1 Tripled and Three Years Ago

July. That's a special month for me, brain surgery-wise. It seems like a lifetime ago, and yet everything has happened in that six year period. If you've read any part of this blog, you can understand my frustration at my situation. But, you must understand, I didn't understand that when I decided to have that astroa cytoma brain tumor all those July's ago. I had been acting up with what my doctor called a sinus infection, at least that's what the symptymology was. When I came back to see him, and he took a look in my eyes, and couldn't see the back of the brain, he told my parents that they'd better get me to an ER quickly. That was July 10th. The beginning of what seems like a very, very long road to normality. Heavily dosed, (bombed) lying between consciousness and unconsciousness, I watched "Star Trek: First Contact" for first time. The only reason I bring that up is because, I'm scared silly of that movie. My first brain surgery happened the day after that. As the tumor was in the dead center of my brain, they ran a risk of paralyzing me. I didn't help much, I fear. I had my first Grand Mal seizure right there on the table rendering my right side completely useless. The surgeon kept apologizing to my parents that he didn't do better (he had removed 95% of the tumor; the other 5% was lodged around my memory) but my parents assurred him that he had done all he could do. There's a lot of funny anecdotes I tell about my week in the hospital recovering: I missed the inaugural Chicago race on tv, my fountain imitation, and finally, my last day, the insufferable suppository nurse. At least I got an ambulance ride out of it. I even got to pick the radio station. My last day was on the 19th then I was transfered to a children's hospital that specialized in restoration of the body- PT, OT, ST, among other things. I made quite an arrival. Barely had the medics left the room, then I had to start in with a Grand Mal seizure. Now, I'm quite used to them, but for a kid of 14, your first seizure that you remember having is more than scary. So, I spent three weeks Our Children's Hospital, and I even went home for a visit on my brother's BD. We went out to see Stuart Little 2. An upcoming event was a field trip to the circus. Not only am I huge Stars fan, I had never before been in the arena! We got to go down on the floor and meet some of the acts. OCH was supposed to release me on August 8th, but I begged to be released earlier. So there I was, a free man on August 6th
Now, about four July's later, I took the liberty of going all out on my "graduation" since it's the only one I'll have for a while. I had a 2nd and 3rd brain surgery, and my marbles weren't all there physically, and mentally. So after seven months of hard work, here I was, graduating. The Date: 7-7- o6
I don't what it is about July.

Blowing Off Steam

Weeeel, this is new. (sarcastic) I'm on a new level of the same anti-seizure medicine, and my seizures are getting worse. By the way, folks, I could see this one coming 5 miles away. It is plainly obvious that the anti- seizure meds I take (2 in the morning, 3 in the evening) not counting the individual pills I have to take, plus others. I need another solution. I pray that the VNS therapy will work, and I can get back to living a normal life (a.k.a. swimming, biking, and walking, all unattended, plus learning how to drive.) I try to make the best of my life in my home, but after a while, you just need to get out, and nobody is there to drive you. I'm just blowing off some frustration, but am taking it out in some creative methods. Lately I've discovered puzzles, rubicks cubes, I've been doing Sudoku puzzles since last year, and of course I'm a heavy reader. My favorites though, is photography, and ornathalogy. Speaking of phtography, a few days ago, on the 4th, I got pictures of fireworks. It seemed that they were right in our backyard. I never watch fireworks without my camera. I have dozens of other hobbies that keep me busy from night 'till noon, so I don't think about what I'm missing, and you know what, turns out that I'm living a pretty full life.

Nascar '08 2

Nascar '08

Discovery!

Weekend follows weekend, and I was able to do something on both. My latest escapade was to Natural Bridge Caverns in Texas. I've had a huge problem with caves and caverns for nine years. (The first cave was atop Enchanted Rk. at the State Park in Fredericksburg, Texas.) Anyway, I and my Venture Crew made the long trip there. We bought our tickets in time for the "Discovery" tour. All of the took 75 minutes. We almost didn't make it. We had to descend to the deepest part of the cavern on this tour, which was something such as 300 ft or so feet below the surface, but we saw some some interesting, yet delicate formations. Crawlways, stories, strange formations, broomsticks, a living fern 150 ft. below the surface, a battleship on the wall, even a pillar which reaches from floor to ceiling can all be found on that tour. We crossed the deepest part of the caves on a natural bridge. For us broad guys, we had to turn to the side for path across was narrow. I daresay it was a relief to reach the surface again. Anything is better than 70 degrees and 99% humidity. Yes, I took lots of shots, but I couldn't keep mopping my forehead, watch my footing, while taking pictures at the same time. We took a 75 minute break for lunch, and went back to it with a fesh tour guide. On this tour, (The "Illumination,") we had more crawlways, pigs' ears, cave bacon, an emerald stream, a handrail that had been subject to mineral decay for twenty years, and a total blackout where you couldn't even see your hand in front of your face, even if you tried! All this proves God is indeed the King of Creation and has power over earth and sky. All to often, we see earth as soil and rock only, but think of the mighty caverns that are at least 100 ft. high! Some have yet to be discovered as these were found in the '60s. Angels must have been guarding me on the descent and ascent on each tour, because the steps and ramps were uneven unlighted, and slippery, and in the condition I was in: unsteady at best, it could only be a God thing that got me out of there without injury. You know, I think I'm getting good at this weekend deal. (For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone) Ps 91:11-12

FINALLY!!!!!

I've accomplished two great things this week: Atended and staffed a 19 1/2 hour long home-school bookfair over two days, and I found out the reason for my seizures...finally! Actually, the two kinda' go hand in hand. The seizures are psychological, and I'll tell you how I deduced that. On Thursday, my brothers and I helped set up the booth my mom, dad, and I would be working, only that evening, my parents said I couldn't go due to my seizures. Good thing they said that, for my determination to prove my parents wrong was going to cost me some extra sleep. We had to be at the book fair no later than 7:30am Friday, so I got up at 5:15, and fully ready at 5:45. That happened Saturday too. Veni, vedi, venoseizure. Translation- I came, I saw, I didn't have a seizure. Sure, I had a lot of little wrist flips, but for 19+ hours, I didn't have a trace of anything that resembled a malicious flip- flop on the floor or the ilk except when I got dehydrated. Oh, and a bonus- I discovered that, while browsing in one of the bookstalls, a book that had my mother's maiden name on it. So I went back to our booth, and asked her about the topic at hand, and after affirming that she was a great-great grandaughter of said relative, I just had to tell the vendor and get the look in his face. I got more than that- I got the book on the house! As I've said, God hears all prayers, and the prayers He does answer come in more ways than we could imagine. I had a sneaky suspisicion that my seizures "were all in my head," but there was no way to prove it. Thanks be to God, He exposes dark things to light, and now, hopefully with the Vagus Nerve Stimulator, true excercise, determination, and my faith in Jesus Christ, I can finally move on with God's calling for me!

This Is Who I Am