I Made a Blog at BYU

Going off of my last post, here is a quick thing I wrote for my bio class at the beginning of the year.

Michael Anderson Anderson 1

Professor Adams

Biology 100

September 3, 2015

Why Am I Here?

While I was walking through the Education In Zion exhibit it became very evident to me that I was attending a University unlike any other in the world. Like President Gordon B. Hinckley said in 1992, “This is a world-class university, a great temple of learning where highly qualified faculty instruct a large and eager body of students. These teachers impart with skill and dedication the accumulated secular knowledge of the centuries while also building faith in the eternal verities that are the foundation of civilization.” That is exactly why I came here.

Nowhere in the world can I learn outstanding secular curriculum that far exceeds the vast majority of other universities, while also being taught the doctrines of the restored gospel and understand them both by the spirit of God. And I believe this is the exact reason education is such a priority for the church. They want to teach us secular knowledge so we can be successful and have the means to start a family and fulfill our life on earth, while educating us of the eternal truths of the gospel. The Lord expects me in Biology class as well as all of my classes to apply myself both mentally and spiritually. My time here will help prepare me to build the kingdom of God because an education prepares me to be a missionary, a bishop or high councilman, or any other duty the church requires.

For me my faith really influences the way I learn and practice science. It makes me have so much appreciation for the detail and beauty of God’s creation. It excites me to see how life works together in such harmony and to know that it was all part of God’s plan.

Michael Anderson Anderson 1

Sister Steadman

Writing 150

October 24, 2015

Is Disease All Bad?

The Positive Impact Disease Has on the Family

On December 28^th, 1961 my uncle Chuck Anderson was born at Utah Valley Hospital. Chuck was born with what appeared to be “popped blisters” on his knee, his hand, and his foot. The doctors thought these ailments were merely infected birthmarks so they washed him and dressed him as they would any other baby. By morning, his body was covered in water and blood blisters. Franticly the doctors searched for the cause of the problem because they had never encountered anything like it. After 24 hours of waiting in a panic, my grandparents finally received the doctors’ diagnosis. Chuck had a severe skin disease called Epidermolysis Bullosa. Although they didn’t know at the time, this news would drastically change the course of their lives and give rise to countless trials and tribulations.

Background

Epidermolyisis Bullosa (EB) is a very rare genetic connective tissue disorder that affects one child out of every 20,000 births, which means about 200 children are born with EB every year. (What is EB 1) It is characterized by fragile skin along with subsequent blistering, erosions, and scarring. (Lin 1) Both my uncle Chuck and my aunt Christine, born 16 years later, suffered from the most severe form of this disease. EB is caused by a genetic defect where the protein that connects the top two layers of skin is

Anderson 2

missing. This is like having no “glue” to hold the skin together, which results in the skin tearing or blistering with the slightest friction. (Dures et al. 2) When Chuck and Christine were babies, their skin was so fragile that lifting them under their arms completely removed the skin. Pants rubbing on knees and the pressure of shoes caused blisters and sores. (Anderson 1) Try to imagine a person with wounds very similar to burns covering most of his or her body. However, unlike burns, these wounds never go away. Bathing was the most challenging part of their lives. Not only were the baths excruciating, but also they were long, lasting two to three hours. The bandages around their wounds had to be soaked off because they often stuck to the sores. Clorox water was then used to cleanse the wounds. Because towels caused too much friction, my grandma had to use a blow dryer to dry their skin. After this already exhausting process, she would then cover their wounds with antibiotics and bandages. The final step was a soft gauze wrap that covered their bodies almost head to toe. Another awful aspect of EB is the result of scarring. Children with EB have to have strict diets that consist of liquids and soft foods; otherwise scarring will occur in the mouth and esophagus. Scarring also causes the fingers and toes to fuse, making the hands like closed fists, which severely limits function. (EB Kids 1) There may be no other disease that brings more unrelenting suffering than that of Epidermolysis Bullosa. But in spite of the suffering that Chuck and Christine endured, they were amazing in their ability to find meaning and joy in their lives. Because of their incredible bravery, my aunt and uncle impacted my family and others in three significant ways: (1) they helped my grandparents see the good in

Anderson 3

mankind; (2) their courage strengthened and inspired my family and all who knew them; and (3) they inspired my grandmother to found the first EB research foundation.

Disease Reveals the Good in Mankind

The time and money required to raise and care for Chuck and Christine was immense. My grandpa was originally considering becoming a professor, but had to abandon that option and put himself through law school because he knew they were going to need more money to raise Chuck. With my grandpa going through school and later working a demanding schedule, my grandma had to do most of the caretaking on her own. Raising two kids with EB was overwhelming and exhausting enough, but she had my dad and two other adopted children to care for as well.

Growing up was hard for Chuck and Christine because they couldn’t do the things healthy kids did for fun, such as riding bikes and playing sports. However, this didn’t stop them, especially Chuck. Even as a young boy, Chuck always showed astounding confidence. He was never afraid to introduce himself and talk to people. Because of this confidence, along with his debilitating disease, people were drawn to him and wanted to help. My grandparents witnessed countless kindnesses and accommodations on Chuck’s behalf that made his life more enjoyable. The staff at the Oakland Airport let him sit in the control tower and watch planes take off. Owners of fancy San Francisco restaurants welcomed his frequent visits and insisted on paying for his meals. A prominent radio talk show host brought Chuck on as a regular Friday co-host and often took him to dinner before or after the shows. And the Oakland Police Department even allowed him to ride in the police helicopter. Not only did people do these amazing things for Chuck, but more

Anderson 4

importantly, they befriended him and showed him love. The many gestures of kindness and compassion toward Chuck strengthened my grandparents at times when they needed it most, and they reinforced my grandparents’ belief that small acts of service can bless lives tremendously. Because of this, my grandmother began consciously seeking to help people in little ways. By looking beyond her own needs and problems, she found healing. In an interview with my grandmother she said, “I look back now and wonder why it took me so long to plug into the message of the gospel - - that we will find ourselves serving others.” Service was a therapy that caused the grief in my grandmother’s life to greatly diminish. Her discovery of this gospel truth helped to instill important virtues such as kindness, compassion and empathy in my own family. I see them expressed by my mom and dad every day, and I consciously try to incorporate them in my own life. I also recognize, however, I am nowhere near where I can and should be. I have to remind myself every day to pay more attention to the needs of others and to find ways to brighten their lives – as so many people did for Chuck and Christine. When I approach life in this way, it not only benefits those I serve, but also brings me greater personal peace and happiness.

Courage Inspires and Strengthens the Spirit

Even at age 12, Christine showed incredible strength and courage. When going to school, she would wince in pain while putting her backpack on over her shoulders. Her backpack caused awful sores and often tore skin, but Christine put on a brave face. My grandmother would beg Christine to let her carry it, but she refused because she wanted to fit in and feel like everyone else. Another example of Christine’s bravery was on her

Anderson 5

deathbed at age 14. My mother, my older sister (five years old at the time) and my older brother (one year old) went to visit her in the hospital. In excruciating pain, she removed the oxygen mask from her face before they got there so she wouldn’t scare my young siblings. Despite all of her suffering, she was more worried about frightening my brother and sister than she was about her own life.

Chuck’s and Christine’s examples of courage, perseverance, and steadfastness have provided me and the rest of my family with important perspective. In times of adversity or disappointments, we are reminded of how beautifully Chuck and Christine handled much greater struggles. Through it all, they were able to maintain a positive outlook and find joy and meaning in their lives. When we think of how much pain and suffering they endured, it makes the problems we face seem trivial. When I was a young boy I would cry and whine if I didn’t get to go to a friend’s house. When Christine and Chuck were little, they went to school with open wounds covering 75% of their bodies. I am thankful I have the perspective now to realize how unimportant the problems I have really are. Not only does it help me get through stressful times, but it increases my desire to help those who are facing far greater obstacles to overcome.

Another way Chuck and Christine strengthened my family was through their unwavering faith in God. Through all of the relentless pain they faced, it would have been easy for them to blame God. They never did. They always knew that God loved them, that he was looking after them, and that they would someday return to him – healthy and pain-free. Their faith strengthened and comforted those around them. My grandmother said in an interview for a Mormon women’s website, “I think life with

Anderson 6

Christine and Chuck was a spiritual journey for all our family. Not one of us could have accepted the sadness of their lives had we not known there was a life beyond mortality where they would enjoy bodies free from pain.” The testimony of Chuck and Christine increased their own desire to fight, and it allowed my grandparents to feel joy that would have otherwise been impossible to feel. Because of the courage they showed during their lifetime, Chuck and Christine helped cement the gospel in my family today. I am sure that my family would not be as close, happy or successful without the influence of the gospel.

The Foundation

When Chuck and Christine were young, the DEBRA Foundation was the only organization directing its efforts to helping EB families. It was primarily a family-support group with very little funds being directed towards research. Although my grandparents admired the efforts of DEBRA, they wanted to completely eliminate the terrible suffering of EB patients. They believed the only way to do that was to start medical research foundation dedicated to finding a cure.

My grandparents had always taken Chuck and Christine to St. Louis for treatment with Dr. Eugene Bauer, the only researcher of EB in the nation. In 1988, he became the Dean of the Department of Dermatology at Stanford University. (Stanford Dermatology) Dr. Bauer also had a great desire to find a cure for EB and had been focusing on research for a number of years before coming to Stanford. With his new leadership position at Stanford, he decided to attack the disease with a vengeance. He asked my grandparents to partner with him in starting a foundation to raise research funds. In 1991, they established

Anderson 7

the EB Medical Research Foundation, an organization directed solely to the research of Epidermolysis Bullosa. At that time, there were three doctors interested in EB research at Stanford. Because of the success of my grandparent’s foundation, there are now more than 65 people at Stanford working on EB research. The foundation has raised more than 15 million dollars for research. After 20 years of commitment, patience and the hard work of the Stanford scientists, they have received FDA approval for human trials for a gene-therapy treatment, and the first five patients have been successfully treated. Although only small patches of skin have been treated successfully, and there is still a lot to discover before treating the full body, this is a huge step towards a cure.

My grandparents’ foundation has not only helped them feel better through service, but it has provided hope for families that are suffering or have suffered from EB. Hope gives reason for people to keep on fighting.

Conclusion

My uncle Chuck passed away from skin cancer in 1988, at the age of 27. Christine died five years later of heart failure at 14. Even though they were only on this earth for a short time, they managed to leave a lasting and powerful impression on all of us. My family has been, and will continue to be, inspired by their faith and courage, and by the many people who befriended and served them with Christ-like love. Despite the incredible challenges that my grandparents faced in caring for Chuck and Christine, this experience helped them to more clearly see the good in the world and the healing power

of service, compassion and empathy. These principles have been passed down to me and my family and they influence our daily actions.

Anderson 8

Chuck and Christine also impacted my family by showing courage in the face of ceaseless suffering. They have given my family gratitude in health, as well as perspective on the important things in life. My aunt and uncle have embodied faith to me, and have strengthened my testimony. I have learned that my daily troubles are miniscule and that with God’s help I can be strengthened.

Chuck and Christine were the reason my grandparents created the EB Medical Research Foundation. This foundation has been extremely successful and gives hope not only to our family, but to everyone affected by this disease.

I am so thankful for my Uncle Chuck and Aunt Christine. In their short lives they have made more of an impact than I could ever hope to make. I am amazed and inspired by their faith and their courage, and I will always try to maintain those virtues in my own life.

I Made a Blog at BYU

Friday, December 4, 2015

Last Post! :) :(

Favorite Christmas Movie?

ALMOST TIME

Warriors

Thursday, December 3, 2015

Why Am I Here?

BYU Food

Wednesday, December 2, 2015

The Positive Impacts Disease Has on the Family