The Untold Adventure

This blog has chronicled "The Adventures of the Northwoods Nomad".  Some of them have ended with me surviving a wreck (or causing one.  I'm not sure if I've told that story).  Others are just plain weird.  But there is one adventure that I've yet to tell.  It's is my life long bout with epilepsy.  Yes.  I have epilepsy.  I've had it the majority of my life and it has certainly been an adventure!  For awhile it subsided enough that I was able to drive and, truth be told, if things stay they way they are now, I could probably drive again.  Will I?  No.  Why?  There's always a chance that something might happen and if something does and someone dies or is hurt as a result, is it really worth it?  No it isn't.  It does make things a bit more difficult but I've managed to get by for the past few years and I'll make it.  So here goes.  It's quite the ride so hang on.  :-) 

I was diagnosed with epilepsy when I was eleven.  Initially, the seizures were small but eventually I started having grand mal seizures and it got to the point where I was having them five times a week.  I was fortunate that I had them at the same time every day.  Every day, I would get up and my mom would sit with me until I had my seizure, then I'd sleep it off and go to school.  I had been homeschooled from second grade through ninth grade which helped, not only to develop a good educational foundation but also we were able to at least get somewhat of a handle on what was happening to me before I returned to school.  My school really worked with me.  We were able to work it out with the school so that (initially) my first three hours were study halls to give me enough time to sleep off the seizures.

I really don't remember much about high school.   Between the ages of thirteen and seventeen I was trying a lot of different epilepsy medications.  At one point I was on two different medications, Tegretol and Dilantin, and was taking 1800mg a day.  That's about as high as you can go.  I tried every prescription drug on the market with no success.  Basically we spent four years trying different drugs, working with levels, and seeing different neurologists.  The third and final one we saw told my parents that there really was nothing more he could do.  His recommendation was brain surgery and referred  us to MINCEP.  (www.mincep.com) in Minneapolis, MN.  They were the first comprehensive epilepsy center in the United States and have served as a model for epilepsy centers throughout the world.  At that time we had two options.  We could go to MINCEP where they were doing the surgery I needed daily or we could go to the University of Michigan (that's where my parents' insurance company wanted us to go) where the doctor had done it once.  Forgive the pun, no don't forgive the pun.  It doesn't take a brain surgeon to figure that one out!

Prior to doing the surgery they had to see if I was even eligible.  If the infected area was in a place that also had motor skills, (i.e., sight, speech, etc) then they would remove what they could and do their best to control the seizures with medication.     I spent two weeks at MINCEP going through tests so  they could see exactly where the damaged area was.  They were able to determine that no motor skills were in the damaged area.   As it turns out there was nothing there.  It was dead brain.  (So many jokes, so little time). 

When I was born they used forceps and I had a bruise on the left side of my head.  My mother was told it was nothing to worry about.  However, the bruise caused my brain to kind of reset.  It moved everything to the right hand side.  I was left handed when I was born and now I'm ambidextrous.  When the doctor performed the surgery he said he was pulling up layers of dead brain all the way down to the grey matter.   

My high school was very cooperative  with us.  I was gone almost two months and still graduated on time.  They faxed me my assignments.  In one class the teacher just had me read a book.

Looking back you see things from a different perspective.  Going into that surgery I wanted one thing.  A driver's license and I was going to get it.  I didn't pray.   I just knew it would work.  It shouldn't have.  Mine was a horizontal view.  However, there were hundreds (maybe more) of people who felt differently and were lifting me before God.  There were literally people all over the world praying and if it wasn't for them I could very well still be sitting in my parents' basement.  Since 1992 I've lived in North Carolina, Michigan, Colorado, Ohio and I've had a full time job for twenty one years as of this year.  In each place I've been able to live on my own; prior to 1992 that may not have happened.   

When I was there one morning I got more letters then the entire floor!  They were all cards, some from people I didn't even know.  I also got cards from my high school's faculty, my biology class, the football team, cheerleaders, (I was on the yearbook and took pictures at the games)

Then of course there was a small bonus.  January 26, 1992.  The Washington Redskins were playing the Buffalo Bills.  Most people were in their living rooms watching the game.  I was in a hospital room.  However, my room was in Minneapolis.  :-)  I honestly don't know how close I was to the Metrodome but I was the closest I'll ever get to a Superbowl!  It was pretty cool.  I had made a bet that if Buffalo lost I'd shave my head.  It was a pretty safe bet and one that I lost.

Thankfully, I didn't need much rehab...initially.  But there's an interesting twist to this particular point.   The human body is going through many changes around age eleven and the epilepsy started to mature as well.  This had an interesting side affect.  The normal mental growth of an average teenager wasn't the same for me.  That's not to say I didn't have any.  When I was seventeen I didn't have the brain of an eleven year old.  I think the fact that my parents pushing me to read and educating me outside of school (even after I went back) really helped.  The fact that I graduated on time is evidence of that.  They were constantly reading to us.  Every morning.  In fact, that's what we did while we waited for me to have a seizure.   It kept my brain working.

source:   http://neurodoc.in/vagal_nerve_stimulation

After my surgery I spent pretty much an entire decade in a "discovering life" mentality.  I suppose that's what most people in their twenties do.  However, I was combining the teen years I'd missed with my twenties.  I did a lot of stupid stuff.  Again.  Characteristics of both.

During that time I had been seizure free for several years, and in 2003 my neurologist asked me if I would be open to having a Vegus Nerve Stimulator installed.   It is designed to prevent seizures by sending regular, mild pulses of electrical energy to the brain via the vagus nerve. (http://www.epilepsy.com/EPILEPSY/vns).  It is battery powered and the battery lasts seven years depending on the setting.      I actually had one of the first models so I watched them go from using laptops to check the battery power and pulses to the current (no pun intended) model which is the size of an iPhone.  Ironically the scanner I stick on my chest is still huge.  I've always thought that was weird.

In 2004 I started having seizures again.  It happened fairly regularly over the next few years.  I was living in Upper Michigan which was great but it not an area that is conducive to someone who is not driving.  In 2008 I had the opportunity to move to Colorado Springs as my brother (Joel) who was stationed out there, knew I was having financial difficulties,as well as the medical issues (driving and such) and offered to put me up.  I ended up being there for almost four years and he made some tremendous sacrifices that I am very thankful for.

As I said, one of the reasons I moved from Michigan to Colorado was because driving was an issue.  What I did not know was that Colorado Springs was running out of money and they were making budget cuts.  One of the cuts they made was to the public transportation system.  They cut out weekends and shortened the hours of operation during the week.  The buses stopped running at seven pm.  Since I started work at nine and I got off at five I had to come up with something else.  My hours and their hours didn't really work out too well together.  Now, initially, I did try and take the bus to work during my first week in Colorado Springs.  Joel had dropped me off the night before.  That morning I rode home but fell asleep and missed my stop.  The driver woke me up at the end of his route.  I was on an empty bus.  Oops.  The good thing was I was close to Walmart, so I went in there, bought a bike, and started riding home.  Since I finished work at five and it was about nine at this point Joel called me to find out where I was.  I was about ten miles out and he ended up coming to get me. That's how I started riding to work.  It was a good thing too because I eventually I would've had to start riding and by starting off doing it I was ahead of the game and in really good shape!  By the time I left Colorado Springs I had ridden over thirteen thousand miles.  Twenty miles a day.  I rode in everything but hail and the only reason I didn't ride in that was because it was never hailing while I was riding.  I wore a ski mask, ski goggles (when needed), long johns, thermal t shirt.  The works.  I even had studded tires.    Some people thought I was insane and I  probably was.  Maybe I still am.  :-)  The bottom line for me was (and is) I will get to work.  Period.  I crossed the line one time but fortunately I was prepared for the cold weather.  It makes for some good stories though!  :-)

Now, based on my experience, If you are looking for a good neurologist, Colorado Springs is not the place to look.  I'm not saying they aren't there, but Colorado Springs is a city focused on athletes.  If they are going to bring doctors in it won't be to work on your brain.  I had a hard time finding a good neurologist.  My experience was not good.   But that's just me.  Others may have different experiences.  I certainly hope so.

In 2011 I moved to Ohio and once I got here I called MINCEP and asked them who they'd recommend.  They sent me to the UC Health. (http://www.uchealth.com/).  They are one of the top teaching hospitals in the nation.  During my first several months here I had several grand mal seizures but what I found out was that there were several drugs that I didn't even know about.  (The neurologist I had seen just prior to my leaving Colorado Springs had told me there was nothing more he could do for me except monitor my VNS)  Those meds eventually helped to get my seizures under almost complete control.  I will never say complete control as there is always a chance for a seizure.

In closing, it's been amazing to see what God has brought me through and the road  he has taken me down.  I won't say it has always been fun but that's life.  He never said it's be easy.  I can't wait to see what God has next for me!  The adventure continues!

Batman verses Superman

(SPOILER ALERT)With the end of the Dark Knight trilogy this summer and the initial trailer for the Christopher Nolan version of Superman I've come across a long standing argument between comic book readers and super hero lovers.  Who is better?  Batman or Superman?  When I was a kid I always liked watching the Superman.  Now though, I think I like Batman better.  Over the years I've still enjoyed watching Superman cartoons but have to say that Batman has won me over.  Even the cartoons.  Especially Batman Beyond.


I actually enjoy watching Batman Beyond more then the original Batman cartoon.  That said the original is always the best.

When it comes to Superman how is it that we are the only ones who know that Clark Kent is just wearing glasses.  Is Lois Lane really that stupid?  I've always wondered how how oblivious a ""smart" reporter like Lois Lane could miss the fairly obvious fact that her coworker was just Superman in a suit and tie. 

The Dark Knight Trilogy is by far the best adaptation of Batman ever done and is my favorite.  While life is considerably more depressing at times one thing I have noticed is that Batman has much more fun then Superman.  I mean what can you really do with a cape?  If you recall in The Incredibles the cape was a big problem.  Superheros kept getting sucked up into jet engines.  (Of course Batman has a cape but that is not his main mode of transportation and most of the time he's either on the ground and is always away from jet engines.)   You'd think that being an alien from another world Superman's parents would have planned for him to have a little extra spending money.  He does have the "Fortress of Solitude."  Can't he ask for a raise in his allowance?  .  That said, even without money Superman could use that  super brain of his and build super toys.  Oh wait. He doesn't need to because nothing can beat him.  See, that's the problem.  How many times can The Daily Planet  run that story?  In theory, you should only be able to get away with that once.  After that it's old news.

Now, If you look at the list of Bat Toys you've got the car (the Tumbler beats every Batmobile EVER hands down!), the motorcycle, and what I suppose you could call a Bat hovercraft/jet.  Bottom line.  It flies and it's awesome!    And we can't forget the utility belt.  Bruce Wayne being a "billionaire playboy" certainly has it's perks when it comes to gadgets. 

There really isn't much to Superman other then the fact that he has super strength and has to stay away from kryptonite.  As much as I enjoyed watching Christopher Reeves as Superman when it comes down to it there really isn't all that much about Superman that's all that appealing.  Although he does get the girl.  But then again, they all do.  I don't recall any Superman having any big moral revelations other then the fact that he needed to control his speed.

Batman on the other hand is human which means he can fail.  He will fail.  In every movie Christopher Nolan movie he did fail. In fact The Dark Knight Rises opens eight years after the last movie and Batman took the fall for the murder of Harvey Dent.  Not much of a super hero, but very human.  As his Dad tells him in Batman Begins, "Why do we fall Bruce?  So we can learn to pick ourselves up."    That says something.  He can learn.  And he might not be Batman when he does it.  That is an important lesson in and of itself.  So while Superman flies around the earth, slowing it down to save Lois Lane, Batman (or maybe Bruce Wayne) will be teaching us why it is important to be the little engine that could.  Superman might have super strength but my money is on Batman.  He has to find a way to beat Superman.  That's what makes him the better superhero and the better man.  But that's just me.

Looking Back: A Blowout to Remember

In February of 2008 I took a friend, his wife, and kid down to the Marshfield Clinic in Marshfield, WI. He didn't have a car and since Marshfield is three or fours away I offered to give him a ride. We drove halfway there on Wednesday and finished the drive Thursday morning. In order to get there from here you can go a couple of ways. I can't remember what way we actually ended up going by I do know that we had to turn at some point. I didn't. We ended up in Silver City which was about 40 miles out of our way. This would be where the road ended. There is a sign that says “Road Closed”. I'm guessing that it turns into a logging road or something. There was a store in Silver City (I think it was the only one). I stopped there to get a map. His power was out and I didn't have any cash. I had was a credit card and (thankfully) a checkbook. I bought a map of the Upper Peninsula and the store owner gave me directions. When I got back in the car Merl (the guy I was taking down) took the map I'd bought and opened the glove compartment to put it in there. He pulled out a map of Michigan.

We arrived in Minoqua, WI that evening and spent the night there with Rachel Loukus and her boyfriend.   The appointment was at 8am so I was up early. Wisconsin doesn't get as much snow as Upper Michigan but the temps can get well below zero. Such was the case Thursday morning. It was -18. My car didn't start. So we had to jump start it.

We left around six am and about halfway there my heater stopped working. It was still -18 degree and  had to turn the heat off to get warmed up. Other than a couple wrong turns on the way to Marshfield the trip was cold, but uneventful.

The original plan was that we would drive down on Wednesday and back Thursday after the appointment.. So Thursday afternoon we started back. We got to Wausau and I my back right tire blew out.

 I opened up the trunk and pulled out the spare. In all the other cars I'd owned the jack was always attached to the spare.  All my other cars except this one. The only jack I owned was in my other car.  I was about a mile from the next exit and the thought of just waking to the next exit crossed my mind. However, I thought about it, picked up my cell phone, and called Directory Assistance. I got the number for the Wausau Walmart and I was automatically connected. I briefly explained to the person that answered the phone my problem and asked for the number of a tow truck. I got the number, called them, and they sent a truck out. At this point I was expecting to see a cop show up at any time. Sure enough, about five minutes after I called the tow truck I saw a state trooper going the opposite direction. He swung around to find out what was going on. I explained to him the predicament and he told me he'd wait until the tow truck came which was nice. I wasn't really too wild about getting rear ended on the highway by another vehicle. Anyway, it cost me $38 to have the tire changed. I was grateful especially since all I had was $38 in cash. (A side note here: My  front passenger side door would not shut. Before I had left Houghton I'd bought a bungee cord and tied the front door to the back door to keep it shut. Since Merl was sitting in the front seat and his wife was sitting behind him the police officer didn't see the door or the bungee cord. Had he seen that he most likely would have deemed the car not road worthy making my stay in WI longer and more expensive.)

When we blew the tire it was around 5pm. It's not the best time to a) blow a tire or b) need to get a tire changed as a lot of body shops shut down at 5pm. As I paid the tow truck guy (I think that's what they're called) he told me I could just follow him into town and he'd hook me up with an auto body repair shop. There was actually one just off the highway. However, he was really backed up with work and while he wished he could help he had too many other things already being worked on. He suggested Farm and Fleet. The tow truck guy then told me I could follow him and he'd show me where to turn to get to the Farm and Fleet. After a few minutes and several turn around and go back I was able to get into the parking lot. I have to say that they sure do make parking lots difficult to get into (at least of the highway). But then again it's probably just me. Anyway back to the story.

As I said, we went to Farm and Fleet. I hadn't been inside Farm and Fleet since I was 10 years old. I didn't realize how similar it was to Walmart. I found the automotive department and told the guy I needed a tire. He got the information from me (make, model, etc.) and said that according to the inventory they had five on hand. Now anyone who works in retail know that if the inventory is off it doesn't matter what the scanner says. Sure enough, they didn't have the size tire I needed.

At this point I'd run into a brick wall (figuratively of course). My original plan was to drive back to Houghton (which is about 200 miles) on the spare. However, after making a call or two it was recommended to me that I get the spare fixed simply for the fact that if that one blew I'd be in real trouble. Plus I had three other people in the car, one of which was a two-year old child and I was responsible for them and their safety as well. One of the calls I made was to Rachel. I called her at work and explained what happened. (I was hoping to stay an extra night because of weather that way I could call in and make a five-day weekend out it. I wasn't too wild about having to stay over because of car problems. But that's my life.) She was not surprised but recommended that I get the car fixed in Minoqua Friday morning. So I stayed an extra night. 

A lot of times my vacations have turned into adventures (sometimes costly adventures but adventures nonetheless) so I've just established the thinking that when I go on trips and this kind of thing happens it becomes a “what will happen this time” mindset. This way it's more of an adventure and anyone who has traveled with me know that this is true.

What is Happening to Me?

When I ask this question I don't mean it in a derogatory way.  I'm not mutating into an X Man (although that would be cool).  When I ask that question I ask it because my attitude seems to be changing.  My reactions to recent events in my life have led me to this conclusion.

On Saturday, June 23 a fire broke out in Colorado Springs.  It was started in the Garden of the Gods which is just about two miles from my brother's house.  Currently, he is in Afghanistan but Daniel and Lindsey are living there.  I was obviously very concerned and have been watching closely over the last several days.  Not only because of them but because I have friends there as well. 

As the fire progressed I remembered what kind of an appreciation and, yes, love, I had for the area.  Certainly I enjoyed the area.  The physical aspects of it.  However, unlike Upper Michigan my main focus was relationships.  I chose to spend time with people.  I did enjoy the outdoors but I don't think I gave it a chance.  It was always a compare/contrast which in hindsight wasn't fair.  There was some amazing beauty and I wish I could've seen more of it. 

That was an unexpected flashback to my time in Colorado Springs.  Fast forward to present day.  I saw the land I loved start to burn.  I couldn't look away.  Every day I'd get home from work and go straight to the Internet and see the live feed.  What was happening?  Where was it at?  What was it doing?  It was as if a friend was in the hospital.  Do you have to be there?  Not really.  Are you going to leave.  Not on your life.  Of course it wasn't to that extreme, but I was paying close attention.  At one point one of the reporters was standing in a spot I rode my bike through every day for a year and it was at night which is when I would ride.  He was remarking at how weird it was to see all the lights the same color.  For me it was as if I was riding home from work.  That was my Colorado Springs and sadly it was burning.  It still is.  But hope springs eternal and God is in control.  I have a new appreciation for Colorado Springs and it is a part of me.  I just didn't realize that the land was as much a part of me as the people were.  It gives me a new appreciation for how the Indians must have felt.

On Wednesday night my niece Emmy stopped breathing and they rushed her to the hospital.  She was going to stay in for 24 hours but ha another incident and is still there.  As I sit here digesting all of this (as I have been since Saturday) I have come close to tears many times.  Yes.  I admit it.  I know that it is nothing to be ashamed of.  What I am starting to realize (I think) is a) the fragility of life b) how scary  the unknown can be and c) what it's like to be a leader.

Thoughts

It's been surreal watching the wildfires in Colorado Springs knowing that I was living in one of the zones that was evacuated. I'm hoping and praying my brother's house makes it through.  It makes me stop and think about where we place the importance of things and how in a second they could be gone.  There certainly was no way for Joel to know a fire was coming so he could get make sure everything important was out. 

It's been rough for me being in OH while all this is going on as I have a lot of good friends out there.   I was there for 3.5 years leaving there was the hardest move I had to make.  It was all in God's divine plan but it has caused me to step back and really take a second look from another perspective at my time there.  

In watching some of the coverage I realized that I really do miss the area as much as the people.  I think that can speak to the culture of a city or community.  My main goal going  in was to establish relationships.  That's what I did.  But as I watched the coverage I realized that if you stay somewhere long enough, whether you want to or not, you plant roots.  It really hurt to watch the coverage but at the same time, almost as if I was the hospital with a loved one, I wanted to make sure they were all right.  It's been a bit of an emotional roller coaster over the last few days (and I'm in OH).  But I am thankful that as of yet no lives have been lost and the damage that has been done is not necessarily permanent  It'll be awesome to see how Colorado Springs and the surrounding communities rally to rebuild.  Keep praying!

The Bucket List

The Bucket List.  Some people have them.  Others just have dreams that could essentially be called a Bucket List.  From that persepective I think we all have a bucket list of some sort.  For many years I've had one item on mine.  Alaska.  Other dreams have come and gone but that one remains.  It probably always will.  So that was my Bucket List.  Until I moved to Ohio of all places.   Who would have thought that my bucket list would've started to grow here?  I sure didn't.

The first few months I lived here were uneventful which wasn't at all surprising.  I was in a new area and working nights.  I was in a Bible study on Monday nights but the guys in it were either very involved with their own families and work or just very involved with work.  It was a good study but it just wasn't what I needed.   In July when I was moved to the cooler and my schedule changed to Sat/Wed off and I had the opportunity to get involved with another small group from my church that was much more diversified.  There were more of them and I had more opportunities to get involved in different areas of church as well as outside of church.  This is when things started to happen.  Not right away, but soon enough. 

The first thing that got added to my bucket list was ice skating.  Yes.  I was born and raised in Michigan, lived in the Upper Peninsula for eight years, the Lower Peninsula for twenty three years, Colorado for three years, and never went ice skating...until I moved to Ohio.  I didn't do too bad for my first time either!  That is until one of the girls said "I can't believe you haven't fallen down yet."  At which point, I fell down.  Only once though.

Number two was salsa dancing.  It's a blast!  I'm not all that good but I was having a good time and that's really all that matters.

I ventured past Mexico for number three on the list.  We went out for Thai one weekend.  I've eaten things in Mexico but that's as far as I've gone.  So I had Thai for the first time.  I can't remember what I ordered but it was good and I'll go again!

Number four took us to Columbus for an Elephant Revival.   Elephant Revival is a Hippie Bluegrass band from Colorado.  My first experience with Bluegrass! 

Where to next?  Broadway!   The last (for now) thing on my ever expanding Bucket List is seeing a Broadway musical.  This past weekend we went and saw Wicked.  It's the story of the Wicked Witch of the West. An amazing evening!   It was a great experience and one that I will most certainly repeat!

What's interesting about my list is that there seem to be categories developing.  Music, the Arts, Food, and Sports.  I wonder what will be next?  Does holding twin nieces count?

Commercials in My Head?

Working for Walmart/Sams Club for as long as I have (18 years) something happens to you. I'm guessing this is the case in any job so as the years have passed I've looked for different ways to amuse myself...and sometimes I didn't even know I was doing it!

Here's a jingle for adult diapers:

The Assurance you have Depends on your Poise

Yeah. I know. Way too much free time on my hands but what else will my brain do while I work? Here's another one, this time using tampons.

To Stayfree you must Always be Carefree.


The jingle that my brain came up with all by itself (without my knowledge) was actually the inspiration for this blog entry goes as follows:

My baby has a Dri Bottom because he's sitting on a White Cloud that's Hugging the horizon and his mommy Luvs and Pampers him

I know it's kinda crazy but that's just how my brain works. It's really great most of the time. :-) I think so anyway!