Between courage and caution, independence and vulnerability, living with hemophilia means mastering balance. For Robert, that balance doesn’t always come easily, but it’s never stopped him from pushing forward.

“I didn’t have the easiest path in life,” Robert said. “But I’m trying to build something better for my son and me. I want him to see that no matter what’s happened, you can still move forward.”

Robert was born with hemophilia, a rare bleeding disorder that makes even small injuries serious. Without much family support growing up, Robert had to learn how to advocate for himself very early on in his life.  

“I was probably 12 when I started handling my own medical situations,” he said. “A lot of times, nobody believed me when I said something was wrong. There were times I was close to dying before someone realized how serious it was.”

Someone else might have let that hardship define them, but not Robert. Instead, Robert saw the adversities that he faced as fuel for his ambitions. They were a part of his journey to build the future that he wants for himself and his son. 

“You just have to keep learning and speaking up for yourself. Keep pushing,” he said. “Your voice matters.”

That same determination brought Robert one step closer to his goals. This year, he took a major step forward by enrolling at Penn State to pursue his dream of becoming a computer scientist.

“It’s exciting but a little daunting,” he admitted. “I’m surrounded by kids who’ve used computers since they were two. But I want to be able to work behind a computer — still be productive and still contribute.”

As if managing his studies and his regular medical appointments wasn’t already hard enough, Robert also has to grapple with the constant chronic pain that comes with his condition on a daily basis. 

“Sometimes I lose concentration because of my neck pain,” he said. “I’ll pinch or rub my neck just to get a little focus back. But I keep pushing.”

It’s hard to imagine how Robert has been able to overcome so much and continue to persevere, but he has more than just himself to think about. 

“One of my greatest motivators is my 14-year old son. I just want him to have the choices that I didn’t,” he shared. 

While Robert has managed to overcome the many barriers that have been thrown his way, the one barrier holding him back was everyday transportation. With so many places to go, but no way to get there, the fierce independence that Robert had prided himself on for so long was compromised. He needed a way to stay active, live independently, and still have the time and energy to connect with his community. That’s when he learned about the GIO Scooter. 

“This scooter’s going to give me the ability to actually go to all my appointments, manage my physical therapy, and not have to carry a bike up and down the steps every night,” he said. “And it’ll let me visit my son. That’s what matters most.”

For Robert, this GIO scooter is far more than just a set of wheels — It is a symbol of Robert’s resilience. 

“When a door closes, either go through it or go over it,” he laughed. “And if there’s a wall there, go through that thing. It gets easier. You just keep moving forward.”

Now, thanks to Robert’s new scooter, and the support of our generous donor community, Robert is able to do just that.

Robert’s journey is proof that perseverance is powerful — and that sometimes, freedom looks like an open road, a steady hum, and the chance to keep moving toward what matters most.

PS: Robert is the 715th recipient we’ve proudly supported over the last thirteen years. He is one of hundreds of people whose lives have been transformed by the generosity of this community. With your help, we’re on track to reach our 1,000th recipient soon (and yes, there will be a celebration!) To join us in empowering future recipients, like Robert, to live with greater confidence and autonomy, please consider donating at chivecharities.org/donate.