My oldest son, Julian, is a working actor in a touring production. For this show, he is trained to perform both male lead roles. Over the last six months, he performed one role, and he recently began the other role in a new city. Even though he knows the script…
Hemophilia 24/7
— Cazandra Campos-MacDonald
Rev. Cazandra Campos-MacDonald is a pastor, author, motivational speaker, and encourager. She lives in New Mexico with her husband, Rev. Dr. Joe MacDonald, and youngest son, Caeleb. Their adult son, Julian, is living the bohemian life of a starving artist and goes wherever there is an audition. Her sons live with severe hemophilia A and inhibitors. Her older brother died shortly after birth due to complications from hemophilia. Cazandra writes candidly of raising two sons with a rare bleeding disorder. She believes storytelling is about redeeming the journey and connecting with others.
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My son Caeleb recently had his wisdom teeth removed. Caeleb has severe hemophilia A with an inhibitor, but hemophilia hasn’t been the main focus in his life for years. Nevertheless, before the surgery, he called the hemophilia treatment center (HTC) to ask about what steps to…
As a classically trained oboist, I enjoy attending the symphony, except when Wagner is on the program. I like to get there early and watch what happens before the performance starts. Musicians come on stage one by one, settle in, adjust their sheet music, and sometimes practice.
Back-to-school season has always been one of my favorite times of the year. Walking through aisles full of pencils, erasers, spiral notebooks, and colored pens takes me back to my elementary school days. I especially loved choosing a big pack of construction paper. Opening a new package, breathing in the…
Many people believe that if a disability or struggle is not visible, it must not be real. I learned this lesson firsthand as I watched my son Caeleb live with severe hemophilia A and its lasting effects. His challenges are not always obvious to others, but they affect nearly every…
I grew up in a mostly white suburb of Houston. My dad, who was of Mexican descent and had dark skin, spoke English as his second language. He worked hard, went to school, and earned both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in education from the University of Texas. He became…
I have two dogs, Laggie and Hildie, that are a mix of border collie and Australian shepherd. They’re 5 years old and came from the same litter, even sharing the same sac, which is pretty rare. Laggie looks more like a border collie, while Hildie takes after the Australian shepherd…
I use Spotify to listen to my favorite podcasts, audiobooks, and music. Downloading what I like is simple, but there’s another fun part: the app makes playlists based on what you listen to. One recent playlist really surprised me. The playlist Spotify picked for me was called Oldies Mix.
The swimming pool was the best place to be for a young girl growing up in the hot Texas summers. I’d hand over my crumpled dollar at the counter and spend the whole day there. After a quick shower, I’d grab my face mask, towel, and snack bar money, then…
At work, I’m the second-oldest on my team. With our ages ranging from mid-20s to early 50s, we each bring different life experiences. I’m always interested in hearing the Gen Z and millennial women share their stories. As a Gen X person, I sometimes do things that remind me of…
I struggle with something that affects me on every level — spiritually, emotionally, and physically. It’s called perfectionism. My perfectionism started when I was a kid. I used to rearrange my room all the time, making sure everything was in its place. A tidy space made me happy. As a…
I spend a lot of time in the hospital, but not for the reasons most people think. As a hospice chaplain, I sit with patients who are nearing the end of life. It is a privilege to be with their families and friends as they prepare to say goodbye. The…
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