My son’s first job was a chance to show that chronic pain won’t always win

My son Caeleb has hemophilia, and when he was in high school, he dealt with a lot of chronic pain, the result of continuous bleeding episodes into his right knee and ankle. He missed many days of school because the pain was so great that he couldn’t focus.

I thought often about the problems Caeleb had in high school as he started working his first job this summer, an internship at the church in Las Cruces, New Mexico, where I serve as pastor.

Caeleb is 20, which may seem a little old to be starting in the workforce, but he clearly enjoyed having a job this summer — his favorite part of the week was Taco Tuesday, when the staff went to a local taqueria near the church — and he showed me his maturity by not letting his pain keep him from his duties.

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Powering through the pain

My son experienced pain several times during the summer, but only missed one day of work because of it. On another day, he wanted to stay home, but forced himself to go. “I need to work through this,” he said. On our way home at the end of that day, I told him I was proud of him for pushing through his pain. He said, “Thank you, Dad. I can’t let my pain win. If I give in every time my leg hurts, I wouldn’t be able to achieve my goals.”

I’m grateful that Caeleb worked near me, so I could see how he responded when pain set in. What I saw made me proud. He won over everybody in the office, who told me how great a worker he was and how much the compassion he showed to those who came to the church was appreciated. It is safe to say that he has a gift for customer relations.

Everyone hates to see him go, but Caeleb returns to college this week, and my wife, Cazandra, and I will take him to his new dorm in Albuquerque on Friday. I can hardly believe how fast the summer has flown by.

While we prepare to drop Caeleb off at the University of New Mexico, I am grateful that I got to see my son handle himself in the real world, manage his bleeding disorder on his own, and realize what he is capable of, even as he learns to respect his limitations. For that, I say, bring on the fall semester.

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 consult your physician or another qualified healthcare 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.