Joe is the father of two sons with hemophilia. He and his wife, Cazandra, are active members in the bleeding disorders community and often facilitate workshops both locally and nationally. Joe is a pastor in the United Methodist Church and writes a blog about spirituality and faith. You may follow his blog at www.joekmac.com.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…
A few weeks ago, my oldest son, Julian, called me from the Blue Ridge Mountains in North Carolina and informed me that he had throbbing pain in one of his teeth. He immediately went to a nearby dentist and got news he didn’t want to hear: The tooth…
As a pastor, my Sunday mornings prove very busy. I lead morning worship at 9 a.m., teach a Sunday school class at 10:15, and finish my morning with another service at 11. Most Sunday afternoons I can be found collapsed in my comfortable recliner and dozing. I’ll be exhausted from…
Preparing for change is never easy. For Caeleb, my youngest son, this season of his life is stressful yet exciting. After graduating from high school, he is marching on as a freshman at the University of New Mexico this fall. He’s excited about attending college, but has some…
Cazandra and Caeleb, my wife and youngest son, rode with me several years ago to see a movie in Albuquerque, New Mexico, near our home. Caz and I planned the whole day with one goal: to have fun. After the movie, we’d have lunch and then go to a…
When my sons with hemophilia were children, my role as their advocate seemed clearly defined. My wife, Cazandra, and I sought as many sources as possible to make the best decisions for their welfare, consulting leading specialists to help us when complications arose and spontaneous bleeding…
For years, long periods in the hospital proved challenging for my family. My youngest son, Caeleb, required many extended stays because of breakthrough bleeding episodes related to hemophilia. We often tried to find ways to break the monotony of the sounds of medical machinery that frequently rang and…
My youngest son, Caeleb, and I recently visited the Ted R. Montoya Hemophilia Treatment Center (HTC) for his yearly checkup. This appointment was his first to the treatment center since turning the magic age of 18. Before leaving the house, we discussed what he should expect as a newly…
I’m sitting at my desk at work, focusing on projects I must accomplish before the day ends, when suddenly my ringtone fills the room with the song “Defying Gravity” from the Broadway musical “Wicked.” I see that my oldest son, Julian, is calling me. I smile when I…
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