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.Last week I traveled to Las Cruces, New Mexico, to spend a few days with my wife, Cazandra. She works as a hospice chaplain there and usually travels back to Belen, our current home, on weekends. We’ll end this busy commute schedule next month, when we both move full…
Despite what appears to be a tranquil season regarding my sons’ hemophilia, I know it simmers right under the surface and could rear its ugly head immediately. For now, life is good. As my wife, Cazandra, and I are moving a couple hundred miles away as we…
My youngest son, Caeleb, received great news last week from his college, the University of New Mexico: A letter confirmed that he has a dormitory room for school next year. When he showed the letter to my wife, Cazandra, and me, we shouted for joy. Everything associated with our…
As I sat in my office chair working on bills and other household needs this past Saturday afternoon, my youngest son, Caeleb, approached me and asked if we could talk for a few minutes. His mannerisms told me he needed to share something dire, so I stopped typing, turned to…
Last night, my youngest son, Caeleb, and I talked about our unique experiences with Easter egg hunts. My boy is now a 19-year-old man who is finishing his first year at the University of New Mexico. He enjoys studying cinematography and graphic design and hopes to find an internship in…
I took my youngest son, Caeleb, to the train station near our home this morning. He rides from our little town to downtown Albuquerque, about 30 miles from our house, to the University of New Mexico campus, where he’s a student. He has hemophilia and chooses not to drive.
My alarm rings every day at 7 a.m. I get out of bed, brush my teeth, take my medications, and start my day. As the coffee maker begins to brew a fantastic cup of decaffeinated piñon coffee, I take my girls — my dogs, Laggie and Hildie — outside. I…
Last weekend was a testament to the importance of community support for those who struggle with bleeding disorders. As the vice president of Sangre de Oro, the New Mexico chapter of the National Bleeding Disorders Foundation (NBDF), I’ve witnessed the challenges our organization has faced over the years.
When my youngest son, Caeleb, was born over 19 years ago, my wife and I found out that he had hemophilia before leaving the hospital. Devastated, we could not begin to tell anyone how we felt about the diagnosis. I remembered our struggles raising my oldest son, Julian, now…
It’s no secret that I love musicals. My greatest joy is finding phrases from a show’s libretto that speak to my soul. One such event happened when I saw the musical “Wicked” on Broadway. Toward the end of the show, witches Glinda and Elphaba sing a moving ballad in…
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