Some people get birthday blues. Jared got a birthday bruise. So we found ourselves heading to a café to get some birthday brews. — A rhyme by yours truly My husband, Jared, celebrated his 32nd birthday on Jan. 13. A couple of days before that, he had a run-in with…
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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I’ve written before about not seeing myself as a caregiver in the traditional sense. For us caregivers, hemophilia doesn’t usually demand round-the-clock care. My husband, Jared, manages his condition independently. He infuses. He monitors his body. He makes decisions about risk and rest. My role on most days is…
My husband, Jared, often spent his childhood navigating two very different worlds. In one, he was a regular kid with big dreams and boundless imagination. In the other, he was a young boy living with severe hemophilia B, which meant being confined to hospital beds for weeks while receiving…
When my husband, Jared, was younger, he was “the sick child.” With severe hemophilia B and a seizure disorder, he stood out like a sore thumb — or a rare gem. In any case, he was distinct as the child who required special accommodations at school or who missed…
My husband, Jared, lives with severe hemophilia B and a seizure disorder. Despite these challenges, he’s active in ways that many people wouldn’t expect. He swims, lifts weights, and plays badminton. He can also keep up with our 5-year-old daughter, who is a huge ball of energy. We recently…
At age 28, I received a diagnosis that changed the way I saw myself. Learning that I had attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) felt like a missing puzzle piece finally clicking into place. Suddenly, everything that had once confused me about my life made sense: my struggles to stay engaged in tasks…
When someone we love is diagnosed with a chronic illness, our instincts often compel us to search for solutions: stricter routines, healthier diets, more discipline, or the willpower to push through. While self-help culture tends to praise these strategies, our family’s experience with chronic illness has shown that they can…
Living with someone who has a chronic illness has taught me much about perspective — both my own and that of others. While being married to someone who has hemophilia and epilepsy, I’ve seen firsthand how people often show that they care based on what they believe they’d want…
While the holiday season brings excitement, it also creates unique challenges for families like ours who are managing chronic conditions. My husband, Jared, has severe hemophilia B and epilepsy, and I have attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). While common advice suggests taking it slow, setting strict boundaries, and skipping some…
After a decade of living alongside my husband, Jared, and his severe hemophilia B, I’ve learned that not all bleeding is as straightforward as it may seem. Bleeds vary widely, not just in size but in severity and impact. What might look minor can be excruciating, while larger bleeds,…
When people hear about epilepsy, they often picture sudden, dramatic falls, frantic efforts to keep the person safe, and looming threats of injury. For my husband, Jared, these are indeed valid concerns. “What if he falls?” “What if he bumps his head?” These questions cross people’s minds — and…
I’ve lately come to realize that pride and dignity are core values in my life, profoundly influencing my sense of self and my interactions with others. Although pride is sometimes seen as a negative trait, there’s a crucial distinction between healthy and unhealthy pride. The former allows us to feel…
Living with hemophilia involves more than managing physical symptoms. It comes with mental and emotional challenges, too. My husband, Jared, who has severe hemophilia B and epilepsy, has spent much of his life feeling the need to prove himself. From childhood to adulthood, this drive for validation shaped…
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