Joe MacDonald,  —

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…

My fear of letting go of the past stems in part from my anxiety about change. I want my sons, who both have hemophilia, to take control of their lives and be responsible as they move through the world. They leave, but what about me? I’m not going…

In a column last month, I discussed how I felt when attending the recent annual conference of the National Bleeding Disorders Foundation in Atlanta. One of the highlights was when my wife, Cazandra, and I presented our own session, “Finding Our Way Back to Each Other.” Before…

As a parent of two sons, Julian and Caeleb, who have hemophilia, I’ve developed a pet peeve when discussing their bleeding disorders with others. My wife, Cazandra, and I avoid labeling them as hemophiliacs. Instead, we prefer to say that our sons have hemophilia. This seemingly…

This year’s annual Bleeding Disorders Conference began a week ago in Atlanta and ended on Saturday. While it wasn’t my first such event, it brought several new opportunities. For one thing, as my wife, Cazandra, and I packed for the event, I felt mixed emotions. At recent conferences,…

Many times, I find myself overwhelmed by the weight of my responsibilities, particularly when it comes to managing issues related to my sons’ hemophilia. The stress from different directions can be paralyzing, and I often grapple with anxiety about how to handle everything at once. The burden…

I must admit that, as a father, I dreamed of greatness for my sons. While Cazandra, my wife, was pregnant with each of my boys, I envisioned a global career for them that would transform the world. With my measurement of success as a guiding light, I imagined the…

My wife, Cazandra, and I will give a presentation titled “Finding Our Way Back to Each Other” at the National Bleeding Disorders Foundation’s upcoming Bleeding Disorders Conference. I invite anyone in the Atlanta area on Friday, Sept. 13, to come and hear what we have to say. The…

Through my journey of being an advocate for two sons with hemophilia, I’ve continued to learn life lessons that enrich my soul and make me a better person. While it’s true that raising Julian and Caeleb involved the heavy burden of managing their bleeding disorders, I’ve discovered…

As a proud dad, I must brag about the incredible voice of my oldest son, Julian. He soars to high notes effortlessly with a rich and full sound. I feel transported when he sings because of his passion for and delivery of each note. My son leaves nothing to chance…