Category Archives: Snapseed by Nik

Would you still love me if I had a BRAIN tumor?

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Charlie

(This is a guest blog written by my oldest daughter Rhianna.  “Rana” is our oldest, probably our most unique, well all our kids are Unique.  But she has alway seemed to have a very eclectic mixture of friends.  I met Charlie yesterday.  Charlie just finished treatment for a brain tumor.  He seems like a very happy kid.  We’re not sure if it was successful yet.)

 

Allow me to introduce you to Charlie! He is 14 years old, loves soccer & snowboarding and has a heart of gold! How bad do you want to pinch his freckled cheeks?!?! Back in March, after 8 weeks of complaining of headaches and umpteen tests his family received a phone call that would change their lives!

Charlie was diagnosed with a medulloblastoma, a malignant brain tumor! After surgery to remove the tumor and several rounds of chemo & radiation Charlie is on his way to recovery! This poor kid has been through more torture than anyone should ever have to go through let alone a child!!

Charlie is the youngest brother of one of my closest friends, Chelsea!! They are 12 years apart so Charlie is more like a child to Chelsea than a brother. She absolutely adores this kid and will do anything for him! And he certainly looks up to her! Next to Mom, he wants Chelsea there with him for all the bad as well as the good throughout this journey. I am forever in awe of this entire family and their love & commitment to each other and giving all they can to help charlie through this nightmare!!

For more info here is a online fundraiser to help defray the exhorbidant expense of the treatment and surgery.  http://www.youcaring.com/medical-fundraiser/help-charlie-our-13-year-old-son-fight-brain-cancer/163010

Take the Road less Traveled

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I was coming home from a two day job in Santa Maria the other day by myself.  It’s a 300 mile drive.  One thing you quickly notice is not only how tired you get but also how beautiful and different the area is than southern California.  My original intent was to drive straight through.  Counting LA traffic nearly a 6 hour drive.

Then something wonderful happened.  I remember seeing an old steel structured bridge spanning a valley along the coast near Gaviotas.  So, I decided to become an explorer and see what surprised awaited.  A short drive down a narrow winding road opened up and I found myself at the Gaviotos State Beach parking lot and the structure I had seen the other day.  An added treat was that right between the iron and steel beams was a pathway to an empty beach.

After shooting for a half hour and enjoying my new found subject I remembered I still had a long trek home.  I reluctantly left but content with my discovery, refreshed to continue the drive and the desire to look for new places to explore.

techy stuff:  Iphone5, capture in Hipstamatic app and processed in Snapseed.