HemoWife - a Column by Alliah Czarielle

In Chinese philosophy, the concepts of yin and yang represent two opposing forces that come together in synergy to complement each other and create a perfect balance. Their symbols are interconnected black and white halves of a circle, each with a dot of the opposite half’s color. It perfectly…

My husband, Jared, recently celebrated his birthday. Hooray for 29 years of fighting and surviving! He opted for a low-key celebration at home with me, our daughter, Cittie, and her nanny. Because it was a weekday and I had to work, we didn’t have much time to do anything particularly…

After three months of living in a rented condo, my family is moving to a full-size house. My husband, Jared, and I want to think of this event as our Christmas and New Year’s blessing. Though the change was unexpected, we welcomed it with open arms. The only hassle,…

I’m standing in line at a convenience store after my appointment at the salon. It’s almost lunchtime and my stomach is grumbling, as I left our condo without having eaten breakfast. My husband, Jared, who has hemophilia and a seizure disorder, had a series of seizures the day before…

Helping others is nice. On the most basic level, helping another person can trigger positive emotions. It also creates a sense of belonging and enables one to connect with their community. And from a big-picture perspective, it gives one a sense of purpose, as they are contributing something good…

Many young people enter adulthood with dreams and goals in mind. The burning desire to attain these goals drives them to carry on through hardships and challenges. But for people with chronic illness, achieving goals can be harder, as they may face more obstacles related to their condition. It may…

“Money can buy happiness.” My younger self would have refused to buy into that idea. I would have retorted with a long list of nonmaterial things that gave me pleasure. After all, Jessie J sang in her 2011 hit song “Price Tag” that, “It’s not about the money,…

As I slowly approach the big three-zero (two more years to go!), I can’t help but reflect on the state of my health. Physical symptoms scare me now more than ever, and I want them checked as soon as possible. I’ve been trying to commit to healthier habits as well…

Advocacy is a beautiful thing. Many people find it fulfilling because it’s a way to show kindness to others while championing something close to one’s own heart. But advocacy isn’t always easy. I’ve come across some disability advocates whose dedication to the cause was tested by their experiences…

Mistakes can be costly. The damage of a single mistake can cost a few dollars or an entire livelihood. In an ideal world, we’d learn our lessons before we had the chance to make any mistakes. That way, we could avoid ever making them. It’s like going to school,…