Mother’s Day is this Sunday. The day dedicated to honoring mothers began in the early 1900s. It’s a special time of joy and celebration, with families going out for lunch and mothers receiving cards and flowers. That’s the picture-perfect version of what Mother’s Day looks like in a television…
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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A symphony is a long musical piece with a clear structure, traditionally divided into four sections called movements. Each has its own tempo, mood, and rhythm. The pauses between them give the audience time to take in each part. Usually, the first movement is fast and lively. Then comes a…
I find myself stranded today. I had traveled from Texas to Denver for a week of classes before jetting off to Vermont for a speaking engagement. Before my arrival in Vermont, my return flight to Denver was canceled. What’s a girl to do? Having spoken at the New…
My youngest son Caeleb suffers from seasonal allergies. He gets severe headaches, congestion, a runny nose, watery eyes — it’s not fun. One of the telltale signs that he is genuinely sick is when he vomits from a headache; otherwise, I chalk most things up to allergies. On a Sunday…
The other day, I ran across a tiny, plastic bag that contained a blue bead representing a clinic visit. My son Caeleb was part of the Beads of Courage program at the University of New Mexico Children’s Hospital. The program uses glass beads donated by artists to help…
My adult son is 22 and living at home. He will be moving to a neighboring city next month and will go back to college in the fall. He was recently hired at a coffee shop and has been commuting the 90 miles one way about four days…
It’s easy to distance yourself from the issues of a bleeding disorder when everything is going well. My youngest son, Caeleb, has not been in the hospital for an overnight stay in several years, and the pain he would endure from repeated bleeds is a distant memory. He…
When you’re a parent to a child newly diagnosed with a bleeding disorder, the immediate concern is for your child. What do I do next? Will they be OK? What will life look like from now on? You find yourself searching for answers and developing a support system…
The unimaginable has happened. My youngest son, Caeleb, had his port removed. Of course, when someone with a bleeding disorder has a port, it’s usually not forever, so why is it a big deal for my 13-year-old son? This was his seventh port. He has had…
“I’m so sorry. What can I do? I am here if you need me.” When we hear bad news about someone we love, most of us struggle to find the right words to comfort the one hurting. Sometimes, the best words are no words at all. It just…
The 1980s were my favorite decade. I was in high school, and my music was the most important thing in my life. I practiced hard for auditions in the hopes of making the Texas All-State Band. Life was good. My perception of that decade changed after my first…
In my home these days, hemophilia is like a family member who stops by for a fleeting visit — just long enough to say hello and give a quick hug, but not long enough for a cup of coffee. I hadn’t dared to dream that this situation would…
When you become a parent, your world instantly changes. Your life focus becomes the child that you have brought into the world. When your child has a chronic condition, the game changes dramatically. Not only are you concerned about the regular milestones that your child may or may…
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