My son with a bleeding disorder navigates dorm life his own way

I grew up outside the city limits of Houston. My childhood was idyllic. I am one of the few who say my high school years were some of the best of my life. When I went to college, I attended a university on the other side of town. I lived in the dorms, about 45 minutes from home. I had my independence and could easily get home to see my family and friends.

I vividly remember driving from home to the dorms on a Sunday night. I was in my burnt-orange, hand-me-down ’79 Mustang. I loved that car. Its inside lining hung low, as it was starting to peel, but that car had been my freedom since my junior year of high school. With my newfound independence living away from home, I did something naughty.

I bought a pack of cigarettes (for $1.75).

Now, I never had big dreams of smoking, but the fact that I could buy cigarettes was enticing. I remember lighting up and driving with the window open because I didn’t want to smell of smoke. I’m sure I never inhaled, but it made me feel grown up. I think I had that same pack of cigarettes for all four years of college, with maybe three gone from the pack.

I knew smoking was bad, just like drinking. But being able to experiment was fun. However, my upbringing by a strong Hispanic mother and father taught me lessons that stay with me to this day. Fortunately, I never pushed my limits to the point of getting in trouble. I appreciate the lessons I learned from my beloved parents, Gonzalo and Lydia Campos.

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My son’s excitement takes me back to 1986

Watching my youngest son, Caeleb, a 19-year-old sophomore in college, is a nostalgic experience. He lives three hours away and, for the first time, is in the dorms and on his own. His excitement takes me back to 1986, when I had my newfound freedom of living away from home.

Caeleb recently told me he and his friends were going to hang out and go to the mall. This may not sound like a big deal, but Caeleb’s generation is one that often “hangs out” online. Seeing him engage with friends in the flesh does this mama’s heart good. His enthusiasm for exploring the world, his schoolwork, and his progress are truly inspiring. Academia has not been Caeleb’s forte, but his maturity is flourishing.

When I was in college, health issues were never an issue (except for gaining and losing weight). Caeleb, on the other hand, must contend with severe hemophilia A with an inhibitor. His college experience is vastly different from mine, as he understands how to care for himself, especially in terms of the mobility issues he has from damaged joints. Watching him maneuver the world as a disabled young man is astounding.

While not everyone with hemophilia experiences such severe complications, Caeleb’s right knee and ankle endured irreparable damage from joint bleeds, which has left him with chronic pain. Living with chronic pain as an adult is difficult enough. But it’s hard to comprehend contending with that kind of pain as a teenager.

Keeping up on a college campus takes resilience, adaptability

For years, Caeleb has managed life as an ambulatory wheelchair user. He often uses a cane, but with the distance he travels around campus, he prefers to ride a bike. I am grateful that he is physically capable of using this mode of transportation. However, when the seasons change and the cold temperatures set in, his electric wheelchair is the mode of choice. Using a manual wheelchair on the campus’ hills and slopes is difficult.

Even with various methods of getting around, Caeleb must think ahead and plan to keep up on a college campus. And he is doing so with resilience and adaptability. I am incredibly proud of my son and his ability to navigate the challenges associated with his condition.

I know he will do some things that I do not want to know about (until he is at least 40 years old). But I am happy that he is coming into his own as a young man with a chronic bleeding disorder.

He will look back on these years and laugh about the crazy things he did. I hope that he will be grateful for not pushing the limits too much and give thanks for the lessons learned from his mom and dad. I also hope that he will continue to navigate his condition with the same strength and determination that he has shown so far.

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.