How our oldest son and hemophilia entered our lives, part 1
First in a series. My story starts on a hot and humid night in June 1996 in Houston. As my wife, Cazandra, and I entered the hospital, we couldn’t help but notice…
In the Twinkling of an Eye
— Joe MacDonald
Rev. Dr. Joe K. MacDonald is a pastor in the New Mexico Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church. He and his wife, Cazandra, live in Belen, New Mexico, along with their youngest son, Caeleb, and two fur babies, Laggie and Hildie. Both of Joe’s sons (the oldest is Julian) have severe hemophilia A, factor VIII deficiency. Julian was diagnosed in 1996 and Caeleb in 2006. Joe serves on the Board of the Sangre de Oro Chapter of the National Hemophilia Foundation. Joe’s goal is to help his sons and others in the community use their voices to help improve the quality of life for those with bleeding disorders.
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Hard lessons in the leap to a more independent life
Many of my recent columns have focused on my youngest son, Caeleb, and his transition into adulthood. I’ve shared how we’ve empowered him to live his best life, including lessons on taking responsibility for…
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Moving helps me see hemophilia’s varied effects on my sons
My wife, Cazandra, and I had a brief discussion as we continued packing what seemed like a million boxes for our move from Rio Communities, which is near Albuquerque, New Mexico, to Las Cruces,…
A trip down Interstate 25 takes me into mixed memories
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…
Times when we can be parents and not caregivers
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…
Campus resources are helping my son find the right dorm
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…
My son with hemophilia is worried about living independently
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.
Reflecting on past Easter egg hunts yielded a valuable reminder
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…
Why the meaning of ‘normal’ is different in our family
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…
Family rituals keep us grounded amid the chaos of hemophilia
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…
Grateful for community support after reuniting with old friends
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…
My oldest son helped me move past a hurt from his youth
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…
