My fear of letting go of the past stems in part from my anxiety about change. I want my sons, who both have hemophilia, to take control of their lives and be responsible as they move through the world. They leave, but what about me? I’m not going…
My 18-year-old son, Caeleb, is an artist. When he starts talking about colors, a lengthy conversation will ensue. Now in college majoring in digital arts, he’s passionate about his field, and his love of color runs deep. Art has been a saving grace for Caeleb, who lives with severe…
Ever since turning 30, I’ve been on a fast track toward self-improvement, determined to get the most out of life. I want to experience things meaningfully with my husband and daughter, doing things that bring me joy and fulfillment. But lately I’ve been feeling a bit disconnected from myself. That’s…
My grandmother always said, “If you don’t have anything good to say, don’t say anything at all.” She lived by those words, and in all of my memories, I can’t recall her ever speaking ill of anyone. Last week I found myself with nothing good to say, which left my…
In a column last month, I discussed how I felt when attending the recent annual conference of the National Bleeding Disorders Foundation in Atlanta. One of the highlights was when my wife, Cazandra, and I presented our own session, “Finding Our Way Back to Each Other.” Before…
Imagine a large pickle jar, the kind you might see at a movie concession stand filled with pickles. But inside this otherwise empty jar sits a large ball that’s pressing against the sides and all but filling it. Then imagine that this ball symbolizes grief. Many believe that…
When the University of the Philippines (UP) unveiled its new motto, “Honor. Excellence. Service.,” this past June, it took me back to my days there as a student. The phrase “Serve the People” reverberates through the campus, reminding every Iskolar ng Bayan (Nation’s Scholar) of…
As a parent of two sons, Julian and Caeleb, who have hemophilia, I’ve developed a pet peeve when discussing their bleeding disorders with others. My wife, Cazandra, and I avoid labeling them as hemophiliacs. Instead, we prefer to say that our sons have hemophilia. This seemingly…
Becoming a parent changes everything in life. This was certainly true for my husband, Jared, who’d always dreamed of being a father, despite having severe hemophilia B and frequent seizures. When our daughter, Cittie, was born, that dream came to life, giving him more purpose and even improving…
I have long admired the world-renowned ballerina Michaela DePrince. Like many others, I was captivated by her inspiring journey from being a war orphan in Sierra Leone to her rise as a star on the global dance stage. Tragically, DePrince recently died at the young age of 29, just one…
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