Boundaries Are Important for PWD Business Owners
My husband, Jared, and I run an online jewelry store. Over the years, the fact that our store is run by persons with disabilities (PWDs) has become one of its main selling points.
HemoWife — Allyx Formalejo
Allyx Formalejo, or Cza, is a writer, entrepreneur, and digital marketer based in Marikina, Philippines. She is married to Jared, who has severe hemophilia B and a seizure disorder. They have a young daughter and two other “babies” — a dog and a cat. Cza herself is diagnosed with ADHD and bipolar II disorder. This allows her to offer a unique perspective on navigating various aspects of young adult life (e.g. relationships, career, and parenting) with chronic health conditions. In her free time, she enjoys collecting fountain pens, supporting small businesses, traveling across the country, and exploring local cafes. She continues to blog like most 90s kids did in the Internet’s early years, sharing her thoughts and interesting discoveries on her personal website, czaofalltrades.com.
Featured Post
Going wide with ‘HemoWife,’ and more, on a social media channel
Lately, I’ve been toying with the idea of starting a social media channel that captures slices of my everyday life. On the surface, that might not sound unusual. Plenty of people create online spaces…
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Shared Struggles Allow My Husband and Me to Lean on Each Other
I recently scheduled a consultation with a psychiatrist after years of trying to manage my mental health without professional help. Since I was a teenager, I’ve dealt with chronic mental health issues that manifested…
I Feel Blessed After Celebrating My Birthday With Family
I recently celebrated my 27th birthday in the company of family. Despite being unable to go out due to government-mandated COVID-19 restrictions, I still had a wonderful celebration at home. Although it was a…
Compassion and Friendship Marked My Husband’s School Years
My husband, Jared, has fond memories of his school days when he was younger. He went to an all-boys combined elementary school and high school, where roughhousing and horsing around with friends were common.
How I’m ‘Future-proofing’ for My Chronically Ill Family
I have a number of friends working as financial advisors. From time to time, they offer me life insurance policies, stock market deals, and other similar investments. As a young mom and businesswoman,…
I Designed a Ring Inspired by Hemophilia to Help Raise Awareness
My design prototype for a jewelry piece commemorating hemophilia just rolled off the manufacturing line. The Hemo Ring will be posted on our Instagram store soon, just in time for March, which is…
How Disability Influences the Way We Parent
When I was a child, I learned a song called “Greatest Love of All.” I’ve always found the first two lines particularly striking: “I believe the children are our future/ Teach them well and…
I Made the Mistake of Invalidating My Husband
It just slipped out that one time. I wasn’t even thinking. My husband, Jared, and I had been talking casually about how some of his friends had taken up cycling, when I made the…
Learning About Rare Diseases Broadened My Perspective on Health and Wellness
My husband, Jared, and I were recently talking about Rare Disease Day, which falls on Feb. 28. As a person with hemophilia, Jared has faith in its purpose of raising awareness about rare…
Why I’d Take Many Small Bleeds Over a Large, Extended Injury
I recently asked my husband, Jared, who has hemophilia, a this-or-that question: “Would you rather have many insignificant bleeds several times a month, or big bleeds several times a year that keep you bedridden…
Why I Don’t Always Think About Hemophilia
When I tell people I’m married to someone with hemophilia, I get different reactions. Some people are genuinely curious and want to know more about my husband’s condition. They’ll ask several questions about the…
Exercising Helps Me Realize That Pain Is Necessary for Growth
After an entire year of getting little exercise, I’ve finally decided to work out again. I’d gone several months without much physical activity, so I’m starting with jump rope fitness for body conditioning. So…
