Summer 2008 newsletter - Rehoboth Christian School

aseball, and I knew that this was for me. All of this is why I am sopassionate about the Red Sox.Being a Red Sox fan, I do get a lot of trash talked to me. Buthey, that’s a given. While here at Rehoboth I have been challenged tothink for myself. I have not only been taught to think critically, butalso to think on a deeper level. This year I have taken a worldviews andChristian Life class that has challenged me in many different ways. Ihave been challenged to think about my faith, and ask questions that Imay have not wanted to ask in the past.Throughout my years here at Rehoboth I have learned that it isok to question God, to ask Him questions. In my mind questions likethese have helped me grow inmy faith.One of the highpoints during my years herehappened just a few shortmonths ago. I spoke earlier ofmy disorder that I have beendealing with for some time.I have been on a countlessnumber of medications for thepast 7 years. Nothing seemedto work.In January, my doctorgave me an ultimatum. Hetold me that my first choicewas to be put in the hospitalfor an extended period oftime and be put on highlyexperimental medication andgo through intense physicaltherapy. If I chose this path Iwould miss so much schoolthat I would have to drop out. Mysecond choice was to have a prettyserious surgery to implant a permanentdevice called a spinal chord stimulator. What this device does is sendelectrical impulses to my legs to cut out the pain signals that are beingsent to my brain. I had a huge decision to make. My family told me thatthis was something that I had to decide on my own. I respected themfor that, but now I had to sit and think about this and what impact eachwould have on my future.After hours upon hours of thinking, I finally came to a decision.I chose to go with the spinal chord stimulator. On January 5, 2008 Iwas implanted with this device. I went into the hospital at about 7 inthe morning, and was in surgery by 11:00 am. This was about a fourhour surgery. I woke up in recovery and stayed there for another hour orso. The doctor came in and turned the device on and within 5 minutesI was up and walking. I went into the hospital barely able to walk withthe help of crutches, and about 9 hours later I was able to walk outunder my own power.This stimulator is something that has changed my life. I amnow able to work, bowl, and be a semi-normal teenager. I am still notable to play contact sports, and before I got sick I loved to ride myfour-wheeler. I am not able to do that anymore either, but all of that isa small price to pay for being able to walk, and being off all medicationfor the first time in 7 years. I can find other things in life that I enjoythat do not involve playing sports.Before I was diagnosed with CRPS I was an avid baseball player.Baseball was my life. I was planning on baseball helping me get intocollege, then suddenly all of that was taken from me. People ask me whyI like baseball so much, because they seem to think it is so boring. I haveto explain to them that sinceI am not able to play baseballI have to replace that voidwith other forms of baseball.The way I choose to do it isby absorbing all of the factsand stats about the gamethat I can. I also watch it asoften as possible. Baseball isstill a huge part of my life.I now realize thateverything happens for areason, and right now I maynot know what the reason is,but in time God will makethis known to me. Onething God has made knownto me is that my calling inlife is to become a physicaltherapist. Throughout allof my sickness I have beenTravis Wyatt, Red Sox Player Kevin Youkilis, andthrough numerous hoursDustin Wyattof physical therapy. So many peoplehave helped me through this that Ifeel as if it is my turn to help others.I have felt this way for a long time, and I hope to make this come true.In the fall I will be attending Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff,AZ to help complete my dream. And who knows, maybe one day I willbe the head of physical therapy and rehab for the Boston Red Sox!Get to know other RCS Seniors!Go to www. rcsnm.orgClick on “High School”then “Senior Portfolios”13