Life can be filled with a lot of “What If’s”. If we are not careful, those “what if’s” can take over our lives. I have been guilty of asking “what if” many times. During this crazy/beautiful journey, I decided life is too short to play that game. I have started looking at “what if’s” in a different way.

What if I never got sick? I could drive myself crazy trying to answer this question. That’s why I have decided to look at it in different way. If I would have never gotten sick, I would have missed the following:

*I would have missed the importance of slowing down in life.

*I would have missed becoming a Missionary.

*I would have missed becoming a long-distance runner.

*I would have missed becoming a more compassionate person.

*I would have missed becoming a better husband and friend.

*I would have missed becoming a better listener.

*I would have missed out on a lot of great friendships.

*I would have missed the opportunity to become a writer.

*I would have never got involved with social media.

*I would have missed being there to encourage others when they are dealing with the toughest moments of their lives.

*I would have never become a patient advocate.

*I would have never went skydiving.

*I would have never started writing a book.

*You would not be reading this blog.

Look at everything I would have missed if I continued to live the “What If” life. I encourage you to stop living that life and really start living. ~OC

Today’s a new day! If you are a 1,000 steps from God, he will take 999 steps so you could take that one. ~OC

Today is one of my favorite holidays. Today is National Day of Encouragement. I love this holiday. I love encouraging others.

When my health journey started back in 2002, I made the choice to turn a negative into a positive. That was one of the best decisions I have ever made. Being positive and being an encourager has not always been easy, but the blessings have been overwhelming. Let me share just one story of being blessed.

My health issues cause me to be hospitalized often. I made the choice to become a Missionary during my doctor appointments and hospital stays. On one of those hospital stays, I encountered a mother whose young daughter was across the hall from my room. The mother and I never actually met, but I would say hello and share an encouraging word, in passing. Nothing major, just being neighborly.

During one of my many walks up and down the hospital halls, I felt someone hug me from behind and say hello. I did not recognize the voice of this European gentleman saying thank you. I must admit I was taken aback. Who was this man and why was he thanking me? This stranger wanted to thank me for sharing a positive word with his mother each day. His mother was having a rough time with his sister being ill. He shared his mother thought I must be an angel. Side note, I am far, far from being an angel. This young man shared his mother looked forward to walking by my room each day. Wow!

I do not share this to puff myself up. That would be a waste. No, I share this to show how a kind word can made a difference. You never know who needs to hear an encouraging word. Happy National Day of Encouragement. ~OC

After 11 years of having Parkinson’s, it still amazes me when people ask me if I know Michael J. Fox. It’s like Parkinson’s patients have our own secret club. No, I have not had the honor of meeting Mr. Fox. I also have not met Muhammad Ali, Linda Ronstadt, George H. W. Bush, Alan Alda, Neil Diamond or Jessie Jackson. Well, I actually met Rev. Jackson earlier this year. No, it was not a secret meeting between Parkinson’s patients.

Even though I have not met Michael J. Fox, I would encourage everyone to support the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research. They are doing some amazing work. ~OC

When some people see me or think about me, they only see the health issues that are slowly destroying my body. Sadly, they are missing the big picture.

When I look at the last 16 years of this crazy/beautiful health journey, I see God. Yes, I see God in this crazy/beautiful health journey. Here are some ways God has revealed himself to me.

God has blessed me with an incredible wife, family, friends and medical team. I have seen God in each of these individuals. Sometimes God has brought complete strangers in my life to assist me during this journey.

God has allowed me to not be angry, bitter or depressed during this journey. That does not mean I don’t have rough days, but I do not live in those bad days. I have heard God’s encouraging words during some of my darkest days.

God has allowed me the honor of sharing the story He has given me. That is not something I take for granted. I lost my physical voice a few years ago, but God is allowing me to speak louder than ever. I am thankful for social media and the platform it has given me.

God has blessed me with the opportunity to be a Abolitionist and Missionary during this crazy/beautiful journey. I have been blessed with so many life changing experiences the past 16 years.

God is blessing me with the opportunity to share my story in book form. Never in my life did I ever think I would write a book. Even more amazing is that people say they cannot wait to read my story. Only God can accomplish such a feat. The book will be released next year (2019).

My prayer is that when people look at me, they will see more than my health issues. I pray when people see me, talk to me or read something I wrote, they will see God. ~OC

Besides having Parkinson’s, Myasthenia Gravis and Gastroparesis, I have another incurable disease. I am an incurable optimist. That’s right, I am the guy who always finds the positives in every situation. The doctors are not sure if I was born with it or it’s something that developed over the years. I personally think it’s a mixture of both.

I have always been a pretty upbeat and positive person. Life was not always easy growing up, but I always looked for the positives in life. Okay, most of the time, I looked for the positives. Even a incurable optimist has a tough day. Growing up, I played a lot of sports. I loved playing sports, but I never got too upset when my team was on the losing side of a game. Trust me, I did not like to lose, but I never carried a lose with me. I was always able to put a defeat behind me and look forward to the next game. I remember in high school, I was the person you called when life threw you a curveball. For some reason, people always felt comfortable and safe sharing their stories with me. I had no idea back then, that God would use me to help encourage fellow patients facing some of the toughest moments of their lives.

My incurable optimism has truly been tested the past 16 years. This crazy/beautiful health journey has had many twist and turns. During this journey, I have faced one life threatening situation after another. This journey has not been an easy one. No one would fault me for being angry or, at least, a little grumpy. But that is just not in my makeup. I still look for the positives in every diagnosis, test result and prognosis. Heck, I still buy a new pair of running shoes every few months.

Over the past 16 years, I have been asked at least a thousand times “How can you be so positive when you are dealing with so much?” Honestly, I think my brain is just wired to be positive. But I do believe everyone has the ability to be positive. Looking at the positives in life is a choice, one I have to make everyday. Sometimes we have to make that choice multiple times a day. I know for some people, that is not easy. You just naturally bend towards the negative. That’s okay. You can make the choice to join the positive side of life. I know you can do it. Take baby steps. I promise you it will be worth it.

I know life will continue to present me with challenges. That is just part of the journey. I am sure there will be days that part of me will want to drift to the dark side called negativity. On those days, I will stop and think about all the good things in my life. Those blessings will put a smile on my face and everything will be right with the world again. That is my life as an incurable optimist. ~OC

Hello family, friends and anyone checking out my blog. I am currently looking for the opportunity to share my crazy/beautiful journey. If you know of a ministry, sports team, church, school or business looking for a speaker with an encouraging story, please have them contact me. Here is a little bit of my story.

I am a former long-distance runner, who is running a different type of marathon these days. Today, I am running a race to encourage others who are dealing with their own storms.

My life can be defined in one word, overcomer. For the past 16 years, I have been dealing with multiple life-threatening health issues. I have been told on numerous occasions that I would not make it through the night. I have looked at each of those moments as a challenge and an opportunity to encourage others. This has become my life mission.

I am an Abolitionist, Missionary and Speaker. I assist several organizations with their social media pages. These organizations are committed to battling the epidemic of human trafficking.  I carry a message of God’s hope to hospitals and doctors’ offices everywhere I go. I share my story to encourage others who are faced with the difficulties life sometimes brings our way.

My wife, Laura, and I are currently working with a team of writers to complete my memoir. The book will share how God has used my 16 year crazy/beautiful health journey to strengthen us and help us encourage others. Our goal is to help educate and empower caregivers, and bring lasting hope to others who are suffering.

Once again, if you or someone you know would be interested in hearing more about my story, you can leave me a message on my Contact Page. It would be my honor to speak with you. ~OC

On this date, 19 years ago, I made one of the best decisions of my life. I married Laura Maria West. She has been a true blessing. Laura has taken on many roles the last 19 years, but caregiver was not one we ever anticipated. Let me explain.

In only our second year of marriage, my medical journey started. Little did we know it would still be going on 16 years later. During this time, Laura has been by my side during every surgery, every diagnosis, every medical appointment, every treatment and every hospital stay. She has never complained or thought about skipping town. No, instead she has stepped up and took on many new roles. Laura has become my health advocate, my cheerleader and nurse.

I am happy we made the choice, early on in this health journey, to keep on living and enjoying life. We have never let my health issues get in the way of making memories. During this crazy/beautiful journey, we have traveled and experienced some incredible moments. We have even turned hospital stays into memorable moments.

I am so happy that God brought Laura into my life. Life has not always been easy with my health issues, but the past 19 years has been one beautiful moment after another. We have been blessed to face every tough moment together. I cannot imagine doing life without my beautiful bride. Happy Anniversary to the love of my life. ~OC

Like a marathon, life has no timeouts, no halftimes or intermissions. God has given each of us a race to run. Each of our races are unique. How cool is that?  Go run your race! ~OC

Most athletes have rituals, something they do before an event or during the season. It might be eating the same thing on game day. It might be not washing their baseball cap during the season. I had some rituals I did before every marathon. Here are a few.

*The morning of a marathon, I would always watch the video of Team Hoyt (Dick & Rick Hoyt) with the song, “My Redeemer Lives” by Nicole C Mullen. These always gave me inspiration.

*I would watch the video, “That’s My King” by Dr. S.M. Lockridge. This always fired me up.

*The first song I would listen to when the race started was, “My Redeemer Lives” by Nicole C Mullen. It always helped me pace myself.

*At the 13.1 mark of the race, I would listen to “Livin’ On A Prayer” by Bon Jovi. That always motivated me to keep moving forward.

Those were just a few of my race-day rituals. I truly miss my running days, but I am happy God has me running a different race these days. It is a race to encourage others going through their own journey. ~OC