My Training Partner

Oliver Dillon, my grandson, is my inspiration and my hero. He is 11-years old and is disabled. We do not have a definite diagnosis, but Ollie displays many of the symptoms of Angelman Syndrome. More information on this syndrome can be found at the website shown on the Links page. My oldest daughter, Lisa, is donating a portion of the proceeds from her sale of stationery products to Angelman Syndrome research. See Charming Cards on this website.

Ollie is one of five children of my daughter, Amy, and her husband, Simon. They are wonderful parents, and I am so proud of how they have handled this huge challenge in their lives. Each of Ollie’s four siblings and his extended family of aunts, uncles, grandparents and cousins treat him like every other member of the family, and he loves being around them.

I have assumed a large role in Ollie's life, helping him to receive the care and treatment he needs. He, in turn, has changed my life forever. He has made me sensitive to the needs of the disabled and our obligation to assimilate them into society and help them to realize their full potential. He has helped me put everything in perspective and appreciate what is really important in life, with faith, family and friends at the top of the list. He has made me a better person in ways that are too numerous to describe. Ollie is the sweetest boy on planet earth, and he and I have a special bond that will never be broken. We all give thanks every day that this little treasure was given to us by God 11 years ago.

Ollie is in a special education school and receives intense physical, occupational and speech therapy at school and from private and public therapy service providers. His doctors, teachers and therapists are wonderful. He climbs his own Mt. Everest every day of every week. I have such enormous respect for his courage and stamina. Ollie reached a very significant milestone on his trip to the summit when he started to walk on his own in December of 2006--my best Christmas gift ever.

In 2009, Ollie started having episodes in which his lips and extremities turn blue, his oxygen saturation levels drop dramatically, he shakes and zones out and then collapses and nearly passes out. We admitted him to two hospitals for over 8 weeks, and he was given a battery of tests by doctors in every specialty known to the field of medicine. To date, no one has been able to diagnose the cause of these episodes or prescribe any medicine to stop or mitigate the consequences. In typical Ollie style, he has bravely learned to adapt to his “new normal.” He never complains. I am so proud of him and so privileged to be his grandpa. Despite the frustration at not having answers, we are not giving up. Our next step is to have him seen by a specialist at a hospital on the east coast. We are hoping for a diagnosis and some treatment options. Please keep Ollie in your thoughts and prayers. He means everything to us.

Ollie helps me train for Mt. Everest. Every Sunday, we take 40-50 mile bicycle trips in the mountains and along the coast. I pull him in a trailer behind my bike. My daughter, Lori, and my son-in-law, Jeff Giger, usually join us. We love spending this time together. Below is a recent video of Ollie before and during one of our recent training runs. Now that Ollie is older, I plan to add a side car to my Harley Davidson Road King Classic so we can go on long road trips.

 

 
Ollie taking some of his first steps 

Ollie and I travel a lot, including hiking, bicycling, trips to Disneyland, trips to local parks and amusement centers, and train rides--he loves the motion and movement of trains. In October 2007, Sharon, Ollie and I took a 5-day round trip train ride from Los Angeles to Seattle on the Coast Starlight. We had a great time.

 

Ollie after completing his safety check on the locomotive

Ollie in his stateroom

Ollie with Papa at lunch

Ollie at dinner with Grammy and Papa

Ollie enjoying the view

Ollie enjoying the view with Grammy

Ollie enjoying the view with Papa

Ollie at the aquarium in Seattle

Ollie with his cousins at the Spaghetti Factory in Seattle

Ollie with Grammy and Papa at the Spaghetti Factory in Seattle

Ollie and Papa walking along the wharf in Seattle

Best buddies relaxing in the hotel room in Seattle

On June 8, 2008, Ollie and I entered a 5K race.  We took first place in my age category.

Ollie & Papa Win a 5K Race

Ollie and Papa bicycling along the Pacific Coast Highway with the sun setting behind Santa Catalina Island

A painting of the above photo that was given to me by my children and their families for my 66th birthday.

Ollie and Papa--Christmas 2008.

Ollie and Ms. Snelgrove, his third grade teacher

Halloween 2010

Disneyland 2010

Aunt Lori, Ollie & Papa at Cook's Corner

Ollie & Papa at Cook's Corner

Ollie & his Mom and Dad

Ollie & his other Grandpa

Ollie in the hospital

Ollie in the hospital

 

Ollie travels with me to every mountain I climb, in the form of a photograph. God willing, should I stand on the summit of Mt. Everest, Ollie will be standing beside me.