Hemophilia 24/7
— Cazandra Campos-MacDonald

I like to watch jugglers. From balls and plates, to bowling pins and swords, performers toss items into the air one after another, never letting them hit the floor. Their hand-eye coordination is tremendous, as well as their ability to move, twirl, and even ride a unicycle while keeping the…

I have a version of Pandora’s box. Fortunately, the box doesn’t see the light of day. I keep it on the top shelf of my closet, hidden behind extra pillows that are stored away for months on end. The box contains years of pain, grief, sorrow, and buckets of tears.

I thought the worst days were behind me in helping my youngest son navigate his bleeding disorder. Caeleb is 16 years old and a junior in high school. During his younger years, an inhibitor wreaked havoc on my son, causing extreme complications and joint bleeds that took an…

The internet is overflowing with life hacks that can make tasks easier. From using a plastic knife to cleanly cut brownies to using pillowcases to clean ceiling fan blades, there are hundreds of tricks to help people solve problems. For example, I recently grabbed a roll of Press’n Seal…

I’ve never met a parent who enjoys the school drop-off. It’s frustrating when someone doesn’t follow protocol and stops without moving their vehicle to the front of the drop-off zone, thereby forcing everyone behind them to wait. And in my experience, the line forms at least half an hour before…

A recent news story caught my attention. The report highlighted local athletes who unfortunately sustained injuries while serving in the military. These amazing women and men play basketball, tennis, and several other sports while in wheelchairs. Watching these phenomenal veterans play with determination and the physical prowess of professional athletes…

There’s often a children’s time at church when the kids race up to the front and sit with the pastor, where a message is geared to the children. When my husband leads this moment during worship, he asks questions and even takes the kids on “field trips” around the sanctuary.

The pandemic changed the world. From working in an office to working remotely, staying connected through technology, and shopping for necessities online, the world managed to keep moving. I’m grateful for the conveniences and adaptations that are now the norm, but I find there’s still an area where many are…

The age of 18 is when teens legally move from minor to adult status, becoming able to vote in the U.S. It’s also when kids graduate from high school and move on to the workforce or college. For me, 18 was not a milestone. It simply meant I was going…

My youngest son, Caeleb, is 16 and preparing to begin his junior year in high school. School has been difficult for him since before kindergarten. With complications from hemophilia and an inhibitor, he missed numerous days of school through his third-grade year, which caused him to…

When my first son, Julian, was born in 1996 and diagnosed with severe hemophilia A, I thought my world was ending. I expected to give birth to a healthy baby boy. I never dreamed he’d have a medical condition. I went through the stages of grief: denial,…

Living with pain is exhausting. However, those living with pain have numerous ways to manage their condition, seeking relief through medication, physical therapy, massage, chiropractic care, and even hypnosis. Knowing the cause of that pain is helpful for doctors and patients as they work to find ways to cope and…