Some of the funniest commercials are for insurance companies. Allstate’s Mayhem always makes me laugh. The GEICO Gecko is a fun, familiar character, and so are Flo from Progressive and Liberty Mutual’s LiMu Emu and Doug. But one series of commercials feels…
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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Packing my lunch is necessary because my schedule as a hospice chaplain can change quickly. I keep food and drinks in an ice chest in my car because it can get hot here in New Mexico. When I get a call to see a patient whose passing is imminent, time…
A voice memo appeared in a text from one of my hemophilia mom friends. We usually see each other at national meetings or on social media, but we don’t talk much outside of that. She’s one of the coolest women I know, so I always wonder why we don’t…
My husband, Joe, and I recently officiated a marriage vow renewal for close friends in Santa Fe, New Mexico, one of our favorite places. We made a long weekend of it, spending time with friends, meeting new people, and enjoying each other’s company. The next morning, we had breakfast at…
I love making quilts. Some people wonder why anyone would buy new fabric just to cut it up and sew it back together. It might sound odd, but for quilters like me, creating something by hand brings comfort, joy, and satisfaction. There is a rule when preparing to make…
I have a bad habit. When I shop for groceries, I grab what I need but often get distracted by a bright package. A new cookie? How many carbs are in it? The same thing happens when I watch a movie or listen to a podcast with lots of twists.
My husband, Joe, and my sons, Julian and Caeleb, each have their own unofficial jobs when we decorate for the holidays. Julian brings the dusty red and green totes full of Christmas decorations in from the shed. I open them and decide what comes inside first. Joe and Caeleb…
In my work as a hospice chaplain, I take the same routes when I drive to patients’ homes, assisted living facilities, or hospitals. Without thinking about changing lanes or adjusting my speed, my mind settles into autopilot, and I often arrive at my destination without realizing how far I’ve…
I rumbled around the house one evening, wrapped in my favorite oversized sweatshirt and cozy socks, the comfort like a warm embrace. I left my latest craft, hands marked with thread and bits of fabric, to refill my iced tea. As I made my way to the kitchen, I left…
Moving is challenging. Moving means packing, having to decide what to keep and what not to keep, learning a new place, having to find a new grocery store, a new hair and nail salon, a new healthcare provider. Doing all that this time offered an opportunity to remember and…
My last home had a great fence. It was a wall of concrete blocks surrounding my backyard and stood 7 feet high. With two dogs who bark at the wind blowing, the wall deterred them from jumping and kept some of their barking at bay. However, there was an iron…
A columnist reflects on how a lifelong friendship taught her the value of “meeting halfway,” a lesson that later guided her advocacy while raising a son with severe hemophilia. When gaps in care emerged, collaboration and persistence became essential to securing the support he needed.
I’m a hospice chaplain, and one day I was at the nurses’ station, completing my notes from a patient visit, when the fire alarm sounded. Startled, I turned to the nurse, who said the alarm had been going off all day due to a system glitch. The piercing, unrelenting sound…
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