My husband, Jared, enjoys cooking. As I write this, a pot of gumbo simmers on the stove. Its strong aroma drifts throughout our open-layout house and toward my work desk. My stomach churns in excitement. It’s his first time making this dish, but as with nearly every recipe…
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 recently picked up a fascinating book, “The Courage to Be Disliked,” by Ichiro Kishimi and Fumitake Koga. The book dives into the philosophy of Alfred Adler, a pioneering figure in individual psychology. Adler’s ideas stand in contrast to the older, trauma-focused theories of…
Navigating life with hemophilia in the Philippines presents unique and daunting challenges. The financial burden of treatment is one of the most significant hurdles hemophiliacs face. A 1,000-unit vial of factor IX costs up to 22,000 Philippine pesos (about $377), yet the minimum monthly wage is…
My husband, Jared, and I have been working on some big home renovations lately. Under the supervision of my dad, who is a civil engineer, Jared learned how to do various jobs. He rerouted some water pipes, plugged up some holes, and painted. He also watched as an electrician installed…
I recently stumbled upon a thought-provoking post by “Typical Pinoy Crap” (TPC), a well-known Filipino digital creator who shares insightful views about social issues. The post commented on a line from a song by the all-girl Filipino pop group BINI, titled “Karera” (“Race”). The line is…
I recently received an intriguing piece of jewelry in the mail. It’s a prototype of a design I hope to sell someday. But I loved it so much that I wanted one for myself. The design is rather goth-themed, featuring a coffin-cut black onyx gem in the center flanked…
I think about my daughter’s future a lot, especially now that she’s getting older. At 5 and a half, she’s just finished senior nursery and is headed for big school in a month. She’s skinny and nimble, having lost most of her baby fat except for her cheeks. She loves…
Lately I’ve been pondering how to achieve long-term happiness and fulfillment while managing finances and chronic illnesses. My husband, Jared, battles hemophilia B and seizures while I manage attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and bipolar II disorder. Receiving Jared’s medication through humanitarian aid is a blessing, yet its consistency isn’t…
This past week has been a whirlwind of activity for our family. My husband, Jared, who has severe hemophilia B, experienced a knee bleed that required careful management. But that didn’t stop him from fulfilling his responsibilities around the house and making progress with his budding bottled food business.
Good mental health is crucial for caregivers of people with chronic illnesses. As a wife to someone with severe hemophilia B and epilepsy, I’ve seen firsthand how mental health matters to both patient and caregiver. I have to balance my husband’s needs with my own physical and…
Last month, my husband, Jared, and I enrolled our daughter in a new school. She’ll start kindergarten in a few months, which marks the beginning of mandatory schooling here in the Philippines. Although her current school is decent and she’s a beloved student there, we felt she might thrive more…
In the age of “cancel culture,” where snap judgments and public shaming abound, the journey from stigma to compassion is often fraught with challenges. I live with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and bipolar II disorder, am a wife to a person with hemophilia, and formerly co-owned a business run…
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