Sometimes our struggles make us stronger.

Michael Mowry of Honesdale has been a hemophiliac since birth, a hereditary disorder that keeps his blood from clotting properly. It’s a disorder that demands he be careful, even the slightest injury, an innocent bump against the edge of a desk, could cause a spontaneous internal bleed. In his 30 years of life, Michael has already undergone 10 transfusions.

  The disorder also necessitated knee replacement surgery. “Because I had all the internal bleeds into the joint itself, it basically deteriorated the cartilage in my knee. That was causing a lot of pain. It would pop out a lot. It was basically bone on bone,” he said. Michael underwent knee replacement surgery three weeks ago. His doctor says he’ll eventually have to have other replacement surgeries.  

 
But the pain that he lives with isn’t what he dwells on. Michael says what he’s been through has taught him compassion. “I’m more caring for other people that have problems. It’s easier for me to understand where they’re coming from.”

Hemophilia has also made him tougher. “In ways, it has toughened me up, having a rougher life ...You know, I’ve lived my life as if I was probably a retired 70 or 80-year-old male, meaning I can’t get around as well as a 30-year-old gets around.”
Michael says by the time he was 24, his knee needed replacement. “But they just wouldn’t give it to me because I was too young ...and (replacements) only last so many years.” 

Honest emotion
“It’s depressing. Definitely depression comes along with the disease, not being able to live a normal 30-year-old life. What is normal? Getting a full-time job and any career — joining the Army — military, something I always wanted to be able to do.  Or being a police officer. Unfortunately, I obviously can’t keep up with them. It’s just the way my body is,” he said.

Michael is the fourth in his family to inherit hemophilia. His grandfather, the late Donald Gumble of Honesdale had it, as well as two cousins. He calls his cousin Billy Schroeder, wheelchair bound since early childhood, an inspiration. “Just seeing him living his life, he seems very happy. (He) does everything that needs to be done. And he does it by himself.

“I’m here and I’m making a better life,” Michael says. “I just got some information on going back to college. I’m thinking about nursing, RN.”

When it comes to hemophilia, Michael says, “Someday there’ll probably be a cure. It’s just the way life is right now and I’ve got to do the best that I can. I’ve lived with it for 30 years and you know, my faith is making me stronger.”