A passionate educator and motivator, and encourager, Cazandra brings out the best in people. In her role as a Patient Advocate, Cazandra not only helps families struggle well with their diagnosis, but she also empowers people to live their best life in spite of their medical condition.In her work, Cazandra served as an integral part of a dynamic, national team that cared for individuals with bleeding disorders. She worked closely with the clinical and sales aspects of the organization by organizing events, writing literature, developing programming and providing the "heart" of what a patient lives with everyday.Cazandra's experience as the mother of two sons with hemophilia has given her a deep understanding of how to help others in times of crisis. Her passion is evident in her TEDxABQ talk, "A Prisoner of Hope." Her "first" career was that of a middle school band director and Cazandra says, "Once you have taught, there's not much you can't do." Her experience as an educator surpassed educating. She learned how to balance accounts, plan events, deal with a many types of people and could garner the attention of hundreds of students to be the best they could be. Cazandra now serves as pastor for St. Paul's United Methodist Church, in Socorro, New Mexico. You can find her latest musings on life in ministry (as a pastor's wife and pastor) and life with hemophilia by visiting www.cazandracmacdonald.com.