A few months ago there was a hilarious hashtag on Twitter, #wecanlandaprobeonanasteroidbutwecant... The responses were pretty amazing: "we still can't believe it's not butter", "we can't order breakfast at McDonald's after 10:30am", "we can't type more than 140 characters". It was a reminder that while human beings can do incredible things like land a probe … Continue reading The Belly of the Whale, Get It?
Lessons Learned #4: Take it all in
If the past 10 months has taught me anything, it is that life is too short, spontaneous and awesome. It's cliché, but with good reason. I used to consume meals like I was in a food challenge, today eating is different and in someways better. Besides the practical part of chewing food well enough for my intestines … Continue reading Lessons Learned #4: Take it all in
2014: The best of times, the worst of times.
With M80's and fire crackers still going off in our neighborhood, Kate and I were reflecting on this past year and she asked me, "many years from now, what do you think we will remember from 2014?" In the words of the great Charles Dickens, it was the best of times and it was the worst … Continue reading 2014: The best of times, the worst of times.
Advent: Mockingjays and ICU’s
A few days before Christmas in 1993, my dad passed away of stomach cancer and every Christmas since has not been the same. As a result, I became a Christmas Grinch. My "grinchness" had nothing to do with presents, consumerism, or fighting for the "soul of Christmas". For me, it was purely a deep sense … Continue reading Advent: Mockingjays and ICU’s
the (650)
Almost exactly a year ago I was sitting eating sushi with my friend and co-worker Jeff, when I saw a familiar area code pop-up on my phone. (650). It would be one of many calls I would be receiving from Stanford since last October, but this phone call changed my life. I guess you could … Continue reading the (650)
Lessons Learned #3: You Do You
On my third hospital stay, I was pretending to be asleep when the team of young doctors told my elderly roommate he had an inoperable tumor. I wanted to just walk over and hug him. Laying there, I couldn't help but to imagine myself receiving the terrible news. "You're dying." I believe their words were, … Continue reading Lessons Learned #3: You Do You
Lessons learned #2: Family, Matters
Let's be real: you're not the only one going through it. I know, it sounds crazy, but for me it was easy for me to forget this fact and I found myself taking out my frustrations on my family after sitting at home recovering for a few weeks. I would get really short and distant. … Continue reading Lessons learned #2: Family, Matters
Lessons Learned #1: Sunny Side Up
Yesterday, our gastroenterologist ran into Kate at the hospital while she was working. Kate told him about the past four weeks including the Meckel's Diverticulum that had gotten infected and removed. The doctor said something that surprised both of us: the Meckel's Diverticulum is made up of both stomach and pancreatic tissues, which means that I … Continue reading Lessons Learned #1: Sunny Side Up
The Lottery Continues
Well, it took me a while to write this one because to be honest, the number of times I've had to go back to the hospital has been embarrassing. This past Tuesday night I spent 8 hours throwing up bile and had to get admitted once again on Wednesday the next morning. I decided I … Continue reading The Lottery Continues
Third Time’s a Charm
Well, this blog post took me a little time to write because I ended up back in the emergency room this past Tuesday (I think it was Tuesday, my memory is a little hazy). After being sent home after my second surgery I was doing fine until I started getting the same stomach cramps I … Continue reading Third Time’s a Charm