Hemophilia 24/7
— Cazandra Campos-MacDonald

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…

Some moments in my life are ingrained in my soul, such as the births of my sons, my wedding day, the mornings when each of my parents died, and when I heard doctors utter the word “hemophilia.” These are points along my journey that changed the trajectory of my life…

My son Caeleb is 14 and entering high school this fall. He is at an age in which I, as a parent, do not speak on his behalf in front of him. He is old enough to share his story about his hemophilia diagnosis when he deems it appropriate. I…

Sometimes being different is a good thing. You display your unique characteristics and qualities to the world through your clothing, hair, and makeup. Your actions reveal your views on social justice, and you voice your political views because your beliefs are a key part of who you are. Sometimes, others…

My family is preparing to move back to New Mexico. My husband’s job as a United Methodist pastor calls us to move often, so we have the moving process down to an art form. Still, it is not an easy feat. I am always in the moving mindset. Before I…

I am in a season of trying to pace myself. Instead of running at the track, I am walking. Instead of lifting heavy things, I ask for help. I am also finding time to rest. These are not things that come naturally to me. I always have several projects in…

Editor’s note: Please be advised that the topic of suicide is addressed in this column. Resources for help are listed at the end of the column. They say hindsight is 20/20, but I never really understood what that meant until I became an adult. Sometimes, I think back to my…

I have celebrated Mother’s Day, as a mom, for 24 years. In those years I’ve experienced tremendous joy and insurmountable grief. Some of my deepest grief came right after both of my sons were born. Instead of a time filled with happiness, a cloud of despair loomed as they were…