Mixing masa with memories

When I was a kid, there was nothing better than my family getting together to make tamales.

I’m no longer a kid, but that sentiment still rings true today.

Christmas tamales are just one of the many traditions my family’s foundation is built on. Whether it’s Sunday dinners or Christmas Eve parties, the Trujillo’s have a long list.

And out of all of them, our yearly get together to make tamales is at the top. Our family is large. Me, my parents, aunts, uncles, and cousins all live within a short drive from my grandparents’ home, so this Christmas event is quite the affair.

Grandma and grandpa’s house is Mission Control for tamale making. It’s a quaint model home sitting in a modest suburb next to an elementary school in Ahwatukee. During the holidays, Christmas lights are strewn across the trim of the house and an artificial Christmas tree stands proudly in the TV room for all to see.

We normally start making tamales early, around 9 a.m., but that always meant 10 a.m. GST, or Grandma Standard Time. The minute you arrive, the corn smell from the masa wafts out the front door. And it isn’t long before the sound of the mixer takes over the house.

As you can imagine, with a gathering of more than 12 family members, it gets pretty loud. Whether it’s a debate on whether to use black or green olives or my aunt shouting a reminder about the excessive use of chili, there are plenty of voices filling the air.

Naturally, I take the supervisor/quality control specialist in this operation. Not because I can’t move my hands, but because my palette is too good not to put to work.

Many tamal makers use gloves during this process, but our family chooses to go gloveless. Grandma insists that the juices from our hands add more flavor to the masa. After the masa is made and the chili is set, the mixture is sent through our assembly line of helpers to be wrapped in corn husks and put into a box to be cooked or frozen.

A big part of our yearly tamale tradition is to have some great food for the holidays, but for me, it has always been about so much more.

We aren’t just cooking tamales, we’re spending quality time together as a family. We get to catch up on what’s going on in our lives and share stories. It’s a chance to unwind and learn about our family heritage, and preserve traditions.

I’ll never forget the time when my then 82-year-old grandma was cleaning the corn husks in the sink.

My cousin, Kristina, who was in her early 20s at the time, was leaning over the counter observing intently and listening to her explain how to make tamales. It was then when I realized how important this tradition truly was.

It allows us to connect with our elders and learn more about our past. It brings generations together over a common love.

For now, my grandparents and parents are the keepers of this tradition. But one day, it will be passed on to our generation. And when it does, we will continue it with pride.

Of course, I will continue my position as the quality control specialist for years to come.

I am participating in 'No Shave November this year

In solidarity with my 12 News TV co-workers, I am participating in "No Shave November" to help raise awareness for men's health.

Here's how you can help support the cause. Help us raise money to support cancer research by donating in honor of your favorite 12 News personality.

All month long, I’ll keep you updated on my beard progress too.

22 years later: My strength may fade, but my hope never will

It’s that time of year. The month of September always brings around mixed feelings for me. Sept. 12, 2019 marks the 22nd anniversary of the day I became a quadriplegic.

I can’t believe it’s been over two decades since I lost my ability to move my arms and legs. It seems like yesterday when I was in the intensive care unit clinging to life. Looking back year after year, it is amazing to think about how I overcame such insurmountable odds. And while that was 22 years ago, my childhood is even farther away.

My life before I became sick seems like it was so long ago. One thing that always scares me is losing my memories from my childhood.

Not the actual memories of past moments, the sensory memories of my childhood. The feeling of the grass on the soccer field. The anxiety and thrill of attending a friends party. Or just simply walking around outside.

I know I had the ability to move around, but as the years go by, it’s harder and harder to remember what it was like to be “normal.”

As the years go by, I’ll continue to look back on my journey over the last two decades and reflect on all I have accomplished. While I may never walk again, my hope to regain my strength will never falter and I will continue to roll wherever life takes me in the meantime.

I can be your 'Unsung' hero, baby

This June, I had the honor of being a recipient of TEGNA’s Unsung Hero Award. The company each year highlights and honors exemplary employees from stations across the company.

My boss nominated me this year and the committee selected me as one of the honorees.

When I heard the news, I was honored and humbled to be considered. My nomination is definitely a team effort. From my incredible co-workers to my amazing family and friends, my success is only possible with their help.

As a person with a disability, inclusion in the workplace is an important goal for me and 12 News has given me the accommodations and opportunities to succeed a thrive in the newsroom.

To learn more about my award, watch the latest episode of my vlog, “Have a Seat.”

Fried fish, a wheelchair and an impromptu handshake

This is a thread about an encounter I experience all to often as a person with a disability.

Yesterday, I was eating dinner at a local fish place with my dad when a man came up to the table and asked to shake my dad’s hand.

“I just wanted to shake your hand and say it’s awesome what you do,” he said. “I have a son with a disability too.”

He then walked away. I’ve been through this before, but every time this happens, which is too many times, I am speechless and annoyed.

I get where he is coming from and he means no disrespect, but he brings forth an important lesson for me to teach my able-bodied counterparts.

I, and every other person with a disability who goes out in public, am not looking for a pat on the back or a gold sticker for doing something so trivial.

ON SOCIAL: Follow me on Twitter

Yes, my dad was helping me eat my delicious fried fish, but he wasn’t looking for recognition. We were simply doing something many fathers and sons do. Spend some quality time together over a good meal.

What’s worse is that he didn’t even speak or recognize me as anything other than a disadvantaged man in a wheelchair. And that is the root of the problem.

He didn’t even realize that I had just got off working an eight-hour day at the office and I wanted to treat my dad to dinner to unwind from a long day.

So the lesson? Yes, I’m disabled. Yes, people help me with most daily tasks. No, living a normal life like everyone else is not some incredible accomplishment that needs your recognition.

If you want to show your appreciation for me and those who help me navigate life, a simple “hello” will do. Above all else, I just want your respect and sense of belonging. No award is necessary.

School, standing frames and Spawn at the Sub-Acute Unit

In episode 2 of Have a Seat, I'm chatting about my time in the Sub-Acute Unit of Phoenix Children's Hospital. I cover everything from my various therapies to how I kept up with my school work.

It was a strange, empowering and difficult time in my life, but in the end, it helped shaped who I am today. From learning to breathe on a ventilator to finishing up my freshman year from my hospital room, there is no shortage of memorable experiences.

During my time at the Sub-Acute Unit, one thing I learned was the importance of patience. I wasn’t going to magically start walking overnight. But if I was going to successfully adjust to being a quadriplegic, it was going to take plenty of hard work and determination.

To give you a better visual from my 8-month hospital stay, here are a few photos. I can’t believe it was over 20 years ago.

Enjoy!

My new vlog is live!

It’s official, I have a vlog!

Lately, I’ve been looking into the idea of vlogging, and I finally took the plunge and joined the YouTube Creator community.

For my first foray, I’m calling my vlog “Have a Seat” and sharing my insights into my life as a person with a disability.

In the first episode, I talk about how I became a quadriplegic and why I may have Acute Flaccid Myelitis.

RELATED: Tempe 1-year-old one of four kids in Arizona diagnosed with AFM in 2018

Watch my premiere episode in the embed below.

The Disabled List: Shane Doan talks retirement, roping and life off the ice

To Arizona hockey fans, he’s simply known as Captain Coyote.

Shane Doan, an Arizona Coyotes legend, recently hung up his skates after 21 seasons with the team. With his hockey career in the rearview and his name at the top of many Coyotes records, Doan begins his new chapter off the ice.

In this episode of The Disabled List, Doan stops by to chat about what it’s going to feel like having his number retired, Coach Doan vs. Player Doan and his love for the sport of roping.

To hear our full conversation, listen on some of your favorite podcast services. Visit the links below to check out the latest episode.

LISTEN: Podbean | Stitcher | Apple Podcasts | Google Play

If you have any questions or comments about The Disabled List podcast, you can contact me on your favorite social media networks like Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

For a schedule of upcoming episodes or listen to previous interviews, head over to 12news.com/thedisabledlist.

Throwback Thursday: My visit home for the holidays

For Throwback Thursday, I have a special video. Here's an old story that was done by 12 News in 1997 about my Christmas visit home while I was in the hospital.

21 years later, I work for that same station.

Here's the package they ran.

The Disabled List: Check out my new podcast!

Hi everyone! It’s been awhile, but I have some exciting news.

If you’ve been following me on social media over the past few months, you have certainly seen me posting pictures of me and my guests for my new podcast, The Disabled List.

From guests like Arizona Diamondbacks legend Luis Gonzalez and Captain Coyote himself Shane Doan, I’ve interviewed several prominent icons from the Valley. And now I’m excited to announce that we’re finally able to officially release the podcast!

LISTEN: Apple Podcasts | Podbean | Google Play | Stitcher

Beginning Nov. 6, you will be able to listen to The Disabled List podcast on iTunes and Podbean. This has been a true labor of love and I’m excited to jump into the world of podcasting.

We’ll be releasing a new episode every Tuesday for the next 10 weeks for the first season. Here’s an embedded player to listen to the first episode featuring singer Whitney Fenimore.

Be sure to take a listen and let me know what you think. You can share your thoughts with me on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Here are a few photos with the guests from season one.