Last Blog

It is 10:00 a.m and I have been given the green light to go home and complete the rest of my rehab outside the hospital. This is the last blog that I will be writing. Thanks to all and I look forward to seeing you all on the outside.

Starting a New Life

For those of you whom have enjoyed my videos and dedications, I am sorry that you will not be able to view them anymore on this blog. I learned another important lesson over these past couple of days. One of those lessons goes as follows: even though you may be in a place in your life where you are looking forward to starting a new life for yourself and you want to show your appreciation for those who have helped you get to that point, everything you do or say always has an effect to your cause. Sometimes you may not understand why people react the way they do. Just remember, there is absolutely no reason you should feel censored because of what people may think or say. This blog is not directed towards anyone specifically. Let me repeat that. THIS BLOG IS NOT DIRECTED TOWARDS ANYONE SPECIFICALLY. With only a couple of days remaining, I am reminiscing over these past seven months and making it my number one priority to never forget the life lessons I have been so fortunate to experience, at 27 years of age. As my fight with cancer hopefully comes to an end, so will the moments we share with each other through this blog. I have gone through every photo album I have in my computer, and assembled a video involving all of those I give thanks too. I will not say anything specific about any of these people, only to give thanks and lifelong appreciation to them. I know that my heart has tremendously grown, but the rest of me has not changed. I am still the same person I have always been, just matured and refined. So don’t misinterpret kindness for vulnerability ; ). I can not wait to start this new chapter in my life, a second opportunity to begin with a clean slate. Look out world, Edwin Edison Enwia is coming to a theater near you!

Sherbet IceCream

If anyone wants to know what to get me for Christmas, buy sherbet. straight up. Orange Sherbet. so good.

Going Crazy

This Picture Just Makes Me Laugh!!


Hey everyone! Ten more days til Christmas! Eight more days til I get out of here, hopefully. This past weekend was amazing. Even though it was hard to say bye to my baby, it was a lot of fun having some close friends stop by and hang out. I have been reading my Biology book these past couple of days. No, not because I desperately needed to read, but because I plan on going back to school next semester. I have had more than enough time to take a mental vacation from school. It has become very apparent to me that I not only have to go back to school, but I have to get back to making education my number one priority. I look forward to being mentally and physically challenged after all of this cancer business is all said and done. For those who want to come visit, my health is still doing pretty well, so don't hesitate to come on by. For those who have colds, we can meet up after I get out. I appreciate all the phone calls and texts everyone has given me these past weeks, they have definitely helped boost my spirits.

Levels are Dropping

Today I had to say goodbye to my baby. Having her here over the past four days has done more for me than she could ever imagine. For all who have come to visit, the same goes for you too. Brian's father and mother, Steve and Debbie, are on their way over to visit right now. Steve has already come up once earlier this week to visit. Just like I tell everyone, he has become a very close friend to me. It is a friendship that I am truly great full for. I was thinking about this journey of mine that I have gone through since July. How I have learned, appreciated, and enjoyed so much about life up to this point. My blood levels are continuing to steadily drop. Soon, it will bottom out. The sooner it does, the sooner they will come back up.

Day 09: Christmas Time

Well, these past couple of days have been a roller coaster. I apologize for not writing. Brittany flew in yesterday morning and has been spending every hour with me. She bought a tree with lights and ornaments! We have been spending the past days watching old movies; from Christmas Vacation, to Say Anything. My stomach feels as if someone put a blender in there and set it to hi. Brittany's parents came by to visit today. They brought fudge :) Today was also the first time my mother met her parents. It was a very nice moment for everyone. I only wish my father was here. Honestly, I am getting tired of missing my father and having him miss all the important things in our lives. That isn't really Christmas talk, so I will continue to pretend it doesn't bother me, for now. I appreciate those whom have made time to come down and visit. I look forward to those I haven't yet. I love you all, talk soon.

Day 5 & 6: Phase One...Complete

This morning was my final round of chemo for my stay here at UCLA. Tomorrow, referred too as, "Day of Rest," will be my first day without chemo, as well as the day before I have my stem cell infusion. Do I know what, or how it will happen? No, but I know it shouldn't last very long, I think. I have ingested quite a number of pills. In the beginning I asked a lot of questions, now I just swallow the pills and smile. I just got done with a good walk with Mark. I knocked on his door, and that's all it took to get him going. Mark has the spirit of a teenager. I respect that about him. He told me how he was kicked out of BYU for attending a party where marijuana was being used. BYU told him, either convert to Mormonism or go elsewhere. Mark ended up playing college football in Oklahoma. For the first time, Mark walked without his mask. I was trying to figure out why he looked so strange to me. After walking for 20 minutes, he realized his mask wasn't on his face. He got a little worried, so we had to go back and get one for him. I know nothing will happen to him, but I know it must of felt nice not to have that thing over his mouth around people. Mark is the kind of guy that would care less about looking good in a gown and a mask. I, on the other hand, could never be placed into one of those things, ever. Other than that, my nurse drew my bath, got to go.

Day 4: Little Feverish

Ok, so I was so bored, I made a "best of" video of my "Less than better" pictures I saw while flipping through old pics.

Day 2 & 3: First Weekend

Yesterday was a so so day. Not much going on with anything here on this floor. I did get great news, they are going to bring me a stationary bike from rehab, only if my levels are doing OK. I Stopped by Mark's hotel door...I mean, hospital door. " Mark! You wanna go walk." "OOOOK Eddie, let me get my shoes." Learned that his brother played baseball. He even played catcher. Also, his high school pitcher, is a present day Cy Young award winner. Saturday is a ghost town in this place. It's the only time I have ever seen more Doctors than patients in the hallways.It's a slow place here, along with the gloomy weather, I'm going to take a nap.

Day 1: Making Friends

Yesterday was a slow going day for me. I started my chemo treatments and was not in the mood for visitors. Mark, in room 6159, told me he was going to swing by, however, with my door being shut, he didn't want to disturb me. Which is fairly ironic, seeing as how I peek my head into his room, telling him to get out of bed and walk with me. Yesterdays highlight consisted of being disconnected from from the machine for five hours. Just being able to walk around and not have to worry about tripping over my tubing did wonders psychologically. Today I woke up at eight to find a new face in my room. Kristin, my day nurse for today, is very receptive and like country music as much as I do. Before starting chemo today at ten, Mark and I went for a nice 30 minute walk around the floor. He told me a little bit about himself, his family, about chewing tobacco when he played baseball, and a little bit about women. The thing I appreciate about Mark is simply the fact that he is an alpha male. He is always in a good mood, and even a little charming with his quick remarks. I will be doing chemo til about 2:00 pm or so.

Day 0: GameDay

Ever seen Ray Lewis of the Baltimore Ravens before a game?? The guy is a machine, a symbol of toughness in the NFL. Decades after his retirement, people won't remember how many sacks or tackles he collected over his hall of fame career. People will however remember him for what he stood for. Video clips of this soldier in the middle of his peers, motivating, strengthening, and preparing for the task at hand. He, however, happens to be a very well-spoken and caring gentleman. It is almost impossible to dislike this warrior of the gridiron. When I got out of surgery yesterday morning, I made it appoint to be a leader on this floor. There are approximately 25 other cancer patients, all of which have tales unlike any other. We all share a common struggle that binds us. I spent about two hours walking the hallways last night, and as I walked and peeked into a room or two, I saw a teenager, Steven, laying in bed while his mom was draping a blanket over him. It was a genuine moment that I won't ever forget. This morning I was walking the floor, looked into Mark's room, a patient 2 doors down, in his late 40's of early 50's and just wanted to say hello. He asked me if I was walking the floor, "yes I am, sir!" I replied. As I said that, he literally pushed aside the nursing student and said, "wait up Eddie." I began to think to myself, we can make each other stronger. Mark and Jackyln, a mother of two, are both diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia. Jacklyn absolutely hates to be referred to as "Jacky." I want to remember every moment in this place. This is my life, I am choosing to live it.