HemoWife - a Column by Alliah Czarielle

crab mentality, home, golden retriever, business, routine, childhood illness, unfair Alliah Czarielle, or Cza for short, is a life partner to a person with hemophilia and epilepsy. Her lifs dream is to enjoy a happy and contented life with her family, while pursuing her own passion for arts, crafts, entrepreneurship, and fine jewelry. She is a strong advocate for equal rights and support for people with disability, as well as people with mental illnesses, being a struggler herself. She lives in the Philippines with her husband, Jared, and their daughter, Cittie.

My Husband and I Are Walking for Our Health

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…

Advocating for Someone Means Accepting Their Imperfections

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…

Learning Lessons When It’s Too Late

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,…

My Husband, Who Has Hemophilia, Is Not a Child

My husband, Jared, and I are two weeks into our self-sufficiency journey. Just last week, our family moved into a rented condo. We spent some time and money to fix up the place and repair damages. So far, Jared’s handyman skills have improved a great deal. He likes that…

A New Home Brings New Learning Opportunities

Recently, my husband, Jared, and I decided to move into a new home. We’d been contemplating the idea since our daughter, Cittie, was born almost three years ago. Yet somehow, financial constraints always held us back. We wanted to be full-time parents to Cittie, at least during her formative…

Holding Out Hope When Changes Occur

My husband, Jared, and I are on the cusp of making a major life decision. This decision had always been part of our long-term plan. We just didn’t expect it to happen so soon. Still, one event led to another, and we found ourselves standing before the option we are…

Where Are the Voices of Filipino PWDs?

I’ve been busy setting up my personal website and blog lately. So far, chronic illness and disability are two of my major themes. My husband, Jared, has hemophilia and a seizure disorder, and I see him face the challenges of being disabled every day. His conditions affect our marriage, family,…

Coping and Staying Connected During COVID-19 Quarantine

As of this writing, my family and I have been in quarantine for over a week because my husband, Jared, has COVID-19. We were anxious after he tested positive,  because we didn’t know what the outcome would be. Thankfully, he’s doing much better, and his symptoms have subsided. He…