For my husband, video games and the hospital went hand in hand

My husband, Jared, often spent his childhood navigating two very different worlds. In one, he was a regular kid with big dreams and boundless imagination. In the other, he was a young boy living with severe hemophilia B, which meant being confined to hospital beds for weeks while receiving whole blood and plasma-derived treatments.

These extended hospital stays were a far cry from what most kids his age experienced. Yet amid the IV drips and sterile walls, Jared found an unexpected source of solace: video games.

Back in the days before synthetic factor products became accessible here in the Philippines, hemophilia treatment meant long and frequent hospitalizations. For Jared, the privilege of bringing his gaming console to his hospital room was a literally a game changer.

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Through video games, he could transport himself to vibrant new worlds filled with excitement and adventure. As he played, the beeping machines and cold hospital air faded into the background. For hours at a time, gaming helped him reclaim a sense of freedom that his condition often took away.

Video games were more than just a distraction; they became a lifeline. They gave him a sense of agency when much of his life was dictated by medical protocols. Nurses and other patients sometimes stopped by to watch him play, turning his room into a small haven of joy and camaraderie.

These days, Jared doesn’t have as much time for video games. Like many adults, his priorities have shifted to work, parenthood, and the demands of daily life. But his love for gaming hasn’t completely faded. If the opportunity arises, he still enjoys spending a couple of hours with a game or two.

Meanwhile, our daughter, a member of Generation Alpha, has taken up the controller. For her, video games are more than a hobby — they’re a cultural cornerstone. Gaming is as normal for her generation as weekend cartoons were for ours.

It’s heartwarming to watch Jared guide her through tricky levels or join her on Roblox (a virtual universe) at her request. In these moments, he gets to pass down not just gaming skills but also the joy and comfort he once found during those hospitalizations so long ago.

Survival games and life lessons

Video games have a way of teaching lessons about gratitude, patience, and resilience — sometimes in the simplest of ways. I recently stumbled across a quote from a gaming page that struck a chord: “I have food, I have water, I’m not bleeding. It’s been a good day.”

This line, a nod to survival games, captures a profound truth that resonates deeply with Jared. For someone who grew up counting bleeds and hospital visits as part of life, the ability to appreciate the small wins is second nature.

I teased him that his version of the quote might go, “I’m only bleeding mildly,” or “I’m bleeding to a manageable extent.” He laughed, acknowledging how true that sentiment is. For Jared, finding joy in the basics is a skill he learned early on — both from his condition and from the games that kept him going.

While video games no longer dominate Jared’s life, their influence has left a lasting mark. They were his companions during some of his most difficult moments, teaching him not just how to pass the time but also how to persevere.

Watching him share this love with our daughter feels like a full-circle moment. Their gaming sessions may look different, but the underlying message remains the same: Even in life’s toughest moments, we can find pockets of joy, connection, and escape.

For Jared, gaming was more than a childhood pastime. It was a reminder that, no matter the challenges, there’s always room to play.

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.