My cousin Austin is 10 years old and has leukemia. There is nothing more they can do. I am sick to my stomach thinking about how sad it is that his life will be cut far too short. Rudd and I have been trying to remember good times with Austin, so I thought I would put them here. Austin is the youngest of four children and is a wild child. He has big eyes and strawberry blond hair. He is definitely wise beyond his years (due in part to his cancer). He is such a character and has such a great imagination.
He entered a contest through the Tacoma Museum of Glass to create a super hero, and the super hero they picked would be made into a glass statue and travel around the country in an exhibit that showcases children's glass art. Austin created Bacon Boy, he has meat vision and shoots grease out of his armpits! He even has a "nemesis", Fry Guy. Austin says that their families have been feuding for years, what an imagination he has. Well, he won the contest and was there when the artists brought his Super Hero to life. They made two statues, one for the exhibit and one for Austin. I had the opportunity to see it in person, It is amazing.
Here are some of my favorite moments with my cousin Austin:
Around Christmas, he was at OHSU in Portland (he was there for about 10 months straight), and we were making a Ginger Bread House. I was almost eight months pregnant and mixing the icing, but wasn't sitting on the floor with Austin or our cousin Erin. Finally Austin said "you need to get down here and help instead of just giving directions", So I helped make a door and windows with the small gum drops, and was even able to get back up off the floor!
When my cousin Mel got married last October, Austin was sitting next to me while they cut the cake. He said "when I get married, I am going to have a wedding cake made out of donuts, and the twisty one will go on top!"
I was sitting with Austin as he got platelets one day and he was playing with his new cell phone. He had a voice message and didn't know how to check it. I told him you can dial your number and then enter your password. He thought that was way too much work, so the next time his dad called he said "Dad, don't leave leave a voice message for me and tell everyone else not to leave one, it's way too hard to check my messages" I showed him the shortcut to hold down the 1 key and it goes directly to voice mail, he thought that was pretty neat.
When he was younger, he somehow got the mother of all zip ties stuck around his neck! He came walking out of the garage at his house with it on and everyone freaked out. Thank goodness there was enough slack to be able to cut it off.
Just this summer, I was at his house watching him and Drew -my nephew- ride their dirt bikes and four wheelers. Austin was on the phone to a girl. I said is it a friend that's a girl or a "girl friend", he leaned in real close and "she's my girlfriend, but don't tell my mom!" He had the biggest smile on my face, I just laughed!
Through these upcoming difficult days, I am holding on to the special place he has in my heart and praying for his family. I know Austin's family could use all the prayers they can get, so if you can help out, that would be great!
This is a picture of Drew and Austin. It was taken about 4 years ago. They have so much fun together!
This picture was taken this summer in Hermiston at the water park. It was great to spend time with Austin and see him enjoying summer.
