Derek Eugene Swanson

Derek is one of my best friends and has been since we met when i was 19. That was 5 years ago. That would make him 24. Weird. Anyway, i was just thinking about how much i love Derek this weekend cause we spent Friday evening together in Salt Lake. Love HIM!
This is about 6 months or so into our friendship. Wow, blonde hair, no bangs, not so good on me. Also take note of the see thru black shirt (so pretty) and the black leather string fashioned as a choker. Even then i had great style. HA.
this is us about 2.5 years ago at Dereks place in Huntington. I had a burn on my cheek (not a mole or a scar) from Chili blowing up in my face and melting my skin off. So gross. But even with that horrible scab, i still love this picture of us.
When Derek found out he had cancer, i was devastated. I think i was more upset about it than he was. I would talk to him every couple of days and i would end up bawling while he would reassure me everything was going to be okay. I think it should of probably been the other way around. Thats just how great he is/selfish i am. Derek was so courageous and had so much faith and was such an example to me (and everyone else) during that time. I had friends that had never even met him that would read his cancer update blog and were so touched by his good attitude and outlook on life.
Before the last PET scan, a few of us drove to Tahoe to *surprise Derek. It was such a good time, even though i HATE snowboarding with all my heart. His spirits were high, on the wake of finding out if it was a bone marrow transplant or remission....a few days later-Good news! Remission!

*eric spilled the beans on the surprise about 2 weeks before we even left.
this is a picture from Friday night. Arent we so cute? I just love Derek.