Mt. Rainier

On Saturday I went to Mount Rainier National Park for the first time. It was pretty much a perfect day as far as weather - just a clear blue sky with just enough clouds to make things interesting. I went with Derek, Ayako and Ken and we hiked the Skyline loop in the Paradise area of the park. It was about a 5-6 mile trail, and we took our time to just take in the amazing views and get photos of all the nature and wildlife. I'm just gonna post a few photos for now, and soon I'll add a link to a whole album's worth of photos.

Okay, that's the best I could do for limiting the number of photos I post. Amazing views, huh? Stay tuned for more photos :)

starvin'

I know it's been awhile since my last post. I think I've resolved to make my posts more frequent but also shorter. I'm gonna try posting the all the photos on a separate page w/ captions, and just including a few in each post.

Anyway.... today I got a colonoscopy. Since Oliver had colon cancer, everyone in my family gets checked every 5 years or so. Good news - it was normal, so I definitely thank God for my health. The doctor even gave me a little printout with photos from inside my colon:

Pretty cool, huh? I had to censor out photo number 4, since, well, you know... just look at the diagram. The whole procedure wasn't bad at all since I was heavily drugged and basically unconscious the whole time. I actually don't remember changing back into my clothes from the hospital gown which is both scary and cool at the same time. I wasn't allowed to drive after the procedure, and they even told me not to go to work - so I didn't. I'm not one to break the doctor's orders now.

The worst part was the day before when I had to drink basically a gallon of this gel-like liquid which was supposed to clean out your bowels. It came in fun flavors that were supposed to improve the taste, but I'm not 100% sure if they made it better or worse. And then I wasn't allowed to eat anything for the whole day. It was only one day - and I could drink clear fluids like water and gatorade. Still, being around food and watching other people eat definitely was challenging. It really made me a lot more thankful for the fact that anytime I want to have to have something to eat, I can. And I can even eat good food now that I've escaped the mass produced dining hall food from college. It definitely let me reflect on other people in this country and around the world who can't necessarily say the same.

More than that though, this whole experience really took me back to when Oliver was sick. From the simple act of wearing a thin, cold hospital gown in a very air-conditioned hospital to being wheeled around on a bed with an IV in my arm, electrodes on my chest, oxygen in my nose and a pulsemeter on my finger - it all reminded me of Oliver. I'll admit - there were a few times when I almost lost it in the hospital. The nurse and doctor saw on my records that I had an older brother who had colon cancer at age 25. They asked me how he was, and I would simply reply that he passed away last year. I was barely in the hospital for 2 hours. I bet Oliver spent over 2000 hours in a hospital bed. I didn't eat for one whole day. Once his digestive system couldn't handle anything anymore, Oliver didn't eat for a month.

It's been over 13 months since his passing, and though I still have some low moments like I did today in the hospital, when I think about Oliver's story overall, I still can't help but smile. My experience today gave me a snapshot of what his life was like for almost 3 years. And yet he was able to persevere through it all. He stayed strong and had hope. And though he's no longer with us today, his hope lives on. He had hope in Jesus, who who had giant "needles" pierce his hands and feet when he died for us. I think when Oliver was facing all those needles, wires and treatments, he thought of the cross and knew that the pain is only temporary. One day without food followed by a few hours in the hospital has helped to remind me of what truly is important in this life.

Thanks Oliver.