Infusing Love: Finding His Voice

 
 

Recently a friend shared a quote that really resonated with me: “A negative mind will never give you a positive life.” I recited that quote at least one hundred times the day she shared it. I even had to find a pretty Google image of the quote, print it off, and hang it on my office wall. In our home we try to stay as positive as we can. Having three kids with chronic health conditions makes that especially challenging. But we make the most of it! As a caregiver I feel the need to keep positive as it sets the tone for how the house runs for the day.
Recently, our son, Jackson, was given the opportunity to be the Color Run Hero. For those who don’t know what the Color Run is, it’s the happiest 5K in the world! It’s a race that goes from city to city where thousands of participants pay money for colored talc powder to be thrown at them. There is not one clean spot on the participants once the event is over! Our local bleeding disorder chapter has partnered with the Color Run for the past several years as their preferred charity for the Cincinnati races. It benefits our chapter and gets the word out about the bleeding disorder community. In August Jackson was to be interviewed by the local media and provide a countdown to the after party. I was so excited for him!! He was a little hesitant. He became negative and said he couldn’t do it. But I knew he could!
We prepped him with possible questions the reporter could ask him and listened to his answers. He is only 8-years-old but he is rather candid and you never know what he would willingly share! We pumped him up and told him how much fun it was going to be, but again, he doubted himself and said he couldn’t do it.
I looked him in the eye and reassured him that he could, and that Mommy and Daddy always talk about hemophilia to others but that this was his chance to tell his story. I would like to think our little pep talk empowered him enough to accept his invitation to be the Color Run Hero that morning or maybe it was the box of donuts they had in the green room, but my little man did it! He shared his story, thoughts, and feelings about living with a bleeding disorder all on his own with the reporter on TV! He stood on a stage in front of 7,000 participants colored like a rainbow and counted down the after party. When he came down from the stage he was grinning from ear to ear. He loved it! But more importantly, he found his voice to share his story and the story of all those living with a bleeding disorder.
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Jen lives in Ohio with her husband, Joe, and their three children: Evelyn (21), Nora (14), and Jackson (7).
*Note: “Infusing Love: A Mom’s View,” is a blog collection of personal opinions and a representation of individuals experiences. While extensive efforts are made to ensure accuracy of the content, the blog entries do not represent HFA or its Board of Directors. The blog is also not intended to be construed as medical advice or the official opinion/position of HFA, its staff, or its Board of Directors. Readers are strongly encouraged to discuss their own medical treatment with their healthcare providers.