HemoWife - a Column by Allyx Formalejo

When my husband, Jared, has a hemophilia bleed, we know what to do. We immediately implement the RICE method of Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation. We also add to that list factor infusions and the monitoring of Jared’s condition. Hemophilia is complex, but there’s a strategy for managing it.

There’s something humbling about watching someone relearn how to walk. Not as a toddler, and not for the first time, but as an adult who already knows what walking used to feel like. My husband, Jared, has severe hemophilia B, and for years, his right ankle has been what’s…

When I was 3 years old, I joined a television pageant for little girls called “Princess Asia.” I won the top prize. But when I look back on that moment now, the crown itself feels almost incidental. What stands out more is that I caught amebiasis, an intestinal infection, just…

Hemophilia doesn’t just alter bodies and routines. Over time, it can also quietly shape expectations about who leads, who manages risk, and who carries responsibility. These expectations are rarely spoken out loud, but they’re powerful enough to follow people into adulthood, partnerships, and marriage. What complicates things is that…

For a long time, I didn’t think about exhaustion or how it would occasionally surface in my marriage to someone with hemophilia. As someone with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), I tend to function well in high-pressure situations. Urgency sharpens me. When there’s a problem to solve or a…

I’ve written before about not seeing myself as a caregiver in the traditional sense. For us caregivers, hemophilia doesn’t usually demand round-the-clock care. My husband, Jared, manages his condition independently. He infuses. He monitors his body. He makes decisions about risk and rest. My role on most days is…

Treatment for burn injuries is usually straightforward: Cool the skin, manage the wound, control pain, and let time do the rest. That’s the version most people are familiar with. When hemophilia enters the picture, though, even a “simple” burn can quietly turn into something far more complicated. To add…

During my husband Jared’s recent hospitalization, I heard one particular sentence more times than I can count: “We’ll wait for Doc’s approval.” Jared was admitted for a burn on his hand, an injury that, on its own, often follows a fairly standard treatment path. But because he lives with…

When people learn that their loved one has hemophilia, they often jump straight to a mental checklist of risks: bleeding, injuries, factor, emergency plans. Safety becomes the headline. Over time, it can become the lens through which every choice is evaluated. But for many people…

The start of a new year often brings talk of ambitious goals, including growth, progress, and milestones we hope to achieve by year’s end. My husband, Jared, and I have those goals. In fact, we’re approaching 2026 with a specific list of things we want to build, maintain, and improve…