The begining

Life is a journey. Most people in life have stories to share, I  was inspired to create a blog from my wife who read me a blog of a friend of mine, Korey Konga.  We all go through tough times during our life.  Emotional and physical challenges face us.  My journey started off a bit different than some. This blog is going to be stories from my journey through life, some sad, some joyful, but hopefully all inspirational. 

A bit about me: I have been happily married for over 8 years and have two daughters. I am a Registered Nurse and work as a Acute Neuro Sciences Nurse.  I have many interest in life. I am a Free Mason and have become a runner. More about this part of my journey to follow as I blog more.

My journey begins in June of 74, but my path changed on December 18th of 1974.  I was six months old when a hot water vaporizer/ humidifier fell into my crib. I was burned over 70% of my little body. I was rushed to St. Peters Hospital and after 12 hours in the ER I was flown to Harbor View Medical Center.  It just opened up that year, if I remember right?  When I arrived at St. Petes ER they told my mom and dad that I would not live much longer.  That moment in life shaped me to the man I am today.  I spent multiple years in the hospital and have had numerous surgeries. 

I had surgeries all the way up till I turned 18 years old.  The ones I remember the most where all at St. Peters except one. An interesting point, I work as a RN and the hospital where I was born, initially brought to after getting burned and had several surgeries as a child. Huh who would have ever thought. 

Childhood was rough, mainly because of the grade school years.  I was tormented emotionally and physically daily. Even though some kids looked after me, peer pressure is an uphill battle that even the good kids can't climb all the time.  When I was two years old we moved out of Washington State to California.  My mom married a Navy man and we moved to a Navy Base in San Diego.  My brother was born while we were stationed there. We then were shipped off to Hawaii and lived there for a while.  I have a few memories from those days. One that always pops up was the hot sand wand coconuts on the beach. 

I was playing in the neighborhood one day. I had had a recent surgery where pins where placed in my right had was was horrible deformed from the burns and growth.  They placed them in order to straighten the hand and fingers.  I always had a deep desire to belong and fit in, still do.  I  remember a race challenge was mentioned so I was asked to participate. Wanting to fit in i agreed to race.  Heart was pounding with anticipation of the challenge. We line up to start, about 5 to 6 of us eager to start. I felt the presence of a neighbor kid to my right yelling "on your mark, get set......go." I jolted my body in a forward motion felt my leg hit something and down I went. Placing my hands out to catch myself and smashing my surgical hand into the ground. The tears flowing from my face and I hear laughter break out, Kids pointing at me and the boy that was standing to my right calling the start of the race was demonstrating how he intentionally tripped me.

Battered, bleeding and bruised I got up and went home. That event was not the last one of that type.  I took it to heart in those days. Friends are very important to children and I never  really had one that I could count on and trust. Well that's enough for now. I will blog more as I get more familiar with this process.