My Husband Is Strong Because of Hemophilia

A sealed jar that no one can open. A faucet attachment that’s been screwed on too tightly. A piece of furniture that needs to be moved. These are just some of the problems we encounter at our home on a regular basis.

And the one person who can solve them? Why, no one else but my husband, Jared, who also has severe hemophilia B.

Whenever I watch him do home repairs or see him hoist heavy objects onto his 5-foot-4-inch, 180-pound frame with ease, I always blurt out, “Why are you so strong, dear?”

It’s a rhetorical question, and I don’t expect an answer, but Jared always responds anyway: “Because I have hemophilia.”

At first, this might seem like an ironic thing to say. If he has hemophilia, he’s more prone to being injured, and his recovery time from injuries would be much longer. Shouldn’t he avoid strenuous tasks altogether?

It is partly true that prevention is better than a cure, but it’s important to note that prevention in this case doesn’t mean completely avoiding physical activity. Health professionals have long established that exercise is an essential component of daily routines for those with hemophilia. Moderate physical activity conditions joints and strengthens muscles. This, in turn, makes severe bleeds less likely to occur.

Jared always tells me that having hemophilia serves as his driving force to exercise. He seeks to strengthen his body in every way possible in order to lower his bleed frequency and reduce the chance of experiencing an agonizing bleed.

If it weren’t for hemophilia, he wouldn’t be as motivated to pursue physical fitness. But he is now, thanks to his bleeding disorder. Hemophilia actually gives him a reason to get moving and build his strength, even if all he is doing are simple physical tasks, such as household chores and minor home repairs.

Hemophilia was Jared’s biggest weakness when he was growing up. When he was a child, he spent a lot of time in the hospital recovering from bleeds that had progressed because there was no clotting factor available. To this day, hemophilia still makes him feel weak at times, especially when he has an active bleed.

But by fully embracing his condition and learning how to take care of his body, Jared has effectively transformed his weakness into his strength.

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.