There's A Reason

Things happen for a reason. We might not know it now, or ever, but God knows what He's doing. Watch this video by the Mormon Channel, from a series called "The District." It shows a little bit more into what missionaries do. (if you don't want to watch the whole thing, start at 13:37 to about 15:04)

Elder Hepworth, one of the missionaries shown in the series, has cancer. His cancer was a different kind than mine, and required chemotherapy, which mine didn't. But his trials are similar to the ones I had. I've been worn out by treatments. I've asked Heavenly Father for help. I want to be normal, I don't know why I have cancer. I second the feeling, like he said, when Elder Hepworth said that he knew Heavenly Father was there and that no matter what happens, it's going to be okay.

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This next video is a really good message, that everyone should watch.

 

 

I love it when she says that she looked at her trials with the word "curse." But now, she looks at it with the word "blessing." That's exactly how I feel. Sometimes I feel that I am just "cursed," but when I look at my life, I look at people telling me how I am helping them, and I look at the change I've made from 3 and 1/2 years ago, I know I am "blessed."

 

So, yes, I believe there's a reason for everything. We might not know it now, tomorrow, next year, or ever, but it doesn't matter. Heavenly Father is in charge, and He knows what He's doing!

 

Keep running.

Good News

Blessings in disguise are interesting.

I'm preparing to move out soon. I can start moving stuff in as early as August 1 to save my room. I won't "move out" though until a few weeks later. Although I received an answer that moving out is what I need to do, I was still really worried about cancer. My scheduled CT scan was supposed to be July 30, TWO days before I'd start moving out.

And I couldn't help but think, "Well, what if things aren't good? What if I have to cancel my lease?"

Honestly, I was really kind of worried. I've been praying that things would be okay and work out according the Lord's will, and here's what happened:


Last week, I woke up on Sunday morning with a swollen jaw. We called the Huntsman, they scheduled a CT scan and appointment for the upcoming Wednesday, and prescribed some antibiotics for me. We went up to Salt Lake on Wednesday, had the CT scan, and the doctors said that it was a small infection that caused the swelling. Nothing bad, but just something to watch. The hospital called on Friday morning, and guess what?

There is no sign of cancer in me. I am CANCER FREE! There is really nothing better than hearing those words. It silenced my fears. It was definitely a tender mercy. The Lord knew I was worried about this scan and moving out, and did some work for me! So getting that infection was really a blessing.

I'm honestly super excited to move on with my life. I'm not completely out of the woods, but this is the first step. Cancer is something tough to deal with, and I would love to not have to keep having surgeries off and on for the next 40 years. :)
Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU to everyone who has helped me become where I am today. I couldn't thank everyone, it would be way too long of a list. If you're in a hard place right now, don't worry. Heavenly Father has promised blessings, and all you need to do is be patient and your blessings will come sooner or later. Hang in there.


Keep running!

A Small Bump in the Road

This last weekend was a lot of fun! We went to a family reunion up in Highland (Provo area). It was really great to see cousins and family that I haven't seen for a long time!

When I woke up on Saturday morning, I noticed my jaw was a little swollen. It was on my right side, the side where I don't have any teeth. My first thought was "Okay, it will make my face a little more round and full," which is a good thing. Saturday was great and I didn't feel very much pain. We went to the reunion, Seven Peaks, and then headed home.

On Sunday morning, I woke up and my jaw/cheek was really swollen! We decided to call up to Huntsman and talk to the doctors up there. If we lived closer to Salt Lake, they probably would've had me come in and they would've checked it out. But the doctor had us send in some pictures and stuff, and the doctor prescribed an antibiotic. We are heading up on Wednesday just to get it checked out and to get a CT scan.

I'm pretty sure it's an infection. Since yesterday morning, I've seen a little.... um.... pus? drainage?.... leak out of a small opening inside my mouth. When I had my infection in December that I was back in the hospital for, we were told that it's not abnormal for me to get an infection, just because my body is trying hard to recover. The skin on the floor of my mouth has only been there since December, so it's not totally invincible as one might expect. I'm guessing was caused the swelling and "infection" is either some food, or maybe that I went swimming Friday night and got some pool water in my mouth.

Now if you're thinking about what happened with my last infection, don't worry. That last one was worse because it was right after my surgery, leaking from my incision, and I had an allergic reaction to a medicine I didn't know I was allergic to. But this time, I'm seven months out, the infection is not too big, and I'm not allergic to the medicine I've been prescribed for.

Other than my jaw being a little painful and me being swollen, I feel pretty much fine. I'm grateful for the fact that I can talk to my managers and they are easily able to take care of getting my shifts covered. And I'm grateful for modern medicine!

Keep running!

Never Alone

Well, I didn't write last week and I'm writing a day late this week. Surprise!

The reason I didn't write last week is because I forgot on Monday, and on Tuesday when I realized I missed, I just thought, "Well really, what am I going to write about anyway?" Sometimes coming up with topics is a hard thing for me. Which means I shouldn't be a columnist. Or, I need some more practice if I want to become that!



I want to share something that happened back in January that I don't think I've mentioned. It's a really neat story.

So in early January, the principal from the high school I went to called the house. He explained that the money raised from the Hodson Cancer Classic, a basketball tournament over Christmas break, was given in memory of Steve Hodson (who was a well known basketball coach at SUU and Canyon View and passed away from cancer a few years ago) to families who are going through cancer. And when he said, "We would like Erik and family to be one of the families we give it to!" And when I heard, I was kind of shocked, but super happy!

So the night of the Cedar vs Canyon View basketball game comes, and my whole family and I got to get in for free! At half time, they started the program. Both the other family and my family were called up to the center of the basketball court, and our stories were shared.

After they shared my story, the most AMAZING thing happened! I looked up into the Cedar High student section (I knew most of these kids from high school and being in Student Gov), and it started of with just a few people, but they started raising their hand in the "I love you!" sign, and eventually the whole student section was doing it!


It was seriously the coolest thing I have ever seen. Ever.


And I just couldn't help but smile as I looked, and they all smiled back, some with tears, but everybody showing their support! In fact, I was told that the Canyon View student section was doing it as well. I couldn't see them because they were on the other side of the gym, standing behind us.

I have never felt so loved by my peers than I did at that moment. And even though the hardest part of my cancer was over, that night solidified to me that I'm not alone in this. I have family, friends, and even some people I don't even know who will support me. Cancer isn't just something one person faces, but a whole group of people.

And I'll always remember, everytime I think about to that game and that night. The "I love you" hands from my high school peers. Really, I'm grateful for that!

If you're reading this, and you were there at the game, thank you. Thank you for your love, support, and help. Thank you for the smiles that I always see when you say hello. I may not know you, but gosh, I sure love ya!

Yes, I'm quoting High School Musical, but it's comforting to me when I say that "we're all in this together!"

Have a great day, and keep running!