When my son Caeleb was younger, we had periods when we spent more time in the hospital than at home because of his hemophilia complications. During those times, our family moved heaven and earth to stay connected. Caeleb was often admitted to the University of New Mexico Hospital’s…
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It’s hard to believe that my 16-year-old son, Caeleb, is moving into adulthood. He is not approaching adulthood, but moving toward it, and he still has much to learn about managing hemophilia. At a recent annual appointment at the hemophilia treatment center (HTC), a nurse quizzed him about what…
CSL Behring will donate 500 million international units (IUs) of coagulation factor therapy to the World Federation of Hemophilia (WFH) in an effort to promote reliable access to treatment for bleeding disorders, including hemophilia, across more than 60 developing countries. The donation marks the fifth multiyear…
Physical therapy (PT) plays a crucial role in the management of hemophilia. While it may seem counterintuitive for people with bleeding disorders to benefit from physical activity, PT is essential for overall joint health and pain management. However, my recent journey tells a slightly different tale. It’s a story…
The 2024 Paris Olympics have been a mesmerizing spectacle of human achievement and have captivated my attention for more hours than I care to admit. Sacrificing sleep to witness the gymnastics finals live was a decision I’ll never regret. The countdown to the end of the Olympics is already painful.
My husband, Jared, and I are on the cusp of making a major life decision. This decision had always been part of our long-term plan. We just didn’t expect it to happen so soon. Still, one event led to another, and we found ourselves standing before the option we are…
Tracking factor VIII (FVIII) infusions can be a drag! When I started infusing it regularly to prevent bleeds caused by my hemophilia, I searched for an app to help. For hemophilia patients, it’s important for our medical providers to have a record of our bleeds and the treatment…
“Fine.” People have asked hundreds of times how my family and I were doing — particularly my youngest son, Caeleb, given his hemophilia — and I’ve replied with that single word. Caeleb is now 15, and his hemophilia is under control. But several of his younger years were spent…
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The Hemo Mama Bear Olympics
There are some moments in my life while raising two sons with severe hemophilia that I have thought, “Wow! You, Cazandra, have just won the gold medal in the Hemo Mama Bear Olympics!” And there are other times I failed so miserably that I would not have even…
Last Friday, my youngest son, Caeleb, and I started our day as usual and ate at one of our favorite restaurants, Barelas Coffee House in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Summer carries a special magic in the MacDonald home. For many years, I’ve enjoyed spending Museum Fridays with my sons,…