The adventure of life is filled with ups and downs. Focusing on a word instead of on New Year’s resolutions can be a powerful practice when navigating a bleeding disorder. A focus word serves as a daily reminder and source of motivation, providing a lens through which to…
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…
The holiday season means different things for different people. Wrapping presents, taking a family vacation, or simply baking cookies are some of the activities that bring people happiness during this time. Regardless of a person’s faith, tradition, or experience, the holidays are meant to bring joy, love, hope, and…
Taking time off is critical for our mental health. Even if a vacation is a staycation, having time to relax and have fun is essential for our overall well-being. Rest and rejuvenation also help make us more productive. But vacations are a luxury. Traveling to Europe, cruising to Mexico, and…
This time of year brings many changes to the usual routines of life. The weather is colder, the leaves have fallen off the trees, and the days are shorter, with darkness arriving early. It’s also a time of joyous celebrations, traditions, and memory-making. For many, this season includes cookies,…
A phone call in the wee hours of the morning makes the heart skip a beat, as it often brings bad news. A baby crying in the middle of the night means a sleep-deprived parent going through the motions of changing diapers and warming bottles. When the quiet hours of…
Raising two sons with a bleeding disorder has given me hundreds of stories. Many of them lead to happiness and gratitude. Others are filled with pain and suffering. They are all a part of me in a way I never imagined they would be. The nice thing about having so…
I do love Thanksgiving season. Families gather, food is shared, and quality time is priceless. But not everyone enjoys the holidays. In them, we’re encouraged to live a life filled with thanks, a life of thanksliving. Ugh. Yes, it’s a nice thought, but sometimes it’s enough to distract…
As a former band director, I understand the importance of each musical instrument in an ensemble. The percussion keeps the rhythm steady. The low brass offers the foundation of the music, and the trumpets, flutes, and clarinets play the melodies. Each section contributes to the overall piece. Music is an…
As a hospice chaplain, I visit patients and their families as they are in their last months and days of life. It is humbling. Whether they’re at home or in a nursing home, these patients have something in common: They are being cared for by others. Family caregivers are the…
Alaska, Antarctica, and Greenland have something in common: They’re a few of the places where glaciers are present. A glacier is a large, slow-moving mass of ice and snow that forms over an extended period in areas where more snow accumulates during the winter than melts during the summer. Many…
I’m grieving for my youngest son, Caeleb, a high school senior. Caeleb’s academic pursuits haven’t been successful, according to the world. Society revels in straight A’s, being in the top 10% of a graduating class, and receiving full-ride scholarships to college. If a student isn’t meeting these expectations and doesn’t…
I marvel when I watch reporters on the news who can deliver their reports in the midst of gunshots, riots, battles, and air raids, events that many in the U.S. might find difficult to comprehend. These brave men and women seem always prepared to hop on a plane to anywhere…
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