Adam: Moving up! Transitioning to University

Age 20. London, Ontario.

Q. As an undergraduate at the University of Western Ontario, how would you describe your life as a university student with hemophilia?

A. Things are going well. My hemophilia doesn’t really have an impact on my studies. I’m in my third year of biochemical engineering. I made the Dean’s List for the last two years. Overall, I am having a good time while also trying to learn.

Q. How has the transition from living with your parents to living on your own been for you?

A. It’s been a pretty big change. First year, I was in on-campus residence. For the last two years, I’ve been living with roommates in a house off campus. I was already independent with my transfusions when I was living at home, but now I am cooking, doing laundry, and taking care of the house. All that has made it really different from living with my parents.

In terms of my hemophilia care, I started going to the YMCA Wanakita camp when I was eight years old, and I learned how to self-infuse there. I was never reliant on my parents for that, but they did help me infuse before school in the morning to save time. Now, it’s all up to me.

Q. How do you balance the rigorous schoolwork you have with staying active?

A. It’s challenging. Without parents cooking your meals, it’s important to keep up with your health. My schooling takes up quite a bit of my time, but I try to hit the gym when I can. Schoolwork comes first though and, especially with engineering, it can be a heavy load!

Q. How did you get involved with the Canadian Hemophilia Society (CHS) youth group, and what kinds of activities are you involved in through that organization?

A. I became a member of the CHS youth group and then a national volunteer when I was in high school. I first joined after attending a youth retreat for a weekend. Since then, I’ve been involved mainly by e-mail, conference calls, and biannual meetings. With university though, it’s been more challenging to stay as active as when I was in high school.

The CHS youth group has done a great job increasing hemophilia awareness in Canada and getting youth involved. It’s important for people like me to join in so we can make the CHS even better for young people with hemophilia.

Q. How has participating in the youth group helped you to manage an active life with hemophilia?

A. Before I attended Wanakita, I didn’t know any other kids with hemophilia and I felt isolated. But then through that and by getting involved with the youth group at the CHS, I saw other kids – older kids – going through the same things I was going through. I finally felt I was part of a group and less isolated.

It’s important for youth to reach out and get involved. Not only will they feel more connected themselves, but it feels good to give back.

Q. What advice can you offer other young adults who are working to balance an active lifestyle with managing their hemophilia?

A. The main thing I have to say to teens and young adults like me, is to learn what the CHS is doing. It was my stepping stone to finding out about all of the events happening in the hemophilia community.

Kids have to know that they should get out there to do this stuff. It’s for their benefit and it’s not only going to help them today, but it will help them – as well as others – in the future.

For people with hemophilia like me, it might be a bit more difficult to balance all the activities going on in our lives. But it’s not impossible to get a good education and live a balanced, active life, while also managing your health.