From his bicycle, my hero with hemophilia reclaims his world
My son shows such confidence, even after enduring so many medical issues
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My youngest son, Caeleb, faced many health challenges with hemophilia during his early years.
Throughout early elementary school, he missed more than 50 days a year. He’d go to school for a few days, and then a spontaneous internal joint bleed would take him out of school for at least two weeks. Then he’d go home, and the cycle would repeat. My poor guy could not catch a break.
My wife and I worried about Caeleb falling behind in his classes. Several times, I considered enrolling him in an online program, but each time I did, his teachers assured me he could still participate and earn a passing grade. To this day, I offer a heartfelt thank-you to the teachers, school nurses, and office staff who helped us and reminded us of the power of a supportive community.
Hero, triumphant
We thought Caeleb’s struggles with hemophilia were behind him after he was hospitalized due to an internal bleeding episode in the third grade. Our motto became “No bleed equals no problem.”
But after Caeleb returned to school, we noticed he had difficulty forming lasting friendships and often came home sad because he could not connect with other children. But, demonstrating both his resilience and adaptability, my son worked hard to develop his social skills and made friends with classmates and children at church.
But chronic pain soon became another problem. When Caeleb was in the eighth grade, he played the trumpet in the marching band, and one day, during a field program, the trumpet players had to move quickly to another position, but that proved too much for him. Caeleb said his right knee and ankle hurt too much to walk.
We soon learned that the many internal joint bleeds had weakened his cartilage, and a subsequent visit to an orthopedic specialist revealed that Caeleb had very little, if any, cartilage in that knee and ankle. My wife asked the doctor, “If you did not know the patient, and only saw the MRI, what age would you think the patient might be?” The doctor said her guess would be 60 or 70.
That sent a shiver down my back, and at first, I felt angry, but my wife and I decided we should focus on how we could help Caeleb. We bought an electronic wheelchair, a cane, and a walker to help him navigate high school.
When he began college, he wanted to live on campus, but we insisted he live at home for his first year so we could be there for him if he had any problems. He’s in his second year now, staying in a dorm, and he rides a bike to his classes.
I have seen a new confidence coming over my son. Seeing this young man, who was once laid so low by so many horrible medical issues, grow stronger every day sends a wave of joy over me. I smile as I think about the many health battles he has faced and how he continues to come out on top. He is my hero.
Note: Hemophilia News Today is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or another qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of Hemophilia News Today or its parent company, Bionews, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to hemophilia.
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