Cayden. Where do I begin?
Cayden and I have always gotten along growing up. He is very calm and not easily irritated while I am loud and love to push people's buttons. Because of these differences we get along very well.
I love spending time with this kid. He is an amazing listener, I tell him everything. I value his advice over anyone else's and when I ask for his opinion he tells me the truth, not what he thinks I want to hear. He can always make me laugh and cheer me up when I am feeling like shit. We can quote movies and T.V. shows for days. During sacrament meeting one week, we quoted the whole Zoolander movie through notes (which I still have). When we were younger we would perform the Spartan SNL sketch with Ana Gastyier and Will Ferrell for our family and friends.
Something that scares me: Epilepsy.
Cayden has epilepsy. I will always remember the morning of his first seizure. I was violently woken up by my mother who was frantically getting dressed. She told me to get ready and get in the car because Cayden was at the hospital. At first I thought it was a joke, I didn't believe her. I kept asking her to tell me it was a joke, I didn't like what I was hearing. After running and getting in the car my mom sped to Utah Valley Hospital. Once in the car I was able to ask what had happened. She told me that Cayden had a seizure on his way home from scout camp and she didn't know anything else. I had a vague idea of what a seizure was, but I was filled with unanswered questions, which scared me. Although my mom was driving ninety, the trip to the hospital felt like days. The worst possible situations were running through my mind as we sat in silence driving to the hospital. Upon arriving at the hospital we met up with my dad who told us what he knew. He said that on the way home from camp, Cayden had a grand mal seizure. He was sitting in the middle seat talking to the others in the car when he started talking very slow and not making sense. He then lost consciousness, began convulsing, and foaming at the mouth. They rushed him to the hospital and that is where we were. We were able to go see him in his small ER room. He smelt horrible, like a camp fire and he was disgustingly dirty. He was somewhat awake, but he didn't remember anything. After standing by his side for a while and listening to what was going on, the nurse looked at me and told me to sit down, I was about to pass out. Once I got some food and a chair my face regained it's color.
The next few days Cayden stayed at the hospital while they performed a bunch of tests. After the tests, he was sent home. For the next few months he couldn't take a breath without someone watching him.
It's been over three years since that day, and I can remember it vividly. I have never been so scared in my life. He has had more seizures since then, but luckily it's been almost two years since his last one. He is a trooper!! He never got mad the family for calling him every minute to make sure he was okay and he never complained about being tired from the medication he was taking.
My best friend
Cayden is my best friend. He has always been there for me when I need it most. He listens to me rant about friends and my social problems, and never judges me. I am so grateful for Cayden and all he does for me. This past week I have been reminded of how thoughtful and kind Cayden is. He can sense when something is wrong, and he knows just how to cheer me up. Thank you Chuck.
Can you spot him??
On that note, I seriously have the best family in the whole world. I don't know what I did to deserve them. They mean so much to me.
