I enjoy writing, putting it out there in a way that could positively impact others when they hear our story. I'm not afraid to tell ANY friend that I love them. And I still hunt, shoot, fish, dress game, hike, ski, and am a licensed captain and hold a CDL A. I'm 57 and have at least 10 friends, my age or younger, who succumbed to cancer, heart disease and accidents. Our trip here is short, I aim to have zero regrets. Thank you for your kind words.
I love this, thank you for sharing your story! Life is delicate, family and friends are everything hold them close! @Ford Motor CompanyFirst and foremost, another thanks to the dozens of people who offered words of encouragement and prayers for my wife. Several people have suggested, so after eight canceled build dates I'm asking for your help. Here is our story if you care to read it, and the very scary but happy ending of recent events. @Ford Motor Company, if you have a way of building her truck, if you need me to do something please reach out to me. I know its just a truck but it means a lot to us. I know that Ford Motor Company has had horrendous problems with this rollout, many of them outside of your control. She has been to hell and back and I really want to make her feel special with this new truck. Even if you can just PROMISE November first is really going to be her build week. That would be enough. And for the record, not looking to skip my place in line, everyone deserves to get the truck they've been promised. Super happy for those who are already enjoying theirs and bummed for those who haven't come yet. Hope we see you in the woods and mountains soon. PEACE, Michael
For those who hadn't seen my original posts:
I mentioned in a different thread, the backstory of my Bronco purchase. My wife of 24 years is a breast cancer survivor. It was a brutal fight, she is 6 years out and is doing mostly OK. If you are married to any cancer survivor, you know the battle. When they announced the Bronco build my wife fell in love with the truck. We looked it over online and after some discussion we decided it was too impractical and too expensive, (at least thats what I told her). What I didn't tell her was that I made a reservation on day two for a two door Outer Banks in Antimatter Blue. The 2.7 and a few other extras including a roof rack for her Stand Up paddle boards and Kayaks. She works in the ski industry and spends the summer paddling with girlfriends, some who are in cancer treatment, some who are cancer survivors. A lot of them look up to her for all she's been through, for advice and support. She's been driving minivans for the last 20 years hauling our kids around and she thinks she is getting a used Honda CRV in the fall. If the truck arrives in time I'm giving it to her on our anniversary in August. She deserves to drive something cool, something to make her feel young again. I'm making arrangements to do the reveal at the top of our ski mountain after a chairlift ride to the top. If you know us, mums the word. I'll be sure to video the event and share it here. All this waiting is so brutal, thought I'd share something fun with others who are also looking forward to the day their new ride arrives.
Update! Fingers crossed as far as I can tell she doesn't know its coming. The ski mountain gave me permission to drive it to the top to do the reveal there. Our current build week is August 16th, praying. Bought wheels and tires 4 months ago, had them mounted and balanced at our single bay garage in town today. Hoping this blue is the same blue as the flake in Antimatter Blue. Or close. Didn't want to wait and discover they weren't available. I also recieved my thanks for waiting patiently sticker and poster from Ford today. I really hope the schedule stays, this is killing me. Hope you all are well and more are recieving their trucks and build dates, PEACE Michael
And just recently:
Some of you may know, some may not. Our family had an incredibly frightening scare, starting three weeks ago. Maureen had three ER visits due to excruciating chest pain and difficulty breathing. A CT scan found 4 nodules on her lungs that the radiologist and ER Dr. thought was metastatic breast cancer. A PET scan taken 2 weeks later confirmed that diagnosis, CANCER. We were shattered and scared. We showed up for a needle biopsy of the largest tumor on Monday. This was to determine what type of cancer it was, metastatic breast cancer or a new primary lung cancer so the chemo meds and treatment approach could be dialed in. I had researched survival times for metastasized breast cancer that had spread to the lungs and it was horrible. Either result was bad. The results came Friday, October 1st. Maureen's new birthday. The tumor was NOT CANCER, but a condition that can be relieved with Prednisone. The nodules will most likely go away. Maureen and I, my family and friends all thought that she had lung cancer for over three weeks.
SO IT BRINGS ME TO THIS. Thinking the end is way closer than you ever imagined possible changes everything. Not a single one of us is forever. I can't tell you how it should change you, but I really hope this experience sticks with me so I can keep a better perspective. Please just think about it, for a moment, pull it into you and yours and examine how it would impact you.
I LOVE MY FAMILY. I cannot count the number of people who propped me up, listened to me and Maureen cry. They don't all have our same blood but they are definitely family. Thank you so much for the calls and visits. All three of my boys stood tall and strong, taking care of their responsibilities and supporting their mom. I am blessed. Maureen. My rock, the center of my family and my whole world. The toughest, strongest, most positive person I know. Up all night fighting excruciating pain and a hospital visit? Lets set the alarm for 6am and go to work. (I'll be fine, I'll bring my happy meds with me) You are crazy insane amazing, I and our boys are so lucky to have you. I love you so much. The picture in the post is sunrise on Hogback Mountain, on the way to the lung biopsy at Dartmouth. I had been crying while driving there, worried. We get to the top and she says "OH! it's so pretty, lets stop and take a picture!" I really didn't want to look into the camera, and I remember worrying how much time we had left. And she is smiling. Maureen, you are a crazy beautiful, amazing woman. I and everyone who knows you are blessed. I promise to soak up every second of every moment we have.
Sincerely
The luckiest guy ever.
I cannot put into words what it was like to rush my wife to the ER 3 times, to be told in an exam room at 3am that her cancer was in her lungs. To fear we only had months or a couple years. And then, three weeks later, to be told it WAS NOT cancer. I really hope you remember that every day in your interactions with your wife. Every day, even with problems, is a blessing. I suspect by your comment you already know.
I wish I could show her what you wrote tonight, #hugsforMaureen. She is an amazing woman, loved by so many. She is employed at our local ski mountain, 30 years, now the ski school director. Many call her Mama Mo. When she first got sick our friends put on a benefit dinner at the mountain. They had to stop selling tickets when they reached 450 because that was what the venue held. More people bought tickets just to help us even though they wouldn't be served. I am so lucky.
August 18th was 17 years since my wife lost her mother to lung cancer. She was an amazing woman I never had the privilege of meeting. She was an educator and decided to open a small private school that my wife runs and I maintain to this day. When she came through the door I gave her the longest of hugs. But only told her why after the kids went to bed. She cried her eyes out. She said she canāt believe a car site has me thinking of things like this. She asks that you thank Maureen for that wonderful hug.
