Hemophilia 24/7
— Cazandra Campos-MacDonald

I have carried a pocket calendar since my junior high school years. I recently came across an old calendar from 10th grade. Pictures of playful puppies were on the cover, and ticket stubs were tucked inside the sleeve. I was overwhelmed by memories of my younger days and the happiness…

Sometimes, conversations lead me to reveal that my boys have hemophilia. It is usually a harmless conversation without any agenda. However, I am not always sure how to reply when someone tells me how sorry they are to hear that my boys have an illness. It often depends on…

Spiral notebooks, pencils, glue sticks, and highlighters make my heart happy. These items signal the beginning of the school year. I have fond memories of buying new pencil boxes and the perfect backpacks for my sons. I always look forward to taking them shopping for school supplies. Now that my…

As a parent, it is my responsibility to help my sons become productive, compassionate, caring individuals. My oldest son, Julian, is 25 and working to complete his college degree. He is on the cusp of transitioning to a new phase in life. In less than a year, he will…

My son Caeleb begins his sophomore year of high school in a few weeks. Before school starts, he will participate in summer band. Summer band was a highlight of my high school days. Even marching outside in the heat was fun because working with a tightknit group to put on…

My youngest son, Caeleb, is embarking on a new adventure and studying for his driver’s test. Once he earns his permit, we’ll take him to the church parking lot for practice. Caeleb is thrilled at the thought of driving to school and band rehearsals. He is growing up and realizing…

Several things often happen when a woman becomes a mother. The switch of motherly intuition flips on, and many moms can make predictions without reason. (That “gut” instinct usually serves us well.) The overwhelming love for our newborn baby is a connection that ignites and lasts a lifetime. This…

I received an email from an old friend. She remembers when my youngest son, Caeleb, was in and out of the hospital. We both have experience raising a son with hemophilia and an inhibitor. Our paths are terribly similar, and seeing her name pop up in my email was…

Are caregiving and parenting the same? Caregiving is the activity or profession of taking care of one who is sick or disabled. A parent is one who brings up and cares for another. As the mother of two sons with hemophilia, I believe that caregiving and parenting are not…

There was a time when hemophilia ruled my family’s every waking moment. My husband and I set out to accomplish two goals each day: going to work and taking care of our youngest son, Caeleb. It was nice when Caeleb could go to school for an entire day, but…

My 15-year-old son, Caeleb, is looking for a summer job. We live in a small town, so his choices are limited, and many jobs require applicants to be at least 16. Part of me hopes he waits until next summer to find a job, but he is actively looking. The…

Sometimes a person must learn a lesson the hard way before making changes in their life. My youngest son, Caeleb, is 15, and he is discovering some truths about his body. Due to extensive damage in his right knee and ankle from hemophilia, simple things such as running and…