Hemophilia 24/7
— Cazandra Campos-MacDonald

Last in a series. Read parts one and two. Guinea pigs are similar to humans. Their body chemistry has led to testing that’s revolutionized research, with the development of vaccines, replacement heart valves, and asthma medications, to name a few. The term “guinea pig” has become synonymous with…

Second in a series. Read part one. A hemophilia inhibitor is like a firewall in a computer network. Clotting factor replacement therapy is supposed to enter the bloodstream and help form clots to stop bleeding, just as data should pass through a network without interruption. However, an inhibitor acts…

First in a series. Every person is unique, shaped by the combination of their upbringing, education, cultural influences, values, attitudes, and behaviors. No two people are exactly alike. Even identical twins, while genetically similar, have differences, including their fingerprints. Medical conditions can also emphasize a person’s individuality. While many may…

Valentine’s Day is a holiday that celebrates love. However, the day’s origin doesn’t involve a hard-to-get dinner reservation, the perfect Valentine’s card, and the best box of chocolates, but rather a martyred saint and a massacre. Fortunately, our 21st-century world has a more pleasant understanding of the day. While this…

It’s impossible to turn on the TV and not find a reality show, in any of its many types. Some are like staged plays that claim to be real, yet they’re often scripted and orchestrated before they’re shot. Others are more social experiments in which human behavior is observed and…

I love to watch hummingbirds. They’re lightning-fast as they move from flower to flower, feasting on nectar and insects. When they come to the feeder outside my window, their chirps and hums are different from those of other birds. I’m intrigued that the hummingbirds go into a state…

The start of a new year often brings a surge of enthusiasm, hope, and resolutions. We might set ambitious goals like, “This is the year I lose weight.” Or, “This is the year I go to the gym five days a week.” Or, “This is the year I mend a…

My sons have severe hemophilia A and are 10 years apart. Such a considerable age difference once posed challenges, especially when they were younger. Back then, my oldest son, Julian, felt he and his brother, Caeleb, didn’t have common interests. I reminded Julian that siblings close in age…

Preparing for major spinal surgery has me feeling more than the usual pre-op jitters. There’s something more profound at work — a feeling that connects me to the years of watching my son Caeleb endure numerous surgeries as a result of complications from severe hemophilia with an inhibitor. Because…

“Use the Press’n Seal to cover his bandages when showering!” That’s the text I sent to the wife of a hospitalized friend, who was preparing to be released after an arduous stay. Hearing of his plight with doctors, nurses, and a second surgery was reminiscent of past hospitalizations with my…

I signed up for a Facebook account in 2008. Social media was foreign to me then, but I tried it and was excited to find old friends from high school and college. Catching up on one another’s lives was enjoyable, and seeing my friends’ children resembling their parents was fascinating.

My 18-year-old son, Caeleb, is an artist. When he starts talking about colors, a lengthy conversation will ensue. Now in college majoring in digital arts, he’s passionate about his field, and his love of color runs deep. Art has been a saving grace for Caeleb, who lives with severe…