Last weekend, I headed home. Okay so not really. I live in Boulder, CO, but I was born in Nebraska. It's something people have always teased me about, but you know what? You can't choose which state you're born in...so for me...going to NE was like going back to my roots. Okay again so not really...but it sounds like a good story, right?
Actually the real reason I went was to visit my Uncle's family and to celebrate the high school graduation of my cousin, Jake. Unfortunately, none of us get to see each other very often; but since my brother Alan was making the drive too, I decided to tag along and surprise Jake...leaving the grueling nursery work to Jason and Michael: bless their hearts. ;)
This graduation was particularly special for me and a great accomplishment for Jake that went way beyond being just being "good" in school. In the fall of 2003, Jake had fallen ill...something strange started making him stick...and then it started to turn deadly. A stomach ache turned into an inability to eat, which then turned into sharp pains that ran throughout his legs...rendering him paralyzed from the waist down for quite awhile. He saw doctor after doctor and had treatment after treatment...even making it to the Mayo Clinic, I believe, to only hear that no one really knew what was wrong. He had a feeding tube at one point and by 2005 was spending his days disabled and hardly mobile in a wheelchair. It broke my heart to see my Uncle "T" carry his son to my own brother's graduation that year. Jake's face was plump, but his body had diminished in size as he sat crookedly in that awful chair...one my uncle dotingly pushed Jake around in.
Back at "home," my family only heard minimal updates on Jake's progress...but one day, after what seemed like an eternity of prayers, we heard some amazing news. After surgery and rehabilitation on both of Jake's legs, he started regaining his strength... and then slowly but surely, regained his ability to eat normally again. And although he and my uncle especially were reluctant and entirely skeptical, he visited an acupuncturist...and noticed things actually started to feel better! Shortly after that, my grandmother started sending me photos and I couldn't believe Jake was standing on his own two feet! I honestly feel his journey towards total health has been nothing short of a miracle. ;)
So I went to NE. I went to see this outstanding accomplishment! His high school graduation wasn't outstanding because we thought he couldn't do it...it was outstanding because for so long, some of us weren't sure he'd actually make it...and we had also thought, if he does, Uncle"T" might have to physically push his chair through it.
When I pulled up to Jake's house, I think I was more shocked than he was! ...he stood SO tall right in front of me! Beaming his charming little smile...all 6' of him! It seems like nothing ever happened. Unbelievable.
Here are some pictures of Jake in all his glory!
Cheers!
Jake and I:
