4 Updates & 1 Memory

Heavens-to-Betsy...

I can't believe I haven't posted in so long. I want to take a few minutes and catch you up on a few things that have been going on.

Update 1: Dot&Cross Updates

Recently, I had the joy of meeting a good friend of mine for a business meeting on Tom Sawyer's Island in Disneyland! Thanks to Bob Goff for hands-down, the funnest meeting I've ever had. And tonight I headed back out to LA (3rd time this month) where we'll be working with Francis Chan for 3 days on some films we'll be shooting in February. Excited to spend some more time with him, yet also sad to be away from Amy for these few days before Christmas. It reminds me of 2 or 3 years ago when I was spending the days before Christmas developing films with Matthew & Nancy Sleeth in Kentucky. I flew home and was delayed in Detroit on Christmas Eve. Let's hope that doesn't happen again this year!

Update 2: Operation Hot-Box

I have an infrared sauna in my house. Yes, you read correctly. My brother-in-law built it for me. It cost $150 to build with PVC pipes, duct tape and other crazy stuff. Every time I think about my ghetto make-shift sauna in our guest bedroom, I have to laugh because it looks like those old forts I used to build in my bedroom with my star wars sheets and couch cushions. It makes me sweat like a hog which is super-important in getting toxins out of my body. I'll talk more about this later, but the general premise is that as my body fights and kills the cancer, those toxins and dead cells have to get out of the body so I don't get sick from toxemia. Sweating rids toxins from the body and this is a great way to get your lymphatic system kicking into high-gear. I have another clever strategy for ridding toxins that I'll go into later when I have more time...

Update 3: My new friend... Matt Chandler!

In regards to my last post, Matt Chandler and I have been growing closer as we have been sharing our journeys together. I've been blessed to offer information that I've learned to he and his wife, Lauren. His surgery went very well and he is determining his next steps for treatment as I type this post. Matt and I are looking forward to getting together soon which reminds me - I just got an email from him. He wants Amy and I to road-trip and meet up with he and Lauren for a Muse concert!! Now we're talking!!

"This could be the beginning of a beautiful (and much longer than 10 years) friendship."

Update 4: You're doing what?

This is crazy. Ready for this? After learning that I had cancer, Joey, a girl in my church youth group as a kid, contacted me out of the blue. (We had a really big youth group so I didn't know her at the time, but after seeing a photo of her I totally remembered her). Anyway, a few years ago, she had gotten married to a great guy named Seth. It turns out that Seth had a brain tumor rather similar to mine. He ended up going through several craniotomies followed by rounds of radiation and chemotherapy.  I am sad to say that Seth went home to be with the Lord and one of Joey's regrets is that they never had a chance to go on a honeymoon.

So Joey ordered (yes, literally ordered) me to go on a vacation / honeymoon with my wife Amy... and she was going to help pay for it. We tried to argue but she would have none of it. You'll find that arguing with wives whose husbands deal with cancer is a lost cause. They are all strong as nails... Joey said that it was very important that Amy and I have memorable times together because you never know what is going to happen next.  So, the big news is that Amy and I are going to New Zealand later this week and spending New Year's there!

(Side-note: Excuse me for speaking bluntly about Joey and Seth's story, but I am going to write more on them later. They have such as amazing story that you need to hear about.)

Memory 1: Now we're moving from updates to memories

If you'll recall, as I was undergoing surgery for my brain biopsy I was lying in my hospital bed all by myself trying to remember words of comfort from the Bible. Then, Emily, a girl doing her residency with Mayo at the time (and also the girl who asked me if my photos were recently on Jasmine Star's blog) was asking me standard questions about what my hobbies are in order to calm me down and take my mind off the fact someone what about to put a drill through my skull. I told her all sorts of things that I had no interest in at all, but it felt good to talk so I was probably saying all sorts of random things like chess, cycling, piloting dirigibles, etc... but I do remember that I said 'traveling'. She asked me where I would like to travel but I was so nerved up that I, once again, just started naming places at random, places I probably would have never said before. Rio, Iceland, Tokyo...

As they were about to put me all the way under for surgery, she was delicately putting the anesthesia mask on me. And like a mother wishing 'sweet dreams' to her child, she told me to dream about taking a wonderful vacation during the surgery. "Dream of going to Tokyo!", she said. (pause) STOP THE DRILL! All of a sudden, I had a vision of visiting Tokyo filled with images of bright flashing lights, cars everywhere, toilets I have no idea how to flush, Hello Kitty and a language I couldn't understand, speak or read. There was absolutely nothing comforting about that dream at that moment! So as I was drifting off into la-la land, I put my hand up and asked them to take my mask off. She thought something was wrong with me! And there was...

With my final words before drifting into brain surgery, I said that I didn't want to go to Tokyo. It was too loud. I wanted to go to New Zealand.

So, away we go. From a time-zone perspective New Zealand is the furthest East land-mass on the globe and one full day ahead of the western hemisphere. So after midnight on New Year's Eve, I'm going to stay up all night long and drive to some random beach on the east side of the island. I am going to be one of the first people on the face of the planet to see the sun rise in the year 2010.

God is developing new plot-lines for His story that once again I am so blessed to be apart of. So, stay tuned - it's going to be a good year.

Comments

[Cliff]

Kiss, laugh and love while being one of the first people to celebrate the new year and see the sun rise on the year 2010. Enjoy the kiwis!

[Emma in London]

New Zealand sounds like an awesome plan - I agree that you and Amy should take some time out with just the two of you. It will be a marvellous adventure!

[Alissa Spinniken]

Glad you are doing well and get to experience things most of us never will in a life time. You deserve it. :)

[Sare]

Enjoy being in the Southern Hemisphere for New Years, it really is special being the first ones to see the sun rise on the first day of the New Year!
I'm going to NZ in Feb, so if you have any hints about cool places to go, feel free to let me know. (although i'm only flying from Australia so it's not quite as long on a plane as you guys :)

[Angie]

Hi David,

I had the opportunity to go to Amy's workshop in October and we've been praying for you since your whole ordeal started! Question....do you have a Bikram yoga studio in GR? It is an amazing workout....and 90 minutes in a seriously HOT room. Soooo good for detox, not to mention a nice 90 minute meditation. Good for the body, good for the soul Bikram says. Have WONDERFUL trip to NZ!

[DVMsWife]

Have a wonderful time in New Zealand! Your positive attitude is so contagious. Thank you! My husband is battling a Glioblastoma and it is something I pray no one ever has to go through. I hope Amy is okay as she has not blogged in quite sometime.
Do have a very Merry Christmas and breathe in that New Year with big dreams for 2010!
Hugs to you both from NE Mi!
Amy

[brandy]

hope you and amy have a blast!

[Danielle Daniels]

For nearly a year and a half my husband has been dreaming of New Zealand (why, I have no idea) but I have had a number of excuses to put the trip off. The most used escuse has been that I don't have a passport, it's worked well until reading your post. Thanks for the motivation to get off my tail, I am headed to the post office to file my paperwork this afternoon.
Your posts give me goosebumps, please keep them coming :-)

[Kirsty]

Hi! I have been praying for you and following your progress over the last few months (I was linked to this site from Jasmine Star's photography blog). Its awsome to hear that you are able to get away for a little rest and relaxation. NZ is the most wonderful country! I am biased because I am from here! Enjoy your time here.

[Bianca]

New Zealand?! I'm SO jealous. For a number a reasons. But, yes, I'm jealous :)

Have fun and enjoy Cali :)

[Hailey C]

Take lots of trips! I have some friends who lost their daughter to leukemia when she was 11 and ever since the (it's been 8 year) they are determined to embrace every day and have been to so many incredible places!

enjoy the time in new zealand but more importantly, enjoy your wife!

[Caryn Azure]

It was so nice chatting with you today, David! I hope you and Amy have a wonderful trip!

Caryn

[Tracey]

David,
I've not been really good about keeping up with your blog. It so inspiring to read it though. I hope your family had a wonderful ThanksChristmas. Have an awesome new year in New Zealand -
Tracey Kelley Bertram

[Niecey]

That totally brought tears to my eyes. What a special thing for your friend to do. I hope you make amazing memories there.

[Megan]

What a great friend and a wonderful gift! My parents had a similar experience happen to them. After my dad was diagnosed with melanoma, skin cancer, a friend insisted on paying for them to go on a trip to Cancun. Those are memories my mom cherishes now.
I have been reading your blog now for a couple months and have to say that you are a wonderful writer and a great inspiration!
God Bless

[jenny tarau]

happy new year guys! make every second count, i know i'll try REAL hard now that i've read this blog.

[Emily S.]

I am so excited you are going to New Zealand. I was so embarrassed in the OR b/c I didn't realize what I had done! Looking back of course Tokyo isn't the most relaxing place. I should have gone with the generic "pick out a nice dream..."
I hope you and Amy have an amazing time and make some wonderful memories!

[jaime]

these stories are amazing. the connections, the knowledge, the love. i will be joining along with you in matt's fight. i hope you enjoyed being one of the first ones to see the sun rise in new zealand! enjoy your time with amy and you can sweat it all out when you get home!

[rachelbrooke]

You attitude and spirit is always so encouraging to my heart! Your posts are like a good book that I just can't put down. Looking forward to reading the next chapters...