Living the Dream

For ten years, life in Hawaii was everything I could have hoped for — surfing, sailing, and soaking in the island dream.

Born and raised in Newport Beach, California, I’d spent two years traveling through Mexico before finally settling on Maui. I was healthy, full of energy, and ready for whatever came next.

I worked two jobs — holding my real estate license and serving at a beautiful oceanfront restaurant on Front Street in Lahaina called The Oceanhouse. Life was good.

Until one day… it wasn’t.

The Diagnosis

What started as a small earache turned into something much more serious. I went to the doctor, thankful I finally had health insurance. He was far more concerned about a bump near where my right ear and jaw met.

After some consultation, he said, “I want to get you into surgery as soon as possible.”

The next day, I was in the operating room at Maui Memorial Hospital. The surgery lasted more than eight hours — and I later learned I had to be resuscitated during the procedure.

When I awoke on Thanksgiving Day, 1984, my head was wrapped in heavy bandages. A week later, when they finally came off, I hardly recognized myself. My face was paralyzed and disfigured.

I looked in the mirror and cried, “I want to die.”

“I Don’t Believe It Has to Be That Way”

Two weeks later, the biopsy came back.

Mucoepidermoid Carcinoma — a fast-moving cancer of the right parotid lymph gland.

My doctor told me I had one to three years to live. The words hit like a hammer. Everything went silent. My life flashed before me.

Then he said something I will never forget:

“I don’t believe it has to be that way.”

Those words planted a seed — one that would eventually grow into faith.

The Spiral

In the years that followed, I lost my way.

The pain, fear, and hopelessness drove me into addiction — and ultimately, prison.

At my lowest moment, with a noose around my neck and no reason left to live, I met my Redeemer.

That encounter changed everything.

A New Life

Forty-one years later, I’m alive — truly alive.

I have a beautiful family, incredible friends, and a meaningful life filled with purpose and impact.

Hope is real. It’s yours.

Everything can change — not through religion, but through relationship.

The Story Continues

If you’d like to know more, you can read more of my story in my blog or find my testimony in the book Testify by Destiny Publishing. Clicking the link below or here PRISONER, you can read and/or download the PDF of my story from the book.

My daughter and I are currently working on my long-awaited autobiography — and I look forward to sharing the full journey soon.