Fridays with Mac: Spirit Brought Forth

It was unfortunate news bringing together a life-long friend and your scribe. We’ve known each other since days of youth football. Denny Bullard’s mother, Genny, had died at 92. “It was a blessing. Mom suffers no more.” Amen to that.

Reaching retirement-eligible age and its benefits is nice but it’s also a time of losing elderly parents. Less than two years ago, the McIntosh clan said adios to its feisty mother then lost older brother Mike at only 68. Aging ain’t easy. Physically and emotionally.

As the standout human being and your correspondent discussed how the Bullard family was dealing with the loss of its matriarch, the inevitable question arose, “Mac, how are you doing? How is the new dialysis going?” A 65-year-old dude with an incurable - but controlled - rare bone marrow disorder, destroyed kidneys and praying for a living kidney donor launched into the usual reframe about peritoneal dialysis, “It’s going as well as expected and we hope is the bridge to a transplant.”

The hard-nosed high school running back was also a standout grappler who went to Mizzou on a wrestling scholarship. We’ve been friends for almost 60 years. The former teacher, coach and educational business executive wanted more information about shifting from facility dialysis to a daily routine at home while resting and sleeping.

“I have 20 feet of patient line tubing so I can move around our bedroom a bit. If I wake up in the middle of night I’ve got enough length to sit in my favorite bedroom chair and write.” The father of three and grandpa to one was curious. “What about going to the bathroom?” It gets interesting there. “I have enough tubing to get to the shower and pee.” There was a chuckle and then silence before Bullard asked another question former teammates are not hesitate to ask, “What about a dump?”

We’re laughing out loud now as the quarterback who used to hand the ball or throw it to a speedy and reliable offensive weapon for the Ray-South Cardinals explained solutions to the challenge of toilet being outside wandering range. “I’ve got a portable potty that works just fine. You adapt.” Bullard couldn’t resist joking, “You sound like our four-year-old grand daughter. She has a portable potty in the kitchen of our home.”

Let the record show in June 2022, Clara, a beautiful bundle of life received a kidney from her mother and is thriving. Mom, Vivi, is well too. Young, old and in between, kidney disease does not discriminate. More than 100,000 Americans need a transplant. It’s estimated 15 die daily waiting for someone to “Share their spare, Save a life, Leave a priceless Legacy.” Little did this ol’ knucklehead know watching the Bullard’s and Netto’s deal with an infant grand daughter needing a transplant and supporting a mom donating would be a precursor to Drive for Five's campaign encouraging live organ donation, for my benefit and others. Life works in mysterious ways.

“Vicki (long-time spouse and fellow childhood friend) and I pray for you every day,” Bullard offered. “We pray for a donor and for you to stay hopeful.” That started the emotional engine. I’ve written about this before and it still produces happy tears when considering. Since being diagnosed in April 2023 with Amyloidosis and the required chemotherapy, dialysis and other treatments it has been overwhelming to hear from long ago sports rivals encouraging me to, “Stay positive, persevere and carry on.”

I was fortunate to grow up immersed in that type of emotional soup, From the days before 1976 injuries ended a promising athletic career unfolding with a full football ride at Mizzou and opportunities in professional baseball looming, it was drilled into my noggin’ to overcome adversity and lead by example.

Challenges in life? We all have them. What a blessing to have dwelled in the enriching marinade of Raytown, Missouri with friends like Denny Bullard and others. It’s a constant reminder to never surrender a belief embedded via family, buddies, coaches and competitors to prevail against what ails. The future is unknown except for the spirit brought forth against the challenges we face.

May yours be strong and resilient.