Dolly time!

Dolly enjoyed playing in the snow in the Trinity Alps with all our kids for the first time this Winter.

The 10 year journey.

It started July 17th 2003 at Santa Rosa Memorial. July 27 2003 Kaiser Santa Rosa. Sept 2003 Kpac San Leandro. Sept and Oct 2003 Kaiser Hayward. Oct 2003 to Dec 2003 Vallejo Kaiser. December 2003 Petaluma Care and Rehab. Dec 2003 Jan 2004 Stanford Medical Center. March 2004 Sequoia Hospital. July and August 2004 Casa Colina Care and Rehab. Nov 2004 Waverly Surgery Center. Dec 2004 and Jan 05 Mercy hospital Redding. In Oct 2009 Soar Surgery Center.

There were many repeat surgical visits following the initial care received at several of these facilities over the last 10 years.

It is now nearly 10 years later and I am slowly recovering from my 23rd and 24th procedures I just had at Sequoia Hospital. Repairs that were made in 2003 and four were successful but required maintenance due to the fact the areas repaired have arthritis or degenerative joint, nerve or muscle injury issues. I feel like the Doctors put me back together best they could again. Now its my job to not abuse the repairs and make them last to reduce pain and provide for a quality of life that can be enjoyable. I truly have been blessed by God to have the care I have received and continue to receive.

Don't drink and drive!

Together through Christ we overcome

My wife and I returned home from the hospital today. The Day before my surgery my Doctor reminded me about how big a procedure mine would be. I told him I had been praying and that I prayed that the surgery not require the larger incision. My Doctor smiled and said ok. We will see. The next morning my Doctor said he spent some time that night trying to find a way he could get to the cyst without making the larger incision and he felt he found a way. The next day my bandages came off. It was then we discovered he did it without the big incision. The cyst was big but he was able to decompress it and remove it with only two smaller incisions. He has me doing follow up MRI's to make sure it does not grow back. My wife was very supportive throughout this experience. We prayed together before and our prayers were answered. To God be the glory. Amen.

Reunited last Summer

In mid Summer 2012 Dolly traveled back to her home in the Philippines. Located on the Southern Island ( Mindanao ) in the community called Matanao. Dolly returned to be reunited with her 3 children. Daphne, Daryll and Dee Jay. After spending a few weeks with many relatives and friends Dolly and the Children made the journey to SFO and then to Redding to live together as a family for the first time in nearly 10 years.

How and Why this Blog exist.

Much of what has been written in our blog posts was compiled from random notes or made by both myself and my wife Dolly over the last few years. Moving forward more post will be made through this process. This process is required as my short term memory from my TBI in 2003 would make it difficult for me to recall much of the detail. This is why I write. It is helpful for me to to track the timeline of events in my life. If you know somebody with short term memory issues please encourage them to write a journal or Blog so they too may recall the events of their life through their writing and pictures.

A little time writing and pressing SAVE can bring memories alive again.

The Angel

I knew it when she touched me. A loving touch that was gentle yet firm and full of compassion. Her smile full of joy is infectious. Her simple yet direct way of caring for others comes natural. Without even trying she can make everything ugly look beautiful. Her love for the Lord is unwavering and her  walk is true. To be in her presence all this is apparent. And this is how I am blessed. For the Lord blessed me with this Angel to be my wife.

A man like myself may at times not be deserving of such a blessing. However the Lord has seen my heart and soul and has brought her into my life. She came to me asking for nothing. She only wanted to share her Joy with me and in doing so I found Joy in myself to share with her. This joy together has grown into a love that can not be denied. Nothing could be better than to share a life with an Angel and to worship our Lord and creator Jesus Christ together. To God be the Glory! Amen.

The Unseen Journey Continues

Today I met with the Super Doctor again. After another MRI and consult the procedure planned has become a more complex procedure. As my Doctor consults with his team I must prepare myself for a more invasive procedure. Sure this too shall pass but while in his exam room another issue was discovered. In a nut shell I have the two main trunk nerves in my shoulder being pressed on by a growing Cyst that was caused by trauma to my labrim in 2003. This of course is just 1 source of much of my pain. The plan is to decompress and remove the cyst which is burried beneath the muscle. Once this is done I will not regain the feeling lost to this shoulder and arm but I should achieve some pain relief.

The new issue discovered involves my cervicle spine. My Doctor will have me get a MRI after I recover from the procedure already scheduled for next week. This injury also causes me much pain and sleepless nights. I have grown tired of these needed procedures. I wish this was all just a dream. But it is my reality.

Im in the spot again. I feel like nobody understands. Most can not cope so they avoid. Im alone in this. It is my cross to carry. And im tired of carrying this cross. I just want to surrender. Now my faith is to be tested once again. And through Christ I shall gain the strength needed to overcome this challenge. I survive so I can tell my story and maybe just maybe a life will be saved. Please Dont drink or do drugs and drive.