This weekend, I got to referee a game of basketball. This was the coolest game I have ever seen, because the players participating where all little guys between the ages of 5 and 7, and they where all in wheelchairs.  They were even talking trash to me, the officiator, I had to tell this guy by the name of DJ, to back off or I would be forced to give him a technical. He responded by telling me to 'just make the right call!'  and that this was the worst officiating game he had ever witness... Man I had a great time.


Then on Sunday, I had the great privilege of being Abel's pacer on a 5 K in handcycles.  That too was a blast! Able could not stop screaming how great of a time he was having. Just goes to show man that life is a beautiful time, we just have to get our butts of the bed and take part on life great experiences. "Enjoy every minute of this life to the fullest", because we never know when life has in stored for us tomorrow.  


I love all these little guys and I hope to see them grow up and become bad asses in everything they do.
 
 
Today I got a chance to share with Mesa College a bit about my life and the trip of a life time to Antarctica.  I was in the same building I once saw Robert Swan giving his motivational adventure, except for I was the once standing in the podium this time.  I really enjoy sharing with everyone and I hope that I made an imprint in someone's life.  I really hope to be able to use my story and inspire people to keep living and enjoying life... I have my goals and my challenges, maybe that is what life is all about, finding purpose in life is something I constantly think about, I think about these things because it's so amazing to me how one thing leads to another... 
 
 
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I was invited to this conference by the lovely Audrey Peterman to engage people of color and motivate more outdoor experiences.  Robert Swan called me up and told me Audrey would be contacting me and when she did, I should give her my video experience from Antarctica.  Well after viewing the video, I was invited to Atlanta, Georgia to participate in a panel discussion.  I flew in With Sara and went to work, I had to miss school for a week, which I ended up paying for afterwards but the experience was well worth it.  I was interviewed by a couple magazines and got to do a live interview by CNN en espanol.  CNN was very cool and I was very happy to have met the crew.  Because of this live interview, I was contacted by family I had lost track of from Mexico, they where able to contact me through facebook and I was extremely happy to hear from them.

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This experience was amazing.  Playing basketball in Mexico City... I never thought I would get sponsored to play internationally. 
I got invited to represent Baja California in these Nationals, where the best of the best play in Mexico, and man where they good! We played 3 times a day and pretty much ate, rested, and played ball. 


The facility was great, El Paralimpico was all fenced and guarded 24/ 7, we had to ask permission to go out and enjoy the city, -which was great by the way.  There where every sport imaginable and everyone got along, there were plenty of 'Ganas' to enjoy life in this place. I wonder why we San Diegans don't have a place like this here?  There are two dog beaches here!..  So, why can't there be a place where disabled can participate in athleticism and all the sports imaginable to paras and quads.  Why not? uwhat would it take for someone to fund this?  Or start this idea and present it to the city?... 
 
Post Title. 09/18/2009
 
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Man! what a tournament... I got invited to play on a 3 on 3 with Willie and Dan the shark altan.  We were committed to take 1st place, but the competition was very tough. Nevertheless, I took the final shoot to defeat the furious competition -it took for ever, we were in over time and no one could score, I finally went to pick for Altan, and he got double team instantly, right then I stopped around the free throw line, got the pass from Altan and scored.  It was Great! and AC Green from the Lakers was watching us the entire time.  
 
Enjoying Life 07/26/2009
 
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Discovery Bay
It's been a good summer,  after a month of treatments, I am feeling more pain and sensation on my legs,  I can trigger spasms and my legs grew bigger and stronger since I been here.  I am working out by riding my bike early in the morning, going to the gym and working the upper body and finally, riding my bike again and walking a lap around the building complex.  I miss been at home with my love but,  we both knew I had to do this...


I also had to recently get my toe nail removed because it was ingrown, the same one I had removed a year ago, the only diffeance was that I felt more tingly, pins and needles this time.  

Finally, my mom got really sick after a longer  walk trying to keep up with this lady.  She was so tired that she had chest pains, and I ended up taking her to the ER in Davis.  She ended up being only sore, but she does have to take it easy and gradually up-her workouts.  I am very proud of my moms because of her great! progress, it's only been 4 months after 5 heart bypasses and already she is walking long distances and trying to compete with the naighborhood walk
 
 

Decided to move back to Brentwood CA this summer because I met a new chiropractor who claims he can get me to stand up on my own through therapy using "correct traction" and nerve regenerating lasers.  He gave me a deal I couldn't refuse because he knows and likes my mom's and sister.  He made really good sense to me about his practice and what he can do for me.  Sara and I decided this would benefit me and should act on it! 


Moving to Brentwood was shocking to me,  I got in on a Sunday and got sick because the heat is just intense,  then on Monday,  I signed up for school in Los Medanos College, Brentwood branch.  I registered to take a pre-calculus class which was not making sense to me (the acelerated class in the summer time).  Still I remembered of the time I lived here and the hard labor I had to indure;  landscaping, window washing, washing cars, carpentry and at Sears one time.  I didn't like it one bit, in fact landscaping in the heat sucked! I decided then I would rather be doing anything else than doing that.  So pre-calculus and the braking head aches didn't sound too bad after all...


I hope this therapy will at the very least wake up my quads and from there I can ride a bike (the greatest thing in this planet) and work my legs to another level.  Already I noticed my quads where hurting at another level after my first day,  it was like a staving pain, it made me grunt and sweat pretty hard, even after riding my stationary, in the past riding my stationary is what took the pain away but this time it didn't matter and the pain multiplied to the third exponent...



 
 

It has been a while since my new blog, but it seems I'm always busy doing something and when I get some free time, I want to spend it working out or rehabbing my legs.  I now realize that so much happens in my life that I should make it a habit to blog something every week,  just so that I don't forget what when on in my life.  


Shortly after Spring brake,  my mom got very sick, she ended up getting a mild heart attack and doctors had to operate in the Children's Hospital up in Davis CA.  Martha ended up getting 5 bypasses on her heart and from that she had some liquid build up in one of her lungs so, another operation was needed because she couldn't breath.  I stayed in the hospital with moms for a week and half until I took her home.  I remember her struggle when climbing the stairs to her apartment home that night,  I never saw my  mom struggle that much I realize how lucky my moms was to come out good out of that surgery and the long road of therapy that she had in front of her.  My aunts Susi and Gloria stayed with moms to take care of her while my brother and sister took the obligation of dealing with rent and the bills.  Today,  Martha is here with me and she went on a very long walk.  I watched her carefully for symptoms that might hurt her but it has been close to two months and I think she can push her self more.  I was very proud of her today because she didn't give up and was walking up hills and down some crazy hills, something she had never done before.  She is my new working out buddy and walks with me first and then I roll around and walk with her,  afterwards, we have  a great meal and on to the next workout.  Her sugar levels have been better then ever (79 after working out)  and I only see improvement from here on and no more pills in the future.  

 
 

Dinner with Mesa's best of the bests was an incredible night!  I felt like it was my turn to show everyone my appreciation by standing up and walking towards the president and giving her a big hug. Just my way of saying thankyou for believing in me and all the wonderful support, from her and my new family -Mesa.


I got emotional because President Cepeda did too and I was happy to walk in front of her.  I wanted to express that I was supposed to die on Sep. 1, 2006, but instead I survived and I smiled.  Then I was told I would never walk again but again I smiled and with the help of full legged braces and Ganas! I walked in front of everyone today smiling.  Then doctors told me I couldn't go to the Antarctic because it was too dangerous, with the help of Robert Swan and Mesa College, I made it to the great continent. So what is next? the only thing that I am dying to do is ride my bike to school. It is what I dream of every night I go to sleep and what a great experience and motivation it would be for all of the students if I rode to Mesa College one day...







 
Post Title. 04/29/2009
 

On Saturday April 25, Mesa College held the 1st 3 on 3 wheelchair basketball tournament and lecture on the Inspire Antarctica Expedition 2009.  I must say I had the time of my life, playing basketball with all of my friends and talking on my wonderful experience is a moment I will remember for ever.


I want to thank everyone who came out, it was really fun and this event is to create the "Hermes Castro grant" to the next student who transforms his disability in to an ability.  I think education is very important and this is my way to show my support and 'pay it forward'. 

I hope I can start something with this event and maybe do it every year.  I would like to have something like a 3 on 3 tournament with a trophy to recognize the winner of the event.  I have not heard of such an event here in San Diego and I would love to start something like this for everyone to participate on or sh