My Journey Through School 

The Beginning of My Medical Journey

In the fall of 1971 I finally started school. I say it that way because I was a big six years old and my Mom made me wait a year because I was too busy. Really what does that mean? To busy? I think it means hyper. I remember the first year of school like yesterday mostly because the kids in that kindergarten class were with me in the spring of 1984 when I got my high school diploma and many are still with me today.

Kindergarten was a breeze. You went to school ate graham crackers, knocked down blocks and sang songs with Valerie McBride, Adele Carne and Rebecca Horton. We sang the songs they taught us and we made up our own as we went along. I still remember the words. My teachers must have loved it because I never missed a day that first year. They seemed much older at the end of the school year then they did in the fall.

As I cruised through Jamestown School I played every sport. I did not say I was good I said I played them all. Soccer, flag football, basketball and track. I loved every minute of it. In junior high at lunch time I would play HORSE with Anita Sanchez, she ALWAYS won, played baseball and chatted with everyone that wanted to chat. Yes all in one recess.

Friday nights were dances in the gym. What a blast. I got to dance with the triplets Mindy, Molly and Melody. I boogied with Becky Fray and Jackie Haughy. My final 8th grade dance was with Kellie Hutchenson (Jones) We had nick named her Boom Boom and Kellie ALWAYS made me laugh. She was a good friend in bad times and a good friend in good times. A pure heart and a class act. There were laughing spells with Terry Crane, school plays, band and so many fun memories. We had no secrets. We were family.

As we moved onto Sonora High School the stage was the same just a bigger campus and instead of being panthers we were now WILDCATS! My freshman year was great. I was in band played baseball and was in the school play. I still remember the first day of school as my brother was a junior and within minutes one of his buddies tied me to a flag pole. To this day I can’t believe the teacher blamed me for being late for class. Like I actually tied myself to that pole.

At the start of my sophomore year my world started to change. It was homecoming week and George and I were coming home late. To this day I swear to you he was not driving fast and I was doing my best job of chatting his head off to make sure he stayed awake. My conversation must have been pointless because he fell asleep anyway. As we rounded a corner on Rawhide road over the bank we rolled. It was my first concussion and from that day on the headaches were daily.

 At the start of my junior year I was playing a game of basketball in PE and it happened again. I went to get the ball during a scramble and I hit heads with another kid and fell and hit my head on the floor. I was put on the bench and within minutes fell over and hit the floor with my head again. I was in no where land. The next thing I remember I was standing outside the gym looking for the locker room. A kid took me to the coach and he sent me to the office. Dr. Borgquist said it was concussion number 2.

A few months later while playing basketball I once again hit the floor and you guessed it concussion number 3 in less than two years. This time Dr B said I should avoid basketball for a while. My headaches really amped up then and were a daily pounding routine.

At the start of my Senior year I was sitting at the first Friday football game of the year I was no longer in band so I decided I would help my buddy Kym Berry with the cheering stuff. Kym and I did a radio show together on Monday mornings called “The Berry Good Hamilton Show.” The show was a blast as I would spin the records and Kym would dance all over the control room. On this night Kym was a cheerleader leading us in rooting for our team  and every time she needed the crowd to yell I did because well…..If you knew Kym you would know why. Kym was the greatest sweetest friend I could ever have and I would go fish on the moon if she asked me to.

Towards the end of the game the cheer coach Sherry Juhl came into the grandstands and says to me “I think you would be a great male cheerleader.” I thought to myself “and you lady just dropped a record in your jukebox.” I told her “my legs would not look as good as Kym’s and Julie’s in that awful skirt and yellow leggings were not my color.” She took a step back and over her shoulder I saw Steve Southard standing on track looking at me with his big goofy grin giving me the thumbs up. I was like shoot I can never say no to Southard I respect him with every ounce of energy I had in my body.

When I refocused, Sherry said "I even have another guy who will do it if you will". I could not help but wonder how two suckers ended up at the same game that Friday night. I agreed to come to practice and see what I thought and would give her an answer then.

When I showed up Monday there was Kym all ready with the jumps and lifts we were going to do. We fell over each other, I dropped her, I fell trying cart wheels, I dropped her, we laughed and well I dropped her. The truth though I had a BLAST! I also met my new friend Erik Spiess. The clincher was when I was told I would be riding in the van with the team. The cheer team. Who would not want to ride to all the games with this great group of girls? Sherry Juhl was a great coach for all of us and made the season fun.

Before I knew it I had laughed my way through my senior year and got straight A’s in the process. The day before prom we were on ditch day and going down the tube run. I fell in the water and when I stood up there was Kym laughing at me and from behind I got run over by another tube. I was knocked to the bottom of the pool and hit my head getting a black eye. My prom picture with Michelle Skoglund shows a big black eye. When I picked up Michelle she just laughed and I said “maybe you don’t want to know.” I of course told her all about it. I love that girl and to this day she is a loyal friend with an amazingly golden heart.

These head shots and concussions would prove to be a challenge a few years later.

Soon we graduated and we were off to college. I said goodbye to great friends like TJ Pilchard, Triina Turula and Kristin Schilling (Eaton). I did not know that forever these people would live in my memories and better yet still be a big part of my life.

Note: A few years later my friend Kym Berry would go to heaven early. She was my champion and a dear friend of Krishna and I. I will forever see her sweet smile, hear her crazy laugh and  most of all I will always remember throwing her in the air and the many times I did catch her. She lives on in the hearts of many and at night I still see her in my dreams.

There is more then enough room in my fathers house. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? When everything is ready I will come get you, so that you will always be with me where I am.

Jesus Christ

John 14:2-3

So the class of 1984 was on our way into the world. We were going to conquer all obstacles that were placed in our way. Little did I know that the obstacles ahead would be very challenging but God had a plan and he would soon send me someone very special to travel with me as I made my way on “My Journey.”

Lisa Bynum is one of the prettiest girls ever and is now a beautiful woman. She has an amazing heart as well. We were on the bus headed for a BIG football game. In high school they were all BIG football games.

Here is she! Just look at that smile. What a wonderful girl. Kym and I were selected Most Spirited our Senior year.
 (Please excuse the pen I snapped this from my yearbook) I owe much of my Faith in Jesus that I have to Kym, When we were young she told me about her church Sierra Bible and one day that church would save my spiritual life.

Deena Ravicchio was, is and always will be one of my most favorite people in the world. She was in AFS and I think she went to Wisconsin. When she returned I nick named her Ravicchioski. That did not stick but the the impact she has on my heart did. During Spirit Week we dressed Hawaiian and Deena used my height to stand out in the crowd.

This is one handsome guy. This is June 1984 at my graduation. I will never trade those days at Sonora High School for anything. We had it all and some more.