True Character, Dignity & Optimism

Erik Gray's journals

#journalgems

written by Erik, March 2015

An excerpt from a scholarship letter

In December 2009, when I was 15-years-old, I was diagnosed with a form of Stage IV cancer in my salivary glands called Mucoepidermoid Carcinoma. 

It is not extremely life-threatening, but since that time, I have had ten surgeries on my neck ranging from biopsies to the replacement of the right half of my jaw, radiation twice, and I am currently on my second round of chemotherapy. 

Throughout my cancer experiences, I served as a student body officer, graduated high school with 24 college credits, maintained good grades through my three semesters at Southern Utah University, and received an Associate’s degree. 

At the end of my first semester, I faced the weight of an unexpected major surgery only a day after my last final. I have faced what many call “extreme adversity”, with what I believe as true character, dignity, and optimism. 

These characteristics will help me through the rest of my life in all aspects as a college student, businessman, husband, father, and person. 

I wouldn’t trade the growth and lessons I’ve experienced for anything.

Move Forward

Erik Gray's journals

#journalgems

written by Erik, 2015

Cancer

is a word that is sometimes not associated with winning, 

but that has never been an option for me. 

In fact, 

every day I choose to move forward is winning.

Erik Gray's journals

#journalgems

written January, 2017

AUGUST 2016 Last weekend in Logan before moving back home.

Sunday I went to church. Everyone in the ward wore dark blue ribbons. Mary Yohem had set it up... OH MY HECK I LOVE HER SO MUCH. I’ll talk about her in a minute. :) They knew I was moving home and that it was my last Sunday.

I got the opportunity to bless and serve the Sacrament that day. What a neat opportunity to be able to do it on my last Sunday. :] 

After the third hour lesson, Mary, Bronte, and a few others called me up, explained what was up with me and gave me a nice shoutout, and presented me with a loving sign that a lot of the ward had signed. :’) So touched. I remember back in the spring when I was in the 31^st ward (the ward I was in at Pine View), I knew I’d be moving back in the fall and talked with the Bishop and there was an idea that I could just keep my records in the ward for that summer, but I eventually decided to just move my records to the 18^th ward, where I would be at with Yellow House and Darwin Avenue. Which was a good move. It would have been weirder and harder and more awkward if I would’ve not been in the ward. AND THE 18^th WARD WAS SOOOOOOOOOO AWESOME AND SO INCREDIBLE. And living on Darwin Avenue in general? Ahh. Seriously. Perfect place.

That's all for my journaling tonight! Glad I'm doing this, I don't want these insights to be forgotten. Especially because these insights and these feelings I've felt are SO real, and there is no way I can deny the truthfulness of the gospel the Savior, everything about the gospel. Goodnight, journal. SOO glad I'm writing down my thoughts. :)                                                   ~Erik Gray