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…
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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The sound of a tape gun gives me anxiety. There’s the quick pull of the tape from the roll, followed by its crinkling as it’s pressed onto the box’s flaps. The serrated blade bites down and tears the tape cleanly, the cardboard often giving a faint, hollow thud beneath the…
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…
My husband and I typically fill certain roles in our home. I do most of the cooking; he takes out the trash and handles automotive maintenance (by going to the appropriate mechanic). But after 30-plus years together, we can seamlessly trade roles and share in all the responsibilities. When…
Imagine a bank account. When depositing money, the ideal is to have enough to cover expenses, bills, and some fun things. But when the withdrawals amount to more than the available money, there’s a crisis. At that point, using credit cards or applying for impossible-to-pay-back loans may become necessary. The…
What does your pain feel like? Is it burning, sharp, pulling, shooting, or achy? Describing pain is difficult. In fact, many words used to describe pain are metaphors or similes: It’s like being stabbed by a knife or burned by a hot stove, for example. Yet a lot of people…
After writing a weekly column for over six years, I needed the break I’ve just completed. I’ve spent the past few months working to renew my spirit and consider what’s essential. I didn’t realize how desperately I needed to let go of some things. While my recent sabbatical is technically…
I spent some of the best years of my life at Galena Park High School in Texas. I participated in clubs only if they didn’t interfere with my work with band, and my grades were excellent. When I met my now husband in college, our drive to…
My youngest son, Caeleb, is completing his junior year of high school. He’s excited about his senior year and his plans for getting in shape. But there’s something else he’s even more enthusiastic about. Caeleb is beginning to think about life after high school. It may seem late for…
I recently bumped into a former colleague at the grocery store. We hadn’t seen each other in several years and enjoyed catching up. (Yes, I was the annoying shopper blocking the aisle.) We had worked together in the healthcare industry, the last place I ever expected to be employed. Working…
My happy place is in front of an audience. It’s where I feel most comfortable. As I’m a self-proclaimed introvert, that may sound odd. Yet I’ve had numerous opportunities to answer my call to speak. It’s not about accolades and praise; it’s about the message. Regardless of the size of…
In the Bible, there’s a story of a blind man on the side of the road begging for Jesus’ help. Jesus spat on the ground, made mud, and put it on the man’s eyes. He then instructed the man to go to the water and wash the mud…
“I know, I know” is repeated in my home numerous times daily. When I hear these words from my 17-year-old son, Caeleb, I want to run away screaming. No, you don’t know! The teenage years are not my favorite. Was I this way when I was a teenager? Unfortunately,…
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