Joe MacDonald,  —

My wife is scheduled for surgery this week in Albuquerque, New Mexico. She will be in the hospital for one or two nights. We live about 3½ hours from the hospital, so we will be gone for about three days. We are optimistic that her recovery will go well…

I recall an early experience with anxiety. I was standing at the back of the church, ready to appear before the congregation to offer the sacrament of communion. But something held me back. The more I fought my feelings, the more I struggled. I took labored breaths as I stood…

You don’t have to look far to find people who are afraid of needles. There is something to be said about sharp, pointy things digging into your flesh. The process is not fun, and we endure it knowing that the medicine will fulfill its purpose. We hope to feel better…

I often say that I wish there were a course titled “How to Be a Good Parent.” You would graduate with a diploma and the confidence that your book smarts would translate into perfect child-rearing. Nothing would hold you back. Unfortunately, that’s not real life. There might be training opportunities,…

My wife and I met families with ties to the bleeding disorders community through our hemophilia treatment center (HTC). One day, Rita, the former chairwoman of our local National Hemophilia Foundation chapter, asked us to join the board of directors. I agreed, because who can say no to…

I will never forget the first time we visited my wife’s OB-GYN following the birth of “MacDonald the Older.” It was 1996, and the world of hemophilia looked much different than it does now. Synthetic products were making their way into the market. Nightmares regarding the “hemophilia…

I look into my son’s eyes and see beauty. I see the vibrant green, which fades into a blue that rivals the sky. Down in the lower left part is a spot of brown that never changes. His eyes give us a reflection of his soul. Though change is all…

Oct. 7, 2019, came and went like any other day. Our family went about our business: my son went to school, and I sat at my desk, planning my next sermon. But the day was special. It was the birthday of my wife, Cazandra, and it might have gone unnoticed…

Years ago, I watched my youngest son, “MacDonald the Younger,” as he struggled with recurring joint bleeds. Each episode took more of his mobility away. He could not extend his leg beyond 45 degrees because his knee was so full of blood, and he used a wheelchair for at least…

When “MacDonald the Younger” was 5, a social worker from the hemophilia treatment center gave his name to the Make-A-Wish Foundation. They granted my son’s wish to go to Disney World. I couldn’t believe that a 5-year-old child would want to go to a theme park filled with…