For so many, this time of year is one of celebration and joy. But for my family, it looks a little different. My 3-year-old son, Jamie, is battling leukemia, and we’re gearing up to leave New Mexico for several months so he can receive a bone marrow transplant, a procedure that isn’t available in New Mexico. Over the coming weeks, my husband and I will spend our time shuffling between temporary housing and the hospital, trading turns to ensure that my son always has one of his parents at his bedside.
My biggest hope is for my son to recover. I want him to grow up, go to school, and be able to play like other kids his age do. I also hope that this will finally be the year that lawmakers pass the Paid Family and Medical Leave Act, a bill that would create a state-run program providing up to 12 weeks of paid leave when a person or someone they love has a medical emergency, or when they welcome a new child.
I know firsthand what a lack of paid leave does to families. Since my son was first diagnosed when he was 17 months old, my husband and I have struggled to balance a dizzying array of responsibilities. My husband took an extended leave of absence from medical school to care for our medically fragile son around the clock. I kept working to pay the bills.
I do my best to come from work each night and give my husband a rest, but both of us are saddled with the constant weight of worrying about our son’s health, attending his medical appointments, ensuring our 6-year-old-daughter is taken care of, and that I can meet the responsibilities of a job I love.
I know that compared to so many families in similar positions, we’re relatively lucky. My husband has medical training that allows him to provide incredible care to our son. I have a well-paying job, a supportive boss and co-workers, and friends and family members who go out of their way to make us meals, wash our laundry, and help look after our kids.
Even with our incredible network of support, we still struggle every day.
As we prepare for the next round of intensive treatment out of state, I wish my focus could be solely on my son. If we had paid leave, I’d still feel the agony that comes with seeing your child in pain or seeing him constantly poked and prodded with needles. And on more days than I’d like, I’d still have to work remotely from a hospital chair, as his recovery will outlast the unpaid leave I can take under the federal Family and Medical Leave Act.
But at least I wouldn’t have to worry about missing out on vital income, and that peace of mind would make an immeasurable difference.
Our legislators have an opportunity to support hardworking families who are doing their best to get by, and who can’t afford to give up their income or jobs to help a loved one. I don’t think there’s a lawmaker in our state who wouldn’t list supporting families among their top priorities, but we need more than lip service.
We need our elected officials to lead with compassion and show us their family values by passing the Paid Family Medical Leave Act and alleviating the added burdens that too many of us face when going through the most difficult time in our lives.
By Meredith Root Bowman
Published Jan 27, 2025
Albuquerque Journal