HemoWife - a Column by Alliah Czarielle

When my husband, Jared, and I first started our online jewelry store, we knew our business was not going to be like other enterprises in the market. He lives with hemophilia and epilepsy, while I am diagnosed with anxiety and depression. We feared that bleeds, seizures, and mental breakdowns would…

Lately, I’ve been finding myself in need of more “alone time.” Now that I am a mom to a hyperactive and curious toddler, most of my days are spent listening to nursery rhymes on repeat, chasing our baby girl and making sure she doesn’t hurt herself while exploring her surroundings,…

Our baby, Cittie, is now the textbook specimen of a toddler. My husband, Jared, often finds himself surprised by how quickly she is developing. Her vocabulary doubles by the day, and she is even learning interjections. As funny as it is to hear her suddenly screaming “Oh no!” or a…

I’ve been reading a lot of parenting books lately. Now that our baby girl, Cittie, is a full-fledged toddler, I’m often unsure of how to deal with her. So many things about her are new to us, from her tendency to throw tantrums, to her…

I am a home-based entrepreneur. My husband and I run a small online jewelry boutique, selling items straight from our bedroom. Two years ago, I decided to quit my full-time office job to focus on growing our concept of a PWD-run fine jewelry brand. I had my doubts, but…

My husband, Jared, recently decided to stop cooking after he was injured during an epileptic seizure. It was a hard decision because he enjoys cooking, and food brings him genuine happiness. He enjoys preparing the ingredients for our daily meals. In his free time,…

Monsoon season has begun here in the Philippines. Every time I drive in downtown Manila, I’m reminded of a family trip last year to Tagaytay, a popular tourist destination. My husband, Jared, and I wanted to get out of town for our first anniversary, but the trip turned out…

My husband, Jared, has had hemophilia since he was born. He has known no other life than one with a bleeding disorder. And that is why he does not consider hemophilia to be his “worst enemy.” Instead, he considers epilepsy his greatest foe.

Our baby girl, Cittie, is 18 months old. She’s feisty and curious about the world around her. Currently, her favorite words are “up,” “open,” and “close.” She likes being carried so she can observe things from an adult vantage point. She also wants to touch and tinker with every object…

When my husband, Jared, and I started dating, I was aware that he has hemophilia B and epilepsy. Not long after that, someone close to me gave me a gratuitous warning about dating someone with chronic illness. They told me I would face more challenges and…