In June of this year, I walked into my neurosurgeon’s office in Bend, Oregon for the first time in almost three years. The distinct smell, the artwork on the walls, and the environment were all familiar, but it didn’t feel the same. It was surreal to be there for a routine check-in, and not a meeting to discuss surgery. The look on my doctor’s face when he walked into the exam room said it all. Relief, joy, and victory. After battling so hard for so many years, the idea that I could go even one full year without surgery had felt unattainable. But here we are, three years later. Things have be ..read more

​I opened this journal file on my computer this morning, not really knowing when I had written last. Prior to pausing my regular writing and blogging, I was in a good rhythm of journaling almost every day. Throughout the struggles I experienced medically in 2019, I wrote consistently and shared as much as I could on my blog and social media. But then in early 2020, I started helping my good friend Freddy Sandoval write his book on mental training and for about six months I shifted my attention and all the time and energy I had for writing towards that project. By the time we were finished, I ..read more

 At the end of last month, my siblings and I took a quick day trip over to the Oregon coast. It was a crazy beautiful day; blue skies and warm ocean air. While we were there, I took a long walk on my own down the beach, to put my feet in the water and breathe. The month of July was surreal and difficult, but having my family together to celebrate my youngest brother’s wedding was exactly what I needed to remind me of why I fight so hard for peace every day.    The ocean always reminds me that life comes in waves. Some waves are nice and calm, lapping at your feet nice and easy ..read more

To say that the ways that everyday life and routines have been seriously affected by the COVID-19 pandemic is a gross understatement. People have lost loved ones, businesses and entire industries are shut down, and everyone is staying home. Even simple things like going to the grocery store have been affected – especially if you need toilet paper or baking supplies.  The state of Oregon started our stay at home order on March 20, 2020, but schools and many businesses have been closed since March 12. I am so grateful that I’ve been able to continue working full time during the past eight ..read more

​Friday, March 20, 2020   Good morning Friends and fellow Hydro Warriors,    In light of the recent pandemic developments and global health crisis, I wanted to make time to sit down and write a message to all my friends in the hydrocephalus community and beyond. There is a new and increased need for information, support, and comfort as people all around the world are isolated and so many things are in a state of unprecedented uncertainty.    If you have followed my story or have read my blogs in the past, you know that I write and share because I believe that it’s is ..read more

Last month I took a quick weekend trip to Boise to see one of my closest friends. I was excited to be able to finally take a mini vacation, after needing to cancel several scheduled trips in the past 12 months. Since it was my first time on a plane in almost a year, I was a little anxious to see how my brain would handle all the necessary evils of travel. But I made it through the airport without getting too overwhelmed, and I settled into my seat for the flight. As we taxied to the runway, I closed my eyes and said a quick prayer of gratitude. I opened my eyes and thought about the shunt inf ..read more

​It’s no secret that I am so excited for the change in seasons. I love the fall in Oregon. I truly love everything about the fall – the cooler temperatures, the rain, sweaters, and football games. My favorite part about autumn where I live is the obvious shift in the position of the sun in the sky – which makes the light so filtered and beautiful, especially in the afternoon. But there’s nothing like the glorious palate of colors as the leaves change to red, orange and bright yellow against a blue sky. It’s so spectacular, and I can’t wait for it every year. But this year I’m even more excite ..read more

On September 1, 2019 I lost one of my best friends. I was on my way home from church when I got the call that Jim had died in a tragic fall on a hunting trip in southeastern Oregon. Jim and I started working together the year after we graduated from high school, which means we spent over half our lives building things together. I consider him to be like a brother, and I'm determined to make him proud. I wrote this letter to him about 3 hours after I found out he was gone, and I shared it at the service today.  Hug your people. Tell them you love them.  Take care of each other. ​ N ..read more

Pain by definition is an unpleasant sensation in the body but can also be defined by mental distress. It’s uncomfortable and it interrupts the activities of daily life. Physical pain can range from just an annoyance to something horrible that lands you in the hospital for days, and mental pain is certainly an epidemic. According to a quick Google search, 10% of Americans take antidepressant medication, and 40mil adults in the US are currently diagnosed with anxiety disorders.     Appropriate measures should always be taken for acute pain, and I’m so grateful for medical interve ..read more

​8/13/19   My alarm clock went off at 5am this morning for the first time in about a month. As the music started to play, I rolled over in bed and listened to the lyrics.    There are times when life seems bigger than you, and the world comes crumbling down. The strength in your heart will see you through and become a jewel in your crown. Don’t chase the past, because you can’t change a thing It’s gone, there’s nothing to do. Don’t count on the future, it’s only a dream Today’s when life starts new   This is the first verse of the song Keep On Walking, which is a song that ..read more