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…
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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My oldest son, Julian, caught me completely off guard recently. “Dad,” he said when I answered his call. “When the hematologist and her medical team entered the hospital room to tell you and Mom that I had hemophilia, what did you need for them to say to help you…
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…
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…
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