Hemophilia 24/7
— Cazandra Campos-MacDonald

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,…

I’m training to become a chaplain. I want to work in a hospital setting one day, which will allow me to serve patients facing medical challenges. I’ll also have the privilege of walking with those who are in their last days. Sitting with people who are struggling at the hands…

When my sons were little, there were always mountains of laundry. How could such a tiny human go through so many onesies? There were dozens of little socks to be matched, stains to be treated, and hundreds of pieces of clothing to be folded. It was never-ending. There were weeks…

It’s bluebonnet season in Texas. The state flower crawls across the hillsides and along the roads, bringing a vibrant blue to the landscape. People flock to the most prominent patches to sit among the flowers and capture pictures. It’s a Texas tradition. The last time I took pictures in a…

I live in what’s considered the high desert. At over 4,000 feet above sea level, my community experiences cold winters and hot summers. When the monsoon season brings rain, however, the desert transforms from a dry, brown landscape to one rich with green and flowering cacti. The one unfortunate part…