Hemophilia 24/7
— Cazandra Campos-MacDonald

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…

My favorite shows are “Criminal Minds,” “Bones,” and the “Law and Order” franchise. In these police procedural crime dramas, the suspense and action are exciting and the plot twists surprising. Episodes regularly depict hostage situations. Watching actors portray the fear and horror one must…

I remember having a malady that afflicts many during the last months of high school, college, or graduate school: senioritis. While it’s not a physical illness, this condition plagues many students as they near the end of their educational journeys, leading to absences and other problems. Senioritis is basically a…

What do AA batteries, binder clips, bread ties, lip balm, pens and pencils, pliers, a glue gun, and a measuring tape have in common? They’re all items in my kitchen junk drawer. It’s a chaotic place that holds them till they’re needed at a moment’s notice. I’m grateful that it’s…

I vividly remember the playground at Our Lady of Fatima Catholic School in Galena Park, Texas. The monkey bar dome was the place for the risk-takers, who climbed to the top and faced the ground. I preferred the swings, which catapulted the brave ones as they flew off in a…

There’s a pilgrimage site less than 10 minutes from my home in central New Mexico. That site, El Cerro de Tomé (Tomé Hill), is a natural landmark that’s served El Camino Real travelers for centuries. People journey to the top of the hill, 400 feet above the Rio Grande…