As a woman of faith, I look for God in various places. I experience God in a beautiful sunset, a phone call from a dear friend, or even in the middle of a struggle. Walking a labyrinth is one of my favorite places to connect with God. A labyrinth…
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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As a hospice chaplain, I meet people during the hardest moments of their lives. Whether at a deathbed or in a funeral home preparing for a service, these are times of finality. Grief brings people together as they share their loss and honor the person who has died. A recent…
Game shows have experienced a resurgence in recent years, captivating audiences with their blend of entertainment, competition, and nostalgia. I’ve always liked game shows, especially those involving trivia. In “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?,” contestants answer multiple-choice questions; if they’re correct, they advance to the next level, with…
The Summer Olympics are around the corner. Gymnasts there will soar through the air with grace and precision, showcasing incredible feats of strength and flexibility. Athletes will push their limits, running at record speeds, demonstrating the peak of human endurance. Divers will climb to dizzying heights, performing acrobatic feats as…
Raising sons with hemophilia is like being a blacksmith forging a sword. The blacksmith shapes a piece of metal that needs careful, skilled effort to become a sharp and strong sword. Each blow of the hammer represents the challenges brought by a bleeding disorder. The process is arduous and…
My sons, Julian and Caeleb, are adults living with hemophilia. Julian is 28 years old, and Caeleb is 18. Having adult children is a new phase of life for me. While Julian is out on his own chasing the next audition, Caeleb is preparing to begin…
I love sitting by a campfire. Stories and laughter are shared, s’mores and hot dogs are roasted, and memories are made. Tending the fire to keep the flames burning requires constant attention, and it takes my mind off my troubles. Watching the flames leap and dance is mesmerizing. However, the…
Raising two sons with severe hemophilia A has been a journey filled with ups and downs, joys and fears. I lived in constant fear when my first son, Julian, was a baby. Not only was I concerned about feedings, diaper changes, and making sure he was breathing in…
My youngest son, Caeleb, recently graduated from high school and, at 18, is legally recognized as an adult. This milestone brings a host of new responsibilities and rights: He can vote, buy and sell property, sue or be sued, and enter into binding contracts. Despite all our preparation for…
Before I became a parent, I never imagined I’d be finding veins and accessing ports. But after my sons were born with severe hemophilia A with inhibitors, my husband and I quickly learned the basics of caregiving, by God’s grace. Over the years, people have said, “Cazandra,…
I was over the moon when my first son, Julian, was born in 1996. My baby was here, and life would never be the same. When Julian wouldn’t stop bleeding after his circumcision, the pediatrician was visibly shaken. Seeing a doctor with furrowed eyebrows is disconcerting. The next day,…
I never understood why graduating from high school was such a big deal. I grew up in a home of educators, and getting good grades and attending college were expected. Not pursuing higher education was never a consideration. I excelled academically and enjoyed my high school years; they were some…
My husband pastors the local First United Methodist Church, where I serve as a deacon. When a parent (or two) goes down the pastoral path, their children are along for the ride. Some preachers’ kids love church, and others, not so much. My youngest son, Caeleb, falls…
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