Life Itself

It's been four years and I can't believe it! 

It feels like it was 2 years ago at most. I really can't put anything that happened into words. I would never wish what happened to me on anyone, but I would absolutely never have it any other way for myself. I am here only through miracles and my family, closest friends, prayer, and most importantly my Heavenly Father and my Savior. I wouldn't have the amazing life that I do if it weren't for my AVM. 

I want to thank a few people listed below. 

Lauren - You were meant to walk into our home on this day 4 years ago. Thank you for staying with me through everything, even now! Thank you for going to the bathroom with me while the nurse did unspeakable things hahah. 

Cath and Kris - Thank you for flying all the way back home once you heard about me. Thank you for being in the waiting room 4 years ago. +Cath, We are sisters for a reason. +Cath I will never forget when you told me that you "told the Lord I would do anything for Him if you lived."

Mom and Dad - Thank you for bringing me to this earth, and keeping me here! I could not have survived without you 4 years ago today and each day following. I hope I can be as good of a parent that you both are to me. Thank you Mom for writing that blog for everyone to read about our progress. It was amazing.

Thomas - I know it was hard and you were young. Thank you for standing at the edge of my bed when things were... not looking good for me and it might've been my last day. I remember that moment when you had your head down and held onto my feet. Thank you for taking Lumocity quizzes with me every day haha!

Phil and Jessica - Thank you for coming all the way up from Portland to help my family. +Phil, I think you were meant to get that job in Portland for this very event 4 years ago today. I specifically remember you guys standing together, next to my bed, when I had a seizure and was scared. I'm so glad I had you there.

Nana & Grandpa Lyle, Gram & Grandpa Bigelow - You're my best grandparents. I thank each of you for helping my family, my mom especially, get through this. You guys are my pals and I will never forget all that you do for me!

Bishop Williams - Thank you for running over to our house 4 years ago as I lay lifeless and helped us get to the hospital in those crucial hours of my life. Thank you for visiting me in the ICU and watching Bachelorette with me :].

Felida Ward - Thank you for praying and fasting for me 4 summers ago. I would do the same for you! I remember bearing my testimony to you, thanking you, and I'm grateful I was able to.

Hannah - Thank you for driving across the west to be with me when I needed you the most. [You are my wedding]

Bryan Johnson Family - Wow. You guys are family to me. Thank you for helping our family so much, welcoming us into your amazing home, and making the terrible situation a heck of a lot easier. 

Dr. George Shanno - I don't remember much, but I do remember you standing by my side and knowing exactly what was happening and what was crucial to keep me here 4 years ago today. Thank you for staying extra hours each day for my family and I and for being a great friend. I am so glad that your mom survived an AVM too!

There are so many others to thank, please know that I am grateful!

I would not have been reunited with my amazing husband if it weren't for this gift from Heavenly Father. Yes, it's a gift to me. Heavenly Father knew that I was not finished on this earth and had more for me to do. One of them +Zane, was marrying you for time and all eternity. It has changed the way that I live each day and in every way. When you live through something like this, you will always try to make every minute count.   

The initial scan is on the R. A month later is on the L. My healing was a miracle!

Spoiled Alert

I am officially spoiled. 

In the space of about a month I got to be with my sister +Catherine, brolaw +Kristoffer, bro +Phillip, and MOMG aka Momma G [as she goes by] aka Mom OMG you're here. +Phillip's trip to Orlando was last minute for him and perfect timing for +Zane and I. 

Dogs and cats cannot be friends here.

We planned a small getaway to Orlando as a congrats for +Zane ending his double boards torture! We had dinner, got jiggy with it and had a sleepover in a ginormous hotel. +Zane and I spent the next day in Universal's Islands of Adventure, solely for the purpose of Harry Potter Land of Those Who Read Those Books. Gobsmackingly awesome. 

Welcoming her into our home

Breakfast!

Then it was time for MOMG! It was the perfect week we could've had! And, we got to share it with +Zane. Such a rare commodity.

Also I've decided that Zane is Superman. When he puts his glasses on it means that he is working and studying and in robotmedstudent mindset. When he takes his glasses off he is super hot and [doesn't have a cape but totally should] hangs out with me and is like way super fun. 

So many beaches, shell hunting, swimming with strange sea creatures, baseball game, yum food, movies, Disney World... need I say more? [Neeope. Too lazy.] 
She makes everything 82 times funner [so glad that's officially a word seriously get with the times librarians]. 
Plenty of adventures and relaxing to match. 

Until then, family members. 

Click this to watch vid of our summer thus far!

[If it's slow, turn off HD. Ignore the random captions!]

So sexy in those scrubs

Paradise!

I wrote about 8 pages in my journal about my +Cath & Kris weekend. So this is literally the long story short[ened].

Absolutely the most wonderful exciting busy amazing every other good adjective ever. 
You can look at all of our amazing pics of our journey in paradise on my FB page! Cath and Kris were in Orlando on business all of last week. I drove up after work on Friday to Orlando and I had to go to the beautiful LDS temple. The temple is the best place to be on earth. And Disney is the happiest place on earth! And being with my fam esp. my sister is the funnest place to be on earth :]. Lots of good earth things happening for me. 

We met up at their beautiful hotel! We were SO HAPPY AND GIDDY! Lots of talking, hot tubbing and sleeping. We had such a wonderful Disney day! We thought it would be insanely crowded [Mother's Day weekend]. We had an awesome game plan and hit up the big rides first. We hardly had to wait in lines! Lunch at Be Our Guest was literally magical. Literally. We of course had the best experience on the rides, walking around, laughing so hard people were afraid of us, and being together. It was fun for the California Disneyland couple to come with me to the East Coast California aka Florida Disney World! 

After a perfect day, we drove back to the Land of Curtis. Also known as Lakewood Ranch. Sunday was beach day! I was so excited for them to see our little home :] and see the best beaches in the nation! Beautiful weather, perfect water temp, cool breeze, huge smiles. We meandered [yes we legitimately meandered] in the Siesta Key Village and had Peruvian lunch at The Cottage! Perfect for Kris; he served his LDS mission in Lima! We hopped [not literally but that would've been hilarious and totally something we would do] over to Lido beach. We found a huge and awesome sand bar in the middle of the ocean! Lost of seashell hunting with a hint of frizzby, which I am terrible at. My b, Kris. Also +Kris was a trooper for being with two Goodwin girls all day! We walked around St. Armand's circle and stopped and Kilwins. Amazing ice cream and chocolate popcorn. Sunday evening we got to be with +Zane yay! Zane was unfortunately far too busy at the most important time of school to hang :[. The four of us had pool time [duh] and beach volleyball! Cath has a killer serve! Then some dinner and a movie to end the day perfectly. Monday morning we all had a much needed sleep-in. 

We decided to go to Anna Maria Island; I really wanted them to see it even though we were short on time. Gotta risk it to get the biscuit. Whatever than means. [Also I don't think I've ever seen a biscuit.] Walked on the pier and then crossed the main way to the best part of the island; the beach! Then it was time to pack up and head to the airpot. I couldn't believe it was already over! It was the most amazing and seriously special time for me. I miss them so much! A lot of our weekend reminded me of growing up together. We've now officially been to Disney Paris, Tokyo, California and Florida together! This was only the second time in like 20 years that we have been together in Florida! We have always gone to the most amazing beaches together.

 I'm so glad they got to see where Zane and I have been living before we have to leave. Our home is now happier and cozier now that my sister has been in it :]. Thank you Cath and Kris for coming out when you both have crazy lives and for all of your gifts! Cannot wait to see you Cath and Kris this Christmas!

Big Thunder Mountain ride- Tokyo Disneyland

Big Thunder Mountain ride- Disney World 

Bahamas 

Siesta Key Beach

Maui 

Lido Beach 

Disney World

Tokyo Disneyland

Disney World 

Tokyo Disneyland

Lakewood Ranch

Disneyland

Bahamas

Siesta Key Beach

Anna Maria Island

Cape Canaveral

Hawaii

Lido Beach

The Man at Walmart

So yeah I usually try to be as sarcastic as possible on this thing. 

This time, I'd like share a much more meaningful story. 

The other day I was at Walmart [per usual]. It was a crazy busy day [per usual], and the lines were insanely long. By the time I finally got to be the one paying my life away, I saw a man sitting in a wheelchair. All by himself. It was obvious that he had physical/health issues, and among other things it looked like he broke his leg or somesuch [totally a word]. I was so sad that he was just so alone. 

I was in a mad hurry, but I figured it wouldn't hurt to "hello". I asked what happened to his leg and he couldn't really talk. All I could make out was that he had a brain problem, like a tumor. And immediately I thought, what a small world. He was trying so hard to speak and tell me why he was the way he was, and I looked at him and said, "me too." 

He didn't have facial expressions, but the look on his face totally changed. I think he found it hard to believe, because I was standing and moving and talking [used to it. most doctors didn't believe me either.] 

We shared some mutual experiences, and he told me things like, "I'm paralyzed on the left because my tumor was in this [he points to the right]." In short, almost everything he was saying was something that I miraculously circumvented. If you survive an AVM [my brain problem] and survive the craniotomy, paralysis is almost inevitable. I tried so hard not to cry when I was watching him. I will always feel almost guilty that I'm not in that chair like so many AVM others. There is only one explanation as to why that wasn't me, paralyzed and nearly mute. 

Heavenly Father. 

In those moments, I think there were a few purposes for them. One being that although life after an AVM and it's belongings is difficult, I live. In ways that most who survive cannot. Walking, talking, moving. I'm like 97%  sure that Heavenly Father was trying to find a way to seriously remind me of what He gave me. At the end of our conversation I just wanted to buoy him up and kept telling him that he is so strong and he survived and he's amazing. 

As I walked away he said in the most tender voice, "thank you". I'm not sure what he thanked me for, but I needed to be the one thanking. Thanking Heavenly Father for everything and this man for helping me. It was a critical experience for me, and maybe for him too. To find a friend who could share empathy and encourage him. I'll never see him again, but I will always remember that day. 


This quote has gotten me through everything in the past few years:

“I cried because I had no shoes. Then I met a man who had no feet.”

Watch this short vid; it's so good and is about the little things in life.

5 to the K.

We have had an amayzang weekend! I have decided that this weekend started on Thursday; my dad, +Brad, graced our presence for the, get this, 3rd time this year! It was so fun. We had our plethora of standard sarcasm, dinner, ice cream and movie. See you soon Bradley. Most likely in 3.5 weeks. I have been blessed with so many things from working at the Y. I have made amazing friends. Cheryl is one of them and she is a pure example of selflessness and friendship. She told me on Thursday that if I volunteered with her on Friday to help set up the Run or Dye 5k, I would get into the race for free.99! How could I turn that down?! 

Holi Festival in 2011!

The Run or Dye company is from Utah; it stemmed from the Holi Festival of Colors held in Utah every spring at a beautiful Krishna temple. 

We spent quite a few hours running around; volunteering feels great! At one point I saw that the missionaries were my next people in line to help! While we were out, Cheryl turns to me and says that she is giving her free entry to Zane. And I was like...  wait WHAT?

Turns out she is injured and found out that she can't run just a few days prior. I asked her how she is volunteering hours Friday and hours Saturday [at the race] and not using her free entry. She has never even met Zane! But, no. Cheryl was determined to do good for others despite her disappointment. I am amazed. If only I were as humble as Cheryl; I have learned so much with her just within a few days. I ran home and showed Zane his number and shirt! We, the lowly notimeforanything med student family were now given the chance to spend time together, appreciate God's green earth, exercise, make memories... for free. It was a blessing all around! We had an amazing experience! Perfect weather, thousands of fun and happy families and athletes, great music, the list goes on. While +Zane and I were at the race in the 5th wave getting ready to run, I turned around and there are four missionaries covered in powder and jamming to the music with us. Everyone was taking pictures of them they were being hilair.

+Zane is a runner. And I. Am not. While he was off running [and probably finishing 8 hours before me], I kept seeing this girl running at the same pace as me! I decided that I would use her as my motivation to keep going! Towards the end of the race, she runs up to me and says, "just so you know I've been following your pace the whole time!" I couldn't believe it! We became instant friends [and now FB friends of course]. What a perfect day. Cheryl, +Zane and I will always be so grateful!