I will always offer to help my son through moments of adversity

Last Friday, I went about my day as usual. It’s one of my days off, and I was looking forward to some free time. As I made plans for the weekend, my phone started ringing. I looked at the screen and saw my youngest son Caeleb’s face. I smiled because he is in his second year of college at the University of New Mexico and living in a dorm, so when he initiates a call, it warms my heart.

I answered, expecting his happy voice, but I heard something completely different. He said, “Dad, you won’t believe what just happened. Someone stole my bike. I used a lock and secured it to one of the racks close to the building. Who would do something like this? I need my bike to get around campus. I can’t walk to my classes. My knee and ankle can’t take the pressure. What do I do?”

I sat and listened to his fears. My son has severe factor VIII deficiency, also known as hemophilia A. During his younger years, he suffered many spontaneous joint bleeds into his right knee and ankle. As he grew up, he developed chronic pain in those target joints. The excessive bleeding proved extremely damaging to the cartilage supporting his right leg.

While he can walk, all the wear and tear on his right knee and ankle has left him with horrible pain. As a young adult, he often uses a wheelchair for long distances. Now that he’s living in a dorm, Caeleb uses a bike to travel across campus. He gets great exercise and doesn’t draw attention to himself like he does with a wheelchair.

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When my son finished talking, I could hear the frustration and fear in his voice. I also knew I needed to lay eyes on him and help him find a solution. I asked him, “Son, what are you doing on Saturday?” He told me that he had nothing planned since he no longer has a bike to help him get to the places he likes to go on campus.

I didn’t want to drive three hours to Albuquerque from where I live in Las Cruces, but Caeleb needed my help, and I needed to know that he would be OK. I told him, “How about I take you to lunch tomorrow, and then we’ll find another bike? It’s not like you need it for casual rides. You depend on it to get from one place to another.”

I could hear the disbelief in his voice as he asked, “Dad, you would travel all the way up here for me?”

“Son, I would travel to the moon and back for you,” I replied.

He said, “OK. Let me know when you get close to the university, and I will meet you in the parking lot. Are you sure you want to travel all the way from Las Cruces?” I assured him that I had nothing to do and wanted to see him and get him a new set of wheels.

The next day, as we sat in the restaurant’s parking lot, I reassured him, “I’ll put a voodoo curse on the person who stole your bike.” We laughed as I playfully imitated a witch casting a spell. His smile was a balm to my worried heart. I looked at him and said, “Your dad’s got you, son. Everything will be all right.”

Later, when we found a good bike and a secure lock, Caeleb looked at me with tear-stained eyes and said, “I can’t thank you enough for this.” I hugged him and reminded him that I would move mountains to help him when he struggles. I told him, “That’s what buddies do for one another.”

After paying for the beautiful new bike, we headed back to his dorm. I dropped him off, and as I pulled away from the school, I said to myself, “He will never know how much love I have for him. He is my son. My mighty Caeleb. The one who can survive all things.”

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.