐˜๐—ถ๐—ฒ๐—ป๐˜๐˜€ & ๐—–๐—ฎ๐—ฟ๐—ฒ๐—ด๐—ถ๐˜ƒ๐—ฒ๐—ฟ๐˜€: Who could you include in your Glue Crew if you don't have one yet? And if you already have one, how can you make the most of their support?
๐Ÿฉบ๐—›๐—ฒ๐—ฎ๐—น๐˜๐—ต๐—ฐ๐—ฎ๐—ฟ๐—ฒ ๐—ฃ๐—ฟ๐—ผ๐—ณ๐—ฒ๐˜€๐˜€๐—ถ๐—ผ๐—ป๐—ฎ๐—น๐˜€: Ask your patients how they are carrying the load this holiday season, and remind them that help is available. We at CHES are always here to offer guidance, support, and resources, no matter the time of year.

We'd love to hear your stories and celebrate the amazing people who make up your Glue Crew. Share your experiences in the comments and let's spread the love and appreciation throughout the CHES community! โค๏ธโœจ

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Middleboro, MA
02346

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Our Story

CHES provides support for individuals with chronic medical conditions that allows them to assert their independence and the knowledge to more fully engage in their treatment.

Over the years CHES has grown in scope and reach, attracting national and international attention for our unceasing work on behalf of our ever-widening community. With the important help of our funders, CHES offers those in need with a wide range of resources, including on-site patient programming, education, and the latest information on research and treatment.

CHES is currently owned and managed by Janet Brewer and Eric Lowe, both of whom live with chronic conditions, their own or those of family members. For info, please visit our website.