A New Heart and the Same Sweet Dream: Richard Byrd’s Journey

In 2009, I founded Donut Joe’s with a simple dream: to create a fun, welcoming place where people could enjoy fresh, handmade donuts and great coffee. I had just come out of a business that had run its course, and I saw an opportunity to build something from scratch — a blank canvas, but my medium wasn’t paint. It was community, creativity, and a deep love for making people smile.

For years, Donut Joe’s became that place — a cozy shop under the pecan tree and beside the railroad tracks, full of warm coffee, laughter, and unforgettable mornings. But in 2021, life threw me a challenge I never saw coming.

I had lived with atrial fibrillation for years, and despite medications and multiple procedures, my heart was failing. In February of that year, things took a sharp turn. By July, I was placed on the heart transplant list.

Before one of my final heart surgeries, I broke down. Alone in a hospital room during COVID restrictions, I found myself overwhelmed with fear. I had tried to stay strong, but the weight became too much. I called a friend — a true man of God — and he prayed for me. In that moment, something changed. A peace washed over me that I still can’t fully explain. From that point forward, even through the transplant, I never felt fear again. I believe God took my hand and said, “I’ve got you.”

While I was in recovery, my son Eric — my right-hand man, my rock — stepped in. He told me not to worry, that he and the incredible Donut Joe’s team would take care of everything. Eric had always shown up, even in the early days when he’d drive three hours home from college every weekend just to help. Seeing him take the reins brought me more comfort than words could ever express.

When you spend enough time in a hospital bed, you begin to reflect on what really matters. It’s not money or success. It’s love. It’s knowing there are people who will pray for you, carry you, and keep your dream alive when you can’t. That’s what Eric and our team — and our amazing community — did for me.

I was a little hesitant to return to the shop after the transplant. I’d lost a lot of weight and felt self-conscious. But a friend visiting from California wanted to meet up. I came in, unsure what to expect — and what I saw brought tears to my eyes: a full parking lot, happy customers, the shop running beautifully. I sat outside under the pecan tree with my friends Scott and Doug, sipping coffee and soaking in the moment. My heart — my new heart — was full.

Fifteen years in, Donut Joe’s is still “off the beaten path,” but that’s what makes it special. It’s a place built not just with sugar and flour, but with faith, family, and resilience. Whether you’ve been with us since day one or you’ve just found us, please know this:

We are grateful.

You are part of our story.

And the donut dream is very much alive.