It’s been nearly five months since I became a mom to baby Cittie. In those months, my life has been transformed into something completely different. My social media feed, which used to be full of items about academics and career, is now full of articles about babies and…
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.
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When I was 3 years old, I joined a television pageant for little girls called “Princess Asia.” I won the top prize. But when I look back on that moment now, the crown itself feels almost incidental. What stands out more is that I caught amebiasis, an intestinal infection, just…
I sprained my thumb in my sleep a few days ago. The symptoms point to a condition called De Quervain’s tenosynovitis. An extremely painful sensation runs from my thumb to my wrist joint if I move my thumb in certain ways. Putting pressure on it, as I’m forced to…
As I write this, Mother’s Day is approaching, and tributes to mothers have begun filling the pages of local blogs and publications. They speak of the heroism of moms around the world. The sacrifices that moms make for their children. Everything they do to make their families’ lives a tiny…
When I’m browsing online, I often see posts dedicated to carers of people with disabilities, calling them “unsung heroes” for sacrificing time and convenience for their loved ones’ well-being. As the wife of a person with disabilities, I can attest that is often the case. I believe carers deserve recognition.
Last weekend, I had an experience I had long dreamed about. This experience had been on my list of “things to achieve” for several years since I met my husband, Jared, who lives with hemophilia. Many women my age dream of treating themselves to a huge shopping…
Dear Chronically Ill Partner, I know life isn’t always easy for you. You have grown up believing life dealt you a terrible deck of cards. You’re no stranger to the feeling of suffering. At one point or another, you’ve even questioned the motives of the universe in…
Baby Cittie turned 2 months old on March 18. It’s been a whirlwind couple of months filled with sleepless nights and endless smiles. Cittie is thriving; she’s doubled her weight, put on some chub, and loves to say “heeeeeeh” in an adorable coo-ey voice. Over the past…
Baby Cittie turned a month old on Feb. 18. I’ve noticed that her leg has sported a largish gray spot resembling a bruise since birth. Although it has faded, it still hasn’t gone away entirely. As a first-time mom, I am naturally paranoid. I notice…
All of the items I own are covered with breast milk; it’s on my clothes, bedsheets, even my phone. Its subtle sweetness occasionally attracts ants in the same way it appeals to my baby. I find the human body amazing for producing this miracle substance…
To the father of my daughter, Thank you for being present from the very beginning of my pregnancy — when those two lines first appeared, and you told me you didn’t know how to feel (despite us having planned everything out). Thank you for soldiering through those…
On Friday, Jan. 18, my husband, Jared, and I finally had our baby girl. We named her Melanie Citrine. (Courtesy of Alliah Czarielle) Labor was perhaps the most physically challenging thing I’ve ever done. On my birth plan, I stated that I wanted a…
Dear (young) person with disability, I hear you. You’re having a tough time with money. Maybe you’re having difficulty finding a job. You probably have the qualifications — you may have gone to college and had internships here or there — but no company will accept you. You blame it…
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