As some of you know, for the last few weeks I had totally been off my feeding tube. I had been living off Ensures. My stomach was handling it pretty well. Some discomfort, but no severe nausea or throwing up. That was huge. Extreme nausea and throwing up had been part of my eating and drinking experience the past few years. But here I was taking in some Ensures and not spending the rest of the day in the bathroom.

Some of you will recall my trip to Emory in Atlanta back in July. My doctors had referred my case to Emory to discuss the possibility of having a procedure to help with the gastroparesis. It was during that trip that I felt God starting to heal my stomach or at least allow the gastroparesis to go into remission. I had a army of family, friends and strangers praying for my stomach to be healed or at least go into remission. As you can see from my first paragraph I believe that prayer was answered. Praise be to God.

Also during my trip to Emory, I truly believed God was going to allow me to eat and drink again. I felt that would be part of my stomach being healed or the gastroparesis going into remission. As I was drinking the Ensures the past few weeks, I was having issues with choking. I have dealt with this problem for a few years due to my Parkinson’s. It is called Dysphagia.  First, I thought since I had not really been eating or drinking for a few years, my muscles were weak and just needed to get stronger. I was so excited to be off the feeding tube, I didn’t want to believe it was my Parkinson’s causing the issues. It was such a relief to be off the feeding tube. But, as the choking continued I knew the cause was not from my muscles needing to get stronger, but my Parkinson’s causing the issues. I could not ignore it any longer.

So this past weekend I went back on my feeding tube full time. I am not going to lie, I am disappointed. As I shared earlier, it was great being off the feeding tube. If you have never been hooked up to a machine for any period of time, it is hard to explain the pure happiness I was experiencing. Several people have inquired about me using a thickening formula to help drink the Ensures and any food I might try. Sadly, based on me having several other medical issues the thickening formula has never worked for me. I have tried it on several occasions with poor results. So for now, I will stick with the feeding tube.

As I shared before this latest setback is disappointing, but it has not broken me or shaken my faith. Instead of dwelling on the negatives, I am choosing to look at the positives. I am thankful I did not get rid of my feeding formula and supplies. I am thankful I did not have my feeding tube removed. I am thankful I am able to get the nutrients my body needs. I will continue to do my best to fight my health issues with a positive attitude and grateful heart. I will continue to share my story in the hopes that it encourages at least one person. I promise to keep fighting and giving God the glory for all my blessings. ~OC

Yesterday was tough. After a 4 week break from my feeding tube, I had to go back on it. My stomach is doing fine, but I was choking on fluids or any solids I tried to take by mouth. The choking is due to my Parkinson’s and Myasthenia Gravis. Very frustrating. But I refuse to give up.

It would be easy to just throw my hands up and give up. Who could blame me? But giving up has never been my style. I have always been a fighter and optimist. That will not change based on this latest setback.

If you are currently facing a storm in life, I would encourage you to never give up. On the other side of the storm is greatness. It could change your life forever. The storm you are facing today is just temporary. So don’t even think about giving up. Stay Focused. Finish Strong. ~OC

I think most would agree our world is dealing with some difficult issues. If I tried to list them all, I would not have enough space or time. So how can we help overcome some of these issues? Glad you asked. I believe we need to stand in the gap. What? Let me explain.

I believe God is calling some men and women to stand in the gap for this hurting world. God has used men and women in the past to help spread His love and comfort to a hurting world.

God used Martin Luther King, Jr. to help bring peace and start a conversation among the races. Dr. King did this through love, listening and non-violence.

God used Mother Teresa to help those that society had casted out. Mother Teresa did through loving, feeding and comforting others.

God used the Reverend Billy Graham to spread His word to millions of lost souls. Dr. Graham did this by preaching God’s word to all people.

But OC, those are some heavy hitters. Those three are part of history. They helped change the world. Yes they did. Maybe you will never be a Dr. King, Mother Teresa or Rev. Graham, but you can still make a difference.

God is looking for some men and women to stand in the gap by mentoring young people that need positive people in their lives.

God is looking for someone to stand in the gap for victims of human trafficking. To help them begin a new life.

God is looking for someone to stand in the gap for their neighborhood. Do you know your neighbors?

Once again, I could fill this page with the many needs our world is facing, but hopefully you see my point. We live in a hurting world, that needs a lot of love, forgiveness, understanding and comfort.

I do not believe a political party is going to fix the problems our world is facing. They might help, but I truly believe it will take people like you and I to make a real difference.

I will leave you with this question. Are you willing to Stand In The Gap for this hurting world? ~OC

Today is National Book Lover’s Day. I personally love to read. Reading has been a passion of mine since I was a child.

I had trouble learning to read as a young child. It was pretty frustrating. Thank goodness I was blessed with a wonderful neighbor who was also a great teacher. So was her husband who looked like Abraham Lincoln. Mrs. Speirs took it upon herself one summer to help me improve my reading. How fun I thought. What 7 year old active boy wants to spend his summer reading? But Mrs. Speirs had a secret weapon. Chocolate Covered Frozen Bananas. Oh, I still remember those wonderful treats. Mrs. Speirs also knew I loved sports. So, as she was getting her daughters ready for summer camp, she would have me read the sports page. Chocolate Covered Bananas and sports. Maybe this daily class wasn’t going to be so bad after all. After Mrs. Speirs would finish her morning routine, we would discuss what I had been reading. We did this Monday through Thursday during that summer. I am forever grateful to Mrs. Speirs for taking time to help me. My life was forever changed.

After that summer, reading became a passion for me. I wanted to read everything I could get my hands on. I still have that same passion today. Reading has become a little more difficult with having Parkinson’s, but I still make it a priority to read as often as I can. Keeping my brain active is important with having several neurological issues. Reading has so many positive benefits. Here are just a few:

Mental Stimulation

Stress Reduction

Memory Improvement

Better Writing Skills

Vocabulary Expansion

Improved Focus and Concentration

Stronger Analytical Thinking Skills

So do yourself a favor and start reading a book today. It will be one of the best decisions you will ever make. Happy Book Lover’s Day! ~OC

We all face adversity at some point in our lives. That’s just life. Sometimes it is something we can deal with verily quickly. Other times it knocks us for a loop.

Some people have shared I do a great job handling all the adversity I have faced the past 16 years. Believe me, it has not been easy. It has taken a lot of practice.

Here are several tools that have helped me deal with adversity in my life. Hopefully, they can help you. Remember, it will take a lot of practice.

1). Seek out support. We cannot deal with the storms alone. We need others. Having someone to talk to during the storms of life can help relieve some of the tension. They can also provide a different perspective. Just be sure the people in your inner circle are positive, caring, and have your best interest at heart.

2). Keep Positive. Yes, stay positive. It is easier said than done. Smile even when you do not feel like it. The benefits of being positive can improve your overall health and extend your lifespan. Also, people love hanging out with positive people.

3). Practice Healthy Habits. Follow a healthy diet, getting a good nights sleep (I am still working on that one), and exercise each day. Even a short walk can make a huge difference. Take time for yourself. A healthy you can make a wonderful difference.

4). Look outside yourself. Some of my sweetest moments have been praying for other people. Take time to listen to their stories. Simply being friendly to a stranger can make a huge difference. Making the choice to slow down to listen and help others can give you a different perspective on your own issues.

5). Write things down. I have never been much of a writer, but during this crazy/beautiful health journey God has given me a lot to say. Writing has helped me express myself and unclutter my thoughts. Writing things down can help you better understand the things going on in your life. Writing things down can also help you get past the storms you are facing.

These are just a few ways I overcome the adversity in my life. I encourage you to find the tools that will help you overcome the storms in your life. ~OC

During this 16 year crazy/beautiful health journey, my main prayer has been “If I can encourage just one person…all the pain and struggles is worth it.”

Imagine if you were told during the past 16 years, you would be diagnosed with Cancer, Parkinson’s, Myasthenia Gravis and Gastroparesis. That is my story. Of course that is just part of the story. There is so much more to the story than health issues.

This journey has been difficult. The struggle is real. At times I have wondered how I would make it another day. That is where my faith in God helped me during my darkest days. The victories I have experienced, as well as my strength and passion for life, come from my relationship with God, my family, friends and the many people God has brought into my life during this crazy/beautiful health journey.

After a 10 year break from speaking, I believe God is calling me to share about this crazy/beautiful journey he has me on. It is story about struggles, pain, victories, hope and overcoming. I will be sharing it all. My goal for sharing my story is to encourage others going through their own storms.

If you would be interested in hearing more about my story of overcoming, feel free to contact me. You can go to my Contact Page and send me a note. ~OC

During this crazy/beautiful health journey I have learned a lot. Here are just a few lessons learned along the journey.

1). Turn a negative into a mission. I have shared about my 16 year and counting crazy/beautiful health journey. I made the choice early on to turn my health journey into a ministry of encouraging others. My health issues have cost me a lot in life, the ability to work, run and talk. It would have been very easy to just throw up my hands and give up. But that would have been the easy thing to do. The hard part was making the choice to turn this negative into a positive. This has not always been easy, but the rewards have been amazing. God has blessed me with so many opportunities to share His story during this journey. God has allowed me to use this journey to encourage so many people. There has been so many amazing memories during this crazy/beautiful journey. I am a better person because of this journey.

2). Choosing to be Grateful: Taking a breath in the morning. Being able to walk without the aid of a walker, cane or wheelchair. And having an amplifier to help me speak. Being able to drink Ensures. Spending time with family and friends. Having a wonderful medical team. The opportunity to keep fighting human trafficking. Getting a text from a friend sharing they are praying for me. Laura and I still being able to take trips. These are just a few things I am grateful for in life.

It’s the small things in life. Taking time to find the beauty in the seemingly insignificant moments in life. I think the choice to be grateful is one of the greatest decisions we can make in life.

3). Humor is Great Medicine: This journey has been filled with humorous moments. The book Laura and I are writing will be filled with funny stories. Humor has helped us get through some very tough moments. Laura and I tend to have a lot of dark humor in our life. Some people are turned off by our type of humor. When people share their displeasure with our type of humor, I always tell them to get their own incurable diseases and they can share their type of humor. What works for us may not work for others. That’s okay. We all have our own journey.

Funny things happen every day. Do yourself a favor and don’t get so caught up in the serious moments that you cannot have a few laughs. Laughter actually helps improve your health.

4). Don’t Be Afraid to Think Outside the Box: One of the greatest things we can do is think outside the box. That is for every area of life. If I would have made the choice to stay inside my little box, I would have missed so many things. I mean who decides to run marathons after not running for 20 years, being diagnosed with cancer and recovering from open-heart surgery? I made that choice and experienced some of the greatest moments in my life. Who gets diagnosed with Young-Onset Parkinson’s and goes skydiving to celebrate? That was an amazing experience I will never forget. Who decides to be a missionary at doctors appointments and hospital stays? God has blessed me with so many beautiful moments since I made that decision.

It is easy to make the choice to stay in our safe little boxes. Staying in our safe boxes can keep us from being hurt. It can keep people at arms length. But that’s not living. That is just surviving. I want to Thrive.

These are just four lessons I have learned during this crazy/beautiful health journey. There are many more and maybe I will share more at another time. I just wanted to share a few to hopefully encourage someone today. ~OC

I spent a good part of my life living. Most would say that’s a good thing. I used to think the same way, but the last few months my thinking as switched. Let me explain.

I used to think living was enough. I would get up in the morning like everyone else. I would go to work and try to make a difference. I would hang out with friends. I was helping fight human trafficking. Even when my health starting declining again in 2009, I was still living. Heck, I even became a missionary at doctors appointments and hospital stays. I was living life even during the worst days of my life. But recently I realized living wasn’t enough. I needed to thrive.

During my recent trip to Emory Medical in Atlanta, God showed me there was a difference between living and thriving. It was during that trip that God challenged me to stop just living, but to start thriving. What did thriving mean? God revealed that I had become too caught up in my health journey. I was sort of surprised by this revelation. I thought I was living a life not defined by my health issues. But as God spoke to my heart, he shared that my life centered around my health. God reminded that my life was more than my latest diagnosis. He forced me to look deep inside and see if I was really living out what I was sharing in conversation and on social media. Did I really believe that God could do all that he had promised he was going to do in my life? Sadly, I was not truly living out everything I was saying. In public yes, but in private no. It was a wake up call. On that trip to Atlanta, God gave me a new mindset. That just living was not enough. God was challenging me to thrive in life. Not just to live.

So, that is my challenge to everyone reading this post. Take time and ask yourself if you are just living, Not the easiest conversation to have, but it could be life changing. My life has totally changed since I decided to thrive in life instead of just living life. I encourage you to thrive. ~OC

When my health took a real turn for the worse in 2009, I prayed a simple prayer. Most people thought I should be praying some big elaborate prayers to God. Maybe I should have, but a very simple prayer came to my mind.

During that scary time in March 2009, my little prayer was “God, please help me never look or act sick.” I have no idea where that prayer came from. There I was fighting for my life and my prayer was to not look or act sick. Crazy! Or was it?

Since 2009, I cannot count how many times family, friends, medical professionals and strangers have come up to me and said “Todd, you don’t look or act sick?” Some have even questioned if I am really sick. Yes, that has happened many times. I never get upset by those comments. You know why? Because each time someone makes one of those comments, I am able to share how during one of the worst moments in my life, God answered a crazy little prayer. Guess what? God is still answering that prayer.

I share this because sometimes we believe we need to pray some long and elaborate prayer for God to hear us. I thought that same way for many years. But during this crazy/beautiful health journey, God has shown me He doesn’t need a fancy prayer to hear the needs of his children. Did you hear that? God doesn’t need a long winded prayer said in Greek or Hebrew. No, God is big enough to answer a simple little prayer from the heart. I pray this brings you comfort as you walk through your own journey. ~OC

During my running days, I planned out most of my runs. I knew what marathons I wanted to run and each marathon season I would map out a schedule. Of course, I would tweak the schedule as needed. I had some big running plans scheduled. Here is what I was planning before my health took a turn for the worse.

I was planning on running across the state of Florida to help raise awareness and money for Human Trafficking and Parkinson’s Disease. In my mind, I had it all mapped out. I had spoken to a few friends, who were going to help me realize this dream. I also had a bigger dream. After completing the Florida run and taking time to recover, I planned on running across America to help bring more awareness and raise more money to help end Human Trafficking and Parkinson’s disease. Yes, some pretty big dreams, but I serve a big God. Would I have completed either one of those races? Good question. I don’t really know. You see, running across Florida and the United States was my plan. Something I dreamed of doing. But God had other plans. He had a new incredible race planned for me. One, I could never have planned myself.

I don’t believe God made me sick, but I do believe he has allowed me to walk this crazy/beautiful health journey. God has turned what some would view as a negative into a story of Overcoming. God has given me a new race to run. A race to encourage others. A race to help guide others through their own stormy journey.  It is not a race I would have chosen 16 years ago, but it is a race I never want to stop running.. ~OC