So what should I focus my long-overdue blog post on today?  Well, I am going to focus on the things that I am most empowered by in my life today- the people who have made a tremendous difference in my journey thus far.

I have been incredibly fatigued lately and sometimes it is so bad that I go home around 1pm and sleep straight through until 10 or 11am the following day.  This fatigue is an unforgivable force, and in order to avoid getting any sicker, I often times must succumb and allow myself to sleep these longer hours.  Unfortunately, this means that other things in my life have taken a back seat. I still am a loan officer and I have clients and referral partners that rely on our company to provide excellent service when it comes to financing a home (Referrals are still greatly welcomed).  This is where the years of putting together an all-star team really has come back to reward me, my clients, and certainly my entire office.  I really want to thank Annie Gulosh, Mikal Mele, Janna Barney, and the whole Northwest Mortgage Advisors team for stepping up big time to fill in for me in my absence.  So much of my role has changed in the business, compared to just a short year ago, but without my team and referral partners working diligently to back me up, I’m lucky to have any income at all. You honestly could not find a better group of loan officers and support staff to rise up and help out in a time of need.

My parents… Roger and Colleen. They have gone above and beyond what it means to take care of a sick son.  Being in a position of need really humbles your invincible attitude about your place in this world.  My parents have always been exceptional, but there is no doubt that helping their oldest child navigate and possibly plan for the end of his life must take an unimaginable amount of mental strength.  They consistently prove themselves to be invaluable to me, from helping me out with the smallest tasks like picking up a prescription, to monumental decisions regarding medical expenses or properly planning my estate to ensure my boys have enough money to get through college and beyond.  Through their strength I find the power to keep pushing forward.

I love my puppy Rex.  He has got a great personality!  He is pretty mellow, and has about the cutest brown Golden Retriever eyes you have ever seen.   And on the days when I am totally wiped, a few key friends have helped me with Rex, and I am very thankful for them.  Nikki & Steve Atkinson & Tara Bohren were the first to volunteer to walk him for me once a week (I had countless offers from so many of you to help out- thank you!).  And on top of that, a very good client and long time friend, Sharon & Jeremy Cram, who own Club K-9 (Portland and Tigard locations) agreed to help me out by watching Rex in their daycare or overnight boarding whenever it was needed.  Rex absolutely loves it there, and last time, they even give him a nice bath to keep him clean and smelling good.  This may seem small to each of you, but it has dramatically cut down on my stress levels on some of my really bad Chemo days.  Please help support their business by using and referring out Club K-9… it is top notch.  http://clubk-9.com/

There are so many more of you I could highlight for your generosity and compassion… Lisa Nishioka, Ginger Bell, Lisa Hunt, Linda Christian, Cliff Brady, Dennis Van Dyke, Jessica Sansone, Cindy Ertman, Staci Carr, Sue Woodard, Brian Stevens, Misti Cowart, Debbie Barnett, Stephanie Hughes, my favorite waitresses at those key restaurants that I always visit… and sooooooooo many more!!

It seems like no matter where we look there is some sort of turmoil, whether it be divorce, cancer, financial troubles, or something else, is touching us or someone we care deeply about these days.  My hope is that by passionately and transparently sharing my story with each of you, that, when and if life does rock your world and sets you on your own unique adventure, that you will choose and focus on all the positive things that very well could come out of the experience.  The thing about dealing with severe issues and our own futures is that it is up to us to shape what it looks like.  You can focus on all the hardships (and who would blame you) or you can learn to seize the moment and focus on how you can live your life to the fullest and maximize the positive imprint you will leave once your time here is up.

Have an inspired day.  Keep Fighting Forward!!

When you think about inspiration and a resiliency as it relates to making the most out of your life… many of you may have expressed your admiration about how I handle my unique circumstances. While your belief in me is always appreciated, it is simply just not 100% placed with the right person. I have many down moments, regrets, setbacks, etc…. I pull my strength, in large part, from each of you, but there is NO ONE I lean on more to give me guidance and direction than Tracy. Many of you who know Tracy and I personally, know that we met while working at Target when we were 17 years old. We began dating almost immediately, fell in love, and went on to have 12 years of the most wonderful marriage two people could imagine… largely due to the size of her amazing heart. During this time, God blessed us with 3 incredible boys, we built a top local mortgage company together, traveled the world, and experienced things together are impossible to describe with words. We built an bond and friendship, that while strained this last 9 months at times, is simply unbreakable.

To add to Tracy’s amazing strength of character, her Father (Dean) passed away after having brain surgery and battling cancer bravely for many years. Dean displayed tremendous courage and love throughout his entire battle and was the perfect example of how to fight with dignity and resolve. Life has cruelly brought this same disease back into her life once again to her best friend. I have tremendous guilt about this personally and I sometimes question why this has all happened… not because I am scared to fight this disease, but because Tracy and my boys do not deserve this. Yet she never allows challenges to come between us. She presses positively forward with her life, taking care of the kids, working full time, volunteering, and tending to my numerous needs without so much as one whisper of a regret. Every wonderful trait that was passed down from her Father and Mother are evident in everything she does for everyone around else around her.

Over the last 9 months our lives have forever been impacted and influenced by the adversity my “life” has created. We unfortunately separated around the 1st of the year, I made some incredibly poor choices that put her in awkward positions, and I was diagnosed with a brain cancer. The cancer I was diagnosed with is located in the personality side of my brain and likely a one of the reasons why some of my decision-making skills were suspect at best in the eyes of many. With the tumor removed and radiation complete, I feel like I am beginning to regain clarity and truly appreciate what friends like Tracy and all of you, offer me in my greatest time of need. Throughout all of this chaos… she has never turned her back on me.

Without any hesitation at all, I can honestly say she has been my #1 fan, supporter, and there by my side every step of the way. Tracy and Mikal Ashley Mele are actually the ones who began the whole Hughes Troop Movement and Facebook page/bracelets – while I was going through brain surgery and treatment. Now that is pretty darn awesome!

I want to sincerely apologize publically, hug, high-five, do-over, congratulate, express gratitude, be a better man, live forever, and be that same amazing person that she has been for me for the last 18 years of our life and friendship together. I want her to continue to find the happiness and wonderful life she so clearly deserves.

Hughes Troops… please take a moment and thank my rock, my friend, the person who talks me off the ledge in my darker moments, who inspires me to keep pushing forward no matter what challenges I face, the best Mom in the world, and my #1 Hughes Troop supporter… Tracy friggin Hughes!!!!!

I couldn’t do this without her.

Today, I’m asking for that help. Recently, a group of very generous industry friends from all over the country approached me about doing an educational/charity event that will be hosted live in the Portland, Oregon area. This event will be a NATIONAL webinar with information pertaining to the mortgage and real estate markets, from some of the most genius and creative minds in the country. If you don’t live around Portland, you can still watch and have access to all the great content because all of the presentations will be put online for future downloads.  Which means you can go back and listen to the presentations and download the incredible tools weeks, months and years down the road if you chose.  The proceeds from this event will be donated to my and my family’s medical and living expenses, as I continue to fight this disease with every once of strength I have left.

It takes a lot of humility for my stubborn self, to acknowledge that the most brilliant thought leaders in business and in life, have come together to donate their time and wisdom for me.  But, passed the humility, I am astonished and inspired.  The strength and the quality of the presenters, their content, and messages are so powerful that the attendees who sign up will be empowered as they have a life changing experience. I am so grateful for all of the people who have created this idea, and recruited the top thought leaders and organized the entire event.

This is now where… um… er… ah… geesh… I humbly ask for your help my friends.  It would mean a great deal to me, my family, friends, and fellow Hughes Troop supporters if you would take a moment and sign up for this once-in-a-lifetime event.  Whether you are local or you live on the East Coast, you can participate! (And even download the lessons at a later time if you wish!)  This event is packed with top tier talent and is perfect for anyone in the mortgage, real estate, title, escrow, or business field.  For those of you who are not in these industries, there will be plenty of content for living a healthier and more fulfilled life, which I believe, is so important personally as each of us continue building our own legacies.

Here is a quick look at some of the details of the event…

Rockin’ the Blue Band – Educational/Charitable Event

Date of the Event:  October 5^th, 2011 10am – 2pm PST

Location: Big Al’s Conference Rooms in Beaverton, Oregon… http://www.ilovebigals.com/

Website: http://hughestrooptraining.myevent.com/  (click on Registration)

Hosting the Event: Sue Woodard & Rene Rodriquez

Main Presenters: Tim Davis, Jason Womack, Michael Maher, Troy McClain, Scott Yonehiro, & Khai McBride.

Additional Presenters & Content:  Dustin Hughes, Todd Duncan, Bill Hart, Dave Savage, Frank & Brian (TWBS Daily Show), Sue Woodard, Ginger Bell, Bliss Sawyer, Mark Madsen, Jim Camp, Jason Klaskin, Carl White, and many many more amazing speakers (see Back Stage pass link on website).

I feel very confident that the content being shared by each of these individuals will provide all of us with the knowledge, confidence, and tools to tackle even life’s most challenging obstacles, as we pursue our personal goals and dreams.  Please take a moment and sign up for the event. Sign up your office? Sign up your realtor partners?  And help me spread the word by sharing this blog post on your Facebook walls.  If you sign up, and are in the area, please attend the event live and feel free to download all the content you want later. I would love to see a full room of supporters. If this is how I can help support my friends and you who have generously taken the time to support me, than this is what I will happily do.

Thank you for allowing me to open up and ask for assistance. I can assure you, my friends and colleagues have spent countless hours making this ambitious educational/charitable event as impactful for you, as it will be helpful for me.

Have an amazing and inspired start to your week!!

Fighting Forward!!

I won’t go into the physical impact cancer and treatment takes on a person.  What I think is even more interesting is the shift in your mindset that MUST happen in order to survive the wave upon wave of mental and physical obstacles that are constantly and uninvitedly thrust into your life.  How can ANY ONE person possibly balance the devastation of learning you have terminal brain cancer, side effects, pharmacy drama, countless treatments and meds, overwhelming medical cost, loss of income, and the strain it causes on your personal relationships?

The answer?  You can’t do it alone!

I am a very prideful Father, man, and business professional.  The idea of asking for help or even accepting someone else’s generosity tears me up inside on a daily basis.  Well, at least it did before I was given this diagnosis.  These days I am humbled by my destiny and I feel like life has dealt me a slightly challenging hand, but this experience and the Hughes Troop movement to bring about positive awareness to Brain Cancer is MY PURPOSE.  So I am very slowly learning to accept the help and acknowledge the compliments you all show me on a daily basis.  Which brings me to why I titled this post as I have.

Cutting Down Cancer in the Name of Fun

A very good friend has been cheering me on behind the scenes since I first was rushed to the ER for brain surgery.  Her name is Amanda McMahan (lives in Texas) and she works for Mortgage Success Source.  Amanda has sent me books, cards from her children and prayed for my health and happiness continually throughout my battle.  One of my own methods I try and implement as a cancer fighting strategy is the idea of trying to slow down and just have FUN… especially with my 3 boys or closest friends.  Amanda knows how much my boys mean to me and she just happens to have a brother, Kenny Cooper a tremendously talented Striker, who plays professional soccer for our beloved Portland Timbers.  I have never been to a game, but the Timbers are famous for the Timber Army’s unbridled enthusiasm.  After sharing my story and most recent video I created with her brother and family, Kenny graciously donated 6 tickets so that I could take my boys and friends to watch the game last night as they attempted and secure the final playoff spot.

I was completely humbled and profoundly honored that in one of the most important stretches of Kenny’s professional career, he would go out of his way to ensure my boys experienced a night that they will NEVER FORGET.

I could only bring Nicholas and Ashton with me because my youngest son Noah (baby BAM BAM as I like to call him) just wasn’t going to play nice that evening.  Having never been to a game, I immediately had to purchase some Timbers gear for Tracy and the kids to show our support and love for our team.  As I arrived back to my seat, a Timbers employee greeted me with an autographed jersey from Kenny himself.  I am not sure if you all saw the flash of light that briefly brightened the Oregon evening skies last night, but if you did, that was my smile when I was given his jersey.  I plan of framing the jersey and displaying it for all to see.  The real joy of the evening for myself, Ash, and Nick though, was watching Kenny score the first goal of the game for the Timbers.  The Timber fans are passionate and noisy, but I would like to think that maybe somehow Kenny could hear our enthusiastic cheer for him above the rest of the crowd… it was truly the PERFECT MOMENT!!

Thank you Amanda, Kenny, Nicholas, Ashton, Tracy, Annie, & Brad for ensuring that I had an unforgettable night!  It was just what the doctor ordered!!

There is no doubt all this activity will leave me feeling a little worn down by the end of the day, but as promised I have one more project that I have been working on quietly behind the scenes that should keep me energized throughout the days, weeks, and (god willing) years.  I am officially releasing my Blink of a Moment Blog : http://blinkofamoment.com.  This website will follow my personal journey to beat the unbeatable, educate and bring awareness to brain cancer (GBM), highlight a variety of charitable organizations, and of course graciously thank the Hughes Troop supporters who have impacted my life and the lives of many others.  It will be done so in the spirit of what the Hughes Troop movement is all about… overcoming our individual obstacles with relentless determination, a positive attitude, and gracious heart for the blessings we have in our lives.

This website and the countless hours that have gone into creating it, would not be possible without a good friend reaching out and asking how he could help me spread the word about my story.  I want to personally thank my long time friend Justin Yoshimura from http://xklaim.com for the hooking me up with a free website, hosting it, and answering the 1,023,872 questions I had about creating the biggest impact with design, tags, posts, etc….  Justin, or as I like to call him “Yosh”) has been invaluable as this site was created.  Please check out his website and give him some love for the tremendous patience and help he has given me this last month or so.

Please also take a moment to bookmark my new website, visit the links I have posted, and share the site with your friends and family.  I will continue to improve and add more content to the site, as well as stay VERY active on the Hughes Troop Facebook page.  Thank you all from the bottom of my heart for all your support and belief in my family and I.  Time to go win the day!

Fighting Forward!!

Now it is extremely important to me that when I write about the side effects or pain that I may be experiencing with my treatments, I do so to be as authentic and transparent as I possible without trying to sound like I am complaining.  While I know many of you are concerned for my health, family, and my full recovery.  I DO NOT want you to stress about these areas of my life… I promise you that I can handle these uncomfortable days.  My hope is that by sharing these setbacks from my own battle, you will better understand and empathize with those around you that may also currently be fighting for their life against this terrible disease.  I am blessed with the grittiness of my Father (Roger Hughes) and empowered to push through even the toughest days by each and every one of you.  So as is the Hughes Troop tradition… we will fight through the brightest and darkest of days TOGETHER with the most EMPOWERED ATTITUDE anyone has ever witnessed!

This last weekend was packed full of family, friends, and fun.  After more than a year of planning, Saturday morning was the big Warrior Dash event.  My priorities for the event changed dramatically since being diagnosed with cancer 3 months ago.  At this point, my goal for the Dash was simply to prove to myself that I could finish the obstacle course.  As I woke up early in the morning, I knew something was immediately wrong.  My body ached like it has never hurt before.  On a pain scale of 1-10… it was an alarming 11.  Almost blinded by the pain, I stood up for the first time, my knees buckled and I immediately crashed to the floor next to my bed.  At that moment I was scared for the first time since this whole journey began. I was able to get up on my feet and struggled just to get town stairs so I could take my medication.  I was concerned that the pain or whatever was going on internally may create an ideal scenario for another seizure… thankfully that did not happen.

For the next hour the bones in my legs, knees and feet screamed for mercy and simple things like walking suddenly became a tremendous challenge.  I thought about calling Tracy and not participating the Warrior Dash, but I just couldn’t allow myself to cave in mentally or physically.  After eating, drinking water, and struggling just to walk 10 feet in my home, the pain began to subside (although a level 5 pain was present throughout the entire week).  Thankfully the medicine began to kick in and everything changed the moment I drove into the parking lot and saw my wonderful friends rallying around each other and me.  There was no way I was going to let them or any of you down.  It was GAME ON!

If you haven’t seen the pictures from the Warrior Dash… check them out HERE.  It was an absolute blast and we will be doing it again for sure next year.  We are going to put another team together so let me know if you would like to run it with us and we would be happy to add you to the Hughes Troop Warrior Dash Team.  Either way, you should attend and experience this event.  It will be memory you will carry with you for a lifetime.  The rest of that Saturday I spent resting up and watching the Oregon Ducks football game since the pain, sun, and exercise took a lot out of me for that day.

On Sunday, my friends had planned a Hughes Troop Warrior Car Wash to help raise money for my medical expenses.  I want to personally thank Mikal, Laurie, Tony, Jordan, Sari, Tracy, Galo, Mark, Dennis, David, Annie, Brad, Melissa, and my 3 boys (who else?) who volunteered their personal time to help make the car wash a tremendous success.  I was able to actively help wash almost every car that drove through.  In addition to the random drivers stopping by for a quick wash, many of the Troops paid us a visit and were kind enough to let us wash your car.  Your time spent driving out to see me and donating to our wash is greatly appreciated.  It is a very humbling experience to admit that without the help of my friends and all of your selflessness, I would not be able to fight my battle as well as I have.  What made the car wash even extra special for me is that my 3 boys were able to come out, help wash, hold signs, eat snow cones, and most importantly witness what happens when a connected and caring community comes together for a common goal.  Those life lessons are hard to create on their own. Each of you continues to help create an impression on my children’s lives by your comments, photos of you wearing blue bracelets, and participation in the variety of events my friends have hosted on my behalf.

After such a hectic weekend, I plan on slowing things way down this upcoming weekend.  I plan on spending a considerable amount of time with my boys, watching college football, playing basketball with them, catching a movie perhaps, and watching Nick play flag football with his team on Sunday.  The weather should be much cooler and I think that will also help me sleep much better at night.

To end this update, I will share with you a quote that I absolutely love… “If you’ll not settle for anything less than your best, you will be amazed at what you can accomplish in your lives.”  - Vince Lombardi

Keep FIGHTING FORWARD!!

Hughes Troops Rule! Cancer Drools!!

Song performed by the band Revive

I am so grateful for getting to know the fine people at Northwest Cancer Specialist (Rose Garden location) and extremely excited that I will get about 2 hours a day, of my life back, so I can continue to focus on the next steps in my cancer-fighting strategy.  Chemotherapy will continue to be a part of my daily regimen until instructed otherwise by my wonderful Oncology team Dr. Schnadig, and Rose.

Aside from radiation being complete, yesterday brought another big event.  Last night, my closest friends set up a special celebration for my first birthday that I had since having surgery and beginning the treatment process.  The turnout was as diverse as it was fun.  We locked down the entire corner section of the Thirsty Lion and it was a wonderful experience to see all my family and friends interact, laugh, and connect on so many different levels.  For those of you who made it… thank you so much.  I really tried my best to hug each and everyone of you and express my sincerest gratitude for the amazing support and efforts each of you made to show up to a mid-week social gathering.

I’m not done, Hughes’ Troop, there are more “Best Day Ever”s to come for me this weekend! Saturday, I will be doing something absolutely crazy for someone who is in the middle fighting for his life. Bring on the “Warrior Dash”.  If you don’t know what the Warrior Dash is, it is basically a crazy, muddy, hardcore 5k obstacle course that promises to provide some personal pain, plenty of laughter, great pictures, and countless memories.  I know that I am in no condition to exert myself physically on what promises to be one of the hottest days of the year, but I just want to prove to myself, and the entire Hughes Troop Nation, that I CAN complete this wild event and hopefully do so with a winning spirit that the Hughes Troop movement is so well known for.  Check out this 90 second video to get a glimpse of what myself, and 14 of my friends, have gotten ourselves into… http://www.youtube.com/user/RedFrogEvents.  Luckily one of the people I am participating with is a fireman, so if things get too much, Brad has got my back!  Haha.

And finally to wrap up my weekend, Tracy and Mikal (the originals of Hughes’ Troop) have gone to great lengths to set up the “Warrior Car Wash” at my company’s office building this Sunday 10am – 2pm.  We have plenty of volunteers all lined up for this donation-based fundraiser, and we are ready to wash your car!! I will be there helping, along with my 3 boys.  It should be a warm weekend (perfect for getting your car washed), so please stop by and invite your friends, neighbors, family, etc…! Let’s see how many cars we can get clean and back on the road so you can enjoy the rest of your weekend.  The address to my office is 7420 SW Bridgeport Rd., Portland OR 97224.  It is right next door to the REI store and the Bridgeport Mall (just off of I-5).  I am certain there will be balloons, signs, supporters, popcorn and drinks so it won’t be hard to miss.

With your hectic schedules surely being filled with either the first week of school, after school kid activities, taking care of the household responsibilities, or somehow finding time to productively work between 8-5 M-F, you may have forgotten the most important moment of your day… taking a deep breath and scheduling in some YOU time.  It is so easy to get caught up in tirelessly giving to others and being enveloped in the hustle and bustle of daily life.  We sometimes forget to enjoy the best moments life has to offer us.  So, my VERY SPECIAL FAVOR to ask of you Hughes Troops, is that you commit to taking a moment RIGHT NOW to enjoy the fun in life, and like me, make today your “Best Day Ever”.  It means a lot to me to hear your commitments and know that I have created an impact in your life… PLEASE POST what it is that you will be doing this day (or weekend) to ensure that you are “Living in the Moment”.  No matter how big or small your commitment is, I would love to know.

I hope to see you at the Car Wash on Sunday

HAVE A KICK-ASS DAY, TROOPS!

What do you think Troops?

Keep FIGHTING FORWARD!!