This Mother’s Day, I remember 3 great mothers in my life

In observance of Mother’s Day, I can’t help but think about three amazing women who have proven their strength and dedication to my sons, Julian and Caeleb, who both live with hemophilia A.

All three of them approached hemophilia in very different ways when they were confronted with the bleeding disorder after my sons were born. As a man, I could not help but get carried away with the strength they demonstrated when my boys faced their diagnosis. While many people in my family didn’t know what to do or say when caring for the boys, these mighty women made a difference in my life, and in theirs.

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Lydia

My mother-in-law, Lydia, was battling heart disease when Julian, 29, came into the world, and died when he was 5 weeks old. Although Lydia never saw her grandson walk, run, or sing, I still think of her presence looming large over him.

I have a photo of Lydia holding Julian in her lap when he was about 3 weeks old. Her face lit up as he bounced up and down, and I can still hear her sing a lullaby and remember his delight as she sang. Her love for her dear grandbaby was a work of art, fashioned with love and joy, and her compassion for him is something I will not forget.

Caeleb, 20, never got to know his Grandma Lydia, but I believe she helps him during tough times. He hears her soothing voice whenever the pain from past internal joint bleeds overwhelms him and he cannot bear any weight on his right leg. I know she is there, helping him any way she can.

Ruby

My mother’s relationship with her grandsons can be told in one story.

When the hematologist came in to tell us that Julian had hemophilia, we struggled to take in what the diagnosis meant, but my mother, Ruby, looked at the doctor and asked, “Can we still take him to the zoo?”

I looked at my mother and rolled my eyes. “What a dumb question,” I thought to myself, but what I learned later was that what my mother was asking was, “Can I still hold him and take him with me on fun excursions to who knows where?” To my mother, the thought of not taking her grandson to museums and on other madcap adventures — I am sure I do not want to know what they were — was inconceivable. She loved Julian the minute she saw him, and whatever rules she had to follow, she would.

I recently saw a photo of my mom looking at Julian, and him looking back at her. The photo summed up the incredible relationship they shared. Julian loved his granny deeply.

Meanwhile, the defining memory of my mother’s relationship with Caeleb occurred in a hospital, of course. At the time, Caeleb was in the special pediatric intensive care unit because he would not eat. We tried everything, but no matter what we did, we couldn’t get him to eat.

One day, I went up to the hospital to relieve my mom so she could go to work, and to my surprise, she had gotten him to drink his entire bottle. “How did you do that?” I asked. “I guess it’s ol’ Granny Magic,” she replied. Because of her efforts, Caeleb was quickly released from the hospital.

Ruby Jane is no longer with us, but her strength and love remain with us always.

Cazandra

And rounding out the best of the best, I have to say something about my amazing wife. She is the one who looks after my children, even though they are adults now. My boys adore their mother. She encourages them, she makes the strangest jokes known to man with them, and she always celebrates whatever victories come their way.

As a husband, I often stand back and watch my wife and my boys laugh together. When they get together to watch a disgusting show (like “Dr. Pimple Popper”), cook, or engage in a very strange conversation, I can’t help but get caught up in the joy they share. I am extremely proud of her many achievements, but her role as mother to my sons is my absolute favorite. It is a masterpiece, and her greatest work.

So, I say Happy Mother’s Day to these three amazing women.

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 on hemophilia.