Page 14 - HFA Dateline 2013 Q4 Winter

the unexpected Blessings By phillip Hardt ay back in 1950, my brother Gary Her favorite girl’s name was Phyllis Joanne, so when I popped out as a baby boy, she Wwas born He was the first child had a big dilemma Phyllis had to be changed to Phillip and Joanne to Joel my mom had who was affected with He- My mother was so afraid of losing me too when I had bleeds; she made me sleep with mophilia B We lived in a tiny mining her, so that she could easily monitor my bleeding during the night I remember being town called Bisbee, in southeastern Ari- called into the principal’s office in 3rd grade The office was full of important-looking zona When Gary was 5 years old, he fell people The principal, Mr Rose, told me that my teacher and others had noticed con- off a teeter-totter, hit his head, and died tinual bruising on my head and arms, and they wanted to know if my mother was that night from uncontrollable bleeding abusing me I told them that she was not, and tried to explain that I was a “bleeder ” My mom and dad were devastated be- cause he had previously only bruised eas- I made regular trips to our family doctor growing up He said he “didn’t know beans” ily while playing Later that year, my dad about my bleeding disorder, but noticed that my most serious bleeds were in my decided to leave my mom, not knowing joints, so he recommended that I partake in non-contact sports such as weight lift- she was already pregnant with me ing, tennis, and swimming (to build the muscles around my target joints) This was inspiring advice and has helped me minimize joint bleeds ever since He also forbade When my mom found out she was go- me to play football, baseball, and basketball–the sports that I really wanted to play ing to have another baby, she hoped and As I moped around mourning my losses, my mom and older sister decided I needed prayed it wouldn’t be another son who other activities in my life They began to take me to choir concerts, band concerts, and was a “bleeder,” as they called it back just happened to show me how popular the pianist was Their propaganda worked, then She even picked out only girl’s as I took up playing the e flat alto saxophone, singing in my church choir, and piano names, but on March 3, 1956 I was born 14 Dateline Federation | Winter 2013