Hemophilia 24/7 - a Column by Cazandra Campos-MacDonald

My chronic pain is not caused by a bleeding disorder, but it does give me perspective on the pain my youngest son, Caeleb, endures from hemophilia. Friends stopped by on a recent afternoon to meet our new puppies, and I shared a homemade pie that was fresh from the oven.

My 24-year-old son, Julian, lives out of state, where he attends college and works as a barista. He pays his bills and “adults” well, making me immensely proud of him. When he was a teenager, I didn’t think I would live to see his adult years. Like most teenagers who…

A new mom recently called me to share her concerns and to ask questions about choosing a new treatment for her son. She needed a listening ear, and just thinking about the possibility that her little boy might never need an implanted port gave me chills. I thought…

When I think back to the early days of raising my first of two sons with hemophilia, I see how I have changed. Back then, I was a scared young woman trying to figure out what the diagnosis of a rare medical condition meant. I found myself living…

The back-to-school season is one of my favorites. Shopping for new school clothes, finding the right backpack, and getting school supplies are part of the tradition. As my son Caeleb enters his freshman year of high school, it looks to be the start of a vastly different year. There is…

A couple friends came over for lunch last weekend, and one started talking to my youngest son, Caeleb, who is 14. Caeleb and I were both confused by this, because the conversation didn’t make sense. I realized that my friend had mistaken Caeleb for my older son Julian, who is…

When people find out my sons have hemophilia, their reactions often make me uncomfortable. “You are so brave, Cazandra,” one might say. “I don’t know if I could do it,” another might add. Friends and family members often place me on a pedestal by saying that my strength and courage…

School is about to start — at least that’s the plan as of this week. With such havoc in our world, plans for students to return to school are ever-changing. My 14-year-old son, Caeleb, will enter high school this fall. His school has a plan for three groups of…

The past few months have been filled with change. My family and I moved from Texas back to New Mexico, my husband and I started new jobs, and our youngest son, Caeleb, begins high school in a few weeks. Our home is finally getting into a new rhythm and…

I am a sucker for routine. Spontaneity does not come easily to me because I do not like surprises. I missed routine when my now 14-year-old son, Caeleb, was younger and hemophilia seemed to be the ever-present, unwanted guest in our lives. I joked that I missed boring…