On my way to see Larry Aiken's miracle smile, I saw many other things
Wednesday, March 30, 2011 at 1:13PM 
I had thought that I might wait a day or two or three to go back to town and see Larry. His pre-surgery prognosis was that afterward he would be in ICU for two weeks, would not be able to talk and for most of that time would not even be able to recognize the people who came to see him.
Then, close to 5:00 PM when I was pedaling my bicycle from Metro Cafe, where I shot a nice little series of studies that I will share with you later, my cell rang. I stopped my bike, pulled out my iPhone and the saw the name "Larry Aiken" on the screen.
I knew it could not be Larry and that it was probably his cousin, Percy. Sure enough, it was.
I was kind of scared.
Then Percy told me the surgery had gone extremely well, better than anyone had even dared to anticipate. Instead of moving Larry into ICU, the doctors sent put him on the Fourth Floor. Not only was he conscious and aware of his surroundings, but he could talk. Percy put Larry on.
I was surprised at how strong his voice sounded.
I told them I would come in, somewhere between 8:00 and 9:00. Percy said that would be good, that Larry would be pretty groggy but would know I was there.
So I finished a couple of small tasks, took a shower, ate dinner and hit the road about 7:30.
There were mountains in front of me, but I could go around them, easy enough.
I saw a lady who I do not think was very happy.
I saw soldiers, marching across an overpass. I wondered if any or all of them had been to Iraq or Afghanistan, or if not, might yet go.
The odds seemed pretty high. Fort Richardson has sent many soldiers into battle.
Just before I left home, Margie had the news on and I was a little startled to see coverage on a book signing that was at that moment taking place at the Anchorage Museum of History and Art. It was for the newly published Epicenter book, Eskimo Star - From the Tundra to Tinseltown: The Ray Mala Story, authored by Lael Morgan.
Ray Mala was the first Native American international film star and first gained his fame in the film, Eskimo. Along with Igloo and Last of the Pagans, it is being featured in the Mala Film Festival at the Bear Tooth this evening.
When I entered the museum, I saw the star's son, Dr. Ted Mala, grandchildren Ted Jr. and Galena being photographed by Rob Stapleton.
Dr. Mala practices both western and traditional Iñupiaq medicine and is director of the South Central Foundation, supplier of health care to Alaska Natives and American Indians in this part of Alaska.
Mala's wife, Emma, joined her family for a Rob Stapleton shot.
I took advantage of the situation and shot a family portrait myself.
Rob with Ted Jr. Rob is one of Alaska's more outstanding photographers and he is a friend. It would take a signficant amount of space for me to adequately relate all the ways he helped me and my family make it through our early struggling days in Alaska.
He is also a pilot and an aviation and ultralight aircraft enthusiast.
Lael Morgan signing copies of her book. Lael began her career as a journalist who came to Alaska by sailboat a few decades back and then roamed the entire state. She is the author of Art and Eskimo Power: - the life and Times of Howard Rock and Good Time Girls of the Alaska-Yukon Gold Rush, about the prostitutes who took care of the lonely and desperate men who roamed the north at that time.
Along with Kent Sturgis, she founded Seattle based Epicenter Press and, beginning with the best-seller Two Old Women by Gwich'in author Velma Wallis, they have had several good success stories.
I believe Epicenter was the first of the two dozen or so publishing houses that I tried to interest in the work that became my book, Gift of the Whale: the Iñupiat Bowhead Hunt, A Sacred Tradition. She took a good look at it, told me was very impressive but that if Epicenter published it, "we would be bombed by Greenpeace."
Still, it is not impossible that we could publish a book together in the future. I don't know what the odds of it happening are - ten percent, maybe?
I would have liked to have hung around and talked to Lael, Dr. Mala, Rob and others, but I was in hurry to get to ANMC and see Larry, so I headed for the door.
As I neared it, I came upon Vic Fischer, who was a State Senator when I first met him almost 30 years ago. Before that, he served in the Territorial Legislature and was a delegate to Alaska's constitutional convention. He has remained active in Alaska's political and cultural life and I am pleased to say that whenever I read an editorial that he has written, I tend to agree with him.
He has deflated some absurd nonsense and claptrap in this state, but the purveyors of it have gone on purveying nonsense and claptrap, anyway.
Just as I was about to go through the door and back to my car, I saw that Rob had just got done taking a picture of Elmer, the Yup'ik actor, Galena, and Ossie, Yup'ik musician, poet and actor. They looked altogether too beautiful for me to pass by without taking at least a snap myself, so I did.
Then I stepped through the door and saw a face I had not seen in at least ten years, maybe more: Tom Richards, Native journalist and activist who worked with Howard Rock at the Tundra Times before I showed up.
Can you feel the Alaska history that I passed by in just a few minutes time? One day, my friends, one day... I will figure out how to make this blog and my as yet-to-be created online magazine work and then the stories that I will track down...
I will never get them all. There are too many, and all the authors and photographers and bloggers and facebookers and whoever that are working in Alaska combined to tell stories of this place can never tell them all.
But I will tell a few of them.
A very few. But even that will be something.
Remember... Larry was expected to in ICU, suffering, so heavily sedated that he would not even recognize me if he saw me at all.
This is how I found him - smiling big, and talking in the strongest, deepest, voice that I have heard come out of him for a long time. The terrible pains that have kept him awake at night had eased off.
What happened was a miracle, he told me. And this why he believes that miracle happened: his physican, a woman from Phoenix whose name he could not recall but I will add in later, was not only skilled, but before she operated on him, she prayed, and asked for help. In Barrow, about 20 members of Barrow's Volunteer Search Rescue got together before his surgery, prayed, and sang, "Amazing Grace."
The night before, right after I left, a man came and prayed for him and when he raised his hand Larry says he felt a strong power. There were all the people who had sung for him the night before - and so many who had prayed.
Larry invited me to take this picture so that he could express his thanks to all those who have prayed for him and helped him in anyway. You are too numerous to name, but you know who you are.
Larry said many visitors had already come by. While I was there, he was visited by Harry Ahngasuk and his wife, Sarah Neakok-Ahngasuk of Barrow. That's his cousin, Percy, on the right. Percy has been with him the whole time.
For me, these past several months have been rough - very rough.
But when I visited Larry last night, I just felt joy. Pure joy. I felt so glad. So, very, very happy.
It was excellent to see his story take such a positive turn.
At about 10:30 PM, I left Larry and his guests, stopped to chat in the parking lot with a lady from Anaktuvuk Pass and then drove home. As I came down Lucille Street in Wasilla, I saw that the police K-9 unit was active. Someone was not having a very good time. I know nothing beyond that.
Reader Comments (14)
Excellent news!! What a day.
YAY for LARRY! :0)
I'm really happy Larry is doing well! What an unbelievable miracle. There are still plenty of things to believe in and hope for.
Amazing! So glad to hear this news.. for both of you.
That is just an amazing story about Larry. What good news. I was so glad to read it.
I was very glad to read Larry's news. Praising God in Pennsylvania!
What a beautiful smile Larry has. Thanks for the wonderful news!!
Oh, wonderful news about Mr Aiken!!!!!!!!!
Best wishes to him .
And thank you for the glimpses and stories of so many, many neighbors here on your blog
What a great day! Tell Larry a cancer lady from Iowa is praying for him. I am over-awed by the immense, eternal goodness of God in my own life. I had a special time today getting to visit with a young Mom who had many questions about the Bible. Totally unplanned. Providential time. I hope to see her again. And who knows! Someday she may be praying for her friends and loved ones. When we pray for each other, we love each other.
yes hurray for larry and hurray for bill! and all those beautiful people you documented!
So awesome that Mr. Aiken is doing well....! A big smile is always promising..
And seeing all of these people that you you saw before going to Mr. Aiken's.. I am pretty sure that you know everyone who is someone in Alaska Bill.. You are one popular guy. :O)
good to read Larry is doping so good !!
Such a sweet smile Larry has on his face! Excellant Pic... Its feels great to know that there is still hope around us :)
Amazing Grace...??!! Memories!!
Thank you, everybody. I have been reading the comments to Larry that people have left on my Facebook page and when next I see him, I will read these ones too.
Yes, Suji... that memory always comes back with Amazing Grace.