With hemophilia, time went from standing still to flying by
We recently celebrated our youngest son's 20th birthday
Some of the funniest commercials are for insurance companies.
Allstate’s Mayhem always makes me laugh. The GEICO Gecko is a fun, familiar character, and so are Flo from Progressive and Liberty Mutual’s LiMu Emu and Doug. But one series of commercials feels a little too familiar: Dr. Rick from Progressive.
Dr. Rick is a fictional life coach whose mission is to prevent young homeowners from turning into their parents. The commercials show people in social settings with Dr. Rick trying to redirect them.
When I was younger, I used to roll my eyes at my parents’ comments, the same kind you hear in those Progressive ads. One saying really got to me: Time flies, and before you know it, your baby will be in college. That wasn’t much comfort when I was in the middle of nighttime bottles and potty training. Now that my sons are grown, I see time differently.
We recently celebrated my youngest son’s birthday, and I had a moment that truly took my breath away.
When time stood still
Caeleb turned 20 on Jan. 18. He’s the younger of my two sons, and both have severe hemophilia. Caeleb has faced many challenges since he was a baby. When he was diagnosed at 11 months with a high-titer inhibitor, which means he had developed antibodies to treatment, it started a journey I never could have imagined.
When he was in elementary school, he missed weeks of school at a time. If he wasn’t at home recovering from a joint bleed, he was in the hospital. I spent many days and nights by his side as he cried out in pain. Sometimes, managing it all felt impossible.
Standing outside his hospital room while nurses held him down to start an IV left me feeling helpless and hopeless. His fear of needles grew worse with each infusion, which often happened every day. Balancing work, home, and being with Caeleb in the hospital was a constant juggling act, but it became my new normal. With each joint bleed, time stood still. Life shifted to two-hour intervals. Infusions at 8, 10, 12, and 2 were the routine each day and night. Sleep was minimal. Worry was overwhelming.
When Caeleb had a bleed, the minutes dragged for what seemed like an eternity. The inhibitor made healing more difficult, and it took longer for a bleed to resolve. I looked forward to each infusion, hoping it would be the one that helped the bleeding begin to slow. I looked forward to each morning to measure the circumference of his knee to see if the bleed had subsided.
A witness to time
Sometimes, I couldn’t even take things one day at a time. It was one breath at a time. There were moments when I doubted I could make it through another day because I couldn’t stop Caeleb’s pain.
Caeleb’s younger years were not always filled with pain from hemophilia. In fourth grade, there were stretches when life seemed as normal as any other kid’s. Going to school without a nurse’s call, riding the bus, and playing outside — those were the times I cherished for my son. But those moments passed too quickly.
Caeleb is now a college sophomore, living three hours away from home. I am amazed when I look at him. He’s a handsome, funny, and smart young man who’s learning to see himself as more than just his hemophilia. Like most young adults with a bleeding disorder, he’s made some mistakes with his care, but he’s working toward making better choices. I’m grateful for that.
As I put the candles into the birthday cupcakes, I was overwhelmed with emotion. Each candle stood for a year of his life — the good times, the hard times, and especially the victories. As he leaned in and blew them out, I saw not just time passing, but also his resilience taking shape.
Time really does fly. Not in the way people say without much thought, but in a sacred, hard-earned way — stitched together by prayers, perseverance, and love. And while I may sound a little more like my parents these days, I say it with gratitude: Time moves quickly. And witnessing my son become the man I always knew he could be is more than I could have ever hoped for.
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.
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