GT in Perspectiive

[Vince H]

Your path through life is a triumph of the human spirit. God's Grace from my family to yours.

Vince H

 

[JCO1966]

When I was 15 years old I was diagnosed with Glioblastoma Multiforme 4 brain cancer. I was given 30 days to live without surgery, and 6 months max with surgery. That’s if I survived the 20hr surgery. We decided to prolong my life as much as possible and agreed on the surgery. They removed a tumor that was the size of a man’s fist. Below is my actual MRI. I was searching a couple years ago to see what improvements had been made and stumbled across it.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glioblastoma_multiforme


This all came about because I went to a doctor for headaches and within 48 hours I was laying on a hospital bed waiting to go into surgery the next morning. That night I accepted death at the age of 15. It was a very cold, heartbreaking experience.
The next morning they wheeled me back and went to work. I made it out and after a few weeks I went straight to the next level of Hell….Chemo and Radiation treatments. Sick, frail, having seizures, and knew I was dying. The only thing I found peace in was car magazines. They were all I had. I didn’t want my friends to see me in the condition I was in, so I was alone…a lot. But the car magazines gave me an escape. I dreamed of a brand new Mustang and Camaro. It kept my spirits up and minimized the realty that I was going to be dead soon.

One evening after I was home for a few weeks in-between treatments I was lying in bed and my dad came into my room. He asked me to help him for a minute. I felt horrible but followed him to see what he needed. We went out the front door towards the driveway and my eyes were very sensitive to sunlight so I couldn’t see very well. But there was something very bright in the driveway that was blinding me and I finally was able to focus.

It was a brand new 1991 white Z28 Camaro! It was one of the cars that I dreamed of so many times in the hospital bed. For that brief moment I didn’t have Cancer……I wasn’t dying……..things in my world were perfect. My parents or other family members would take me for rides in it, even let me sneak in a short drive every now and again. It gave me a sense of pride and normality.
So weeks turned to months, and months to 1 year. There started to be hope that I may beat the odds and live longer than they thought. But it was still certain death. The doctor bills kept pilling up and my dad had to sell the Camaro to pay bills. It was hard for me but I understood.
Then one year turned into two…. and so on. The battle was long and hard but, I was beating the Cancer. It had taken my teenage years and a lot of my health, but it never broke my will to survive. I was so far behind in school I had to get my GED. Then I got a job in the Oilfield and worked through the ranks and eventually become a business owner. I now own several businesses and have achieved a lot of milestones in my life.

None more important than my marriage and two beautiful boys. One is 5 and he is starting kindergarten this year. The other is 8 months old. That is important for the obvious reasons, but much more to me. Beside the fact that I am supposed to be in a box, they told me many times after I was beating the odds that I would not be able to have children. Luckily for me it didn’t scare my wife away when I explained to her that I could not give her children.

All my life I have had a lust for cars. They have been my passion; they have kept me alive when I was dying. They have been my relief when stress was unbearable in business. So cars have been a part of who I am all my life. And ever since I have gotten involved with Ford GTs and this community, the GT has become just as special to me as that 1991 Z28. Obviously for different reasons, but still just as special.

Why am I telling my story on a car forum??

Maybe some have let their desire to get a new GT become so significant in their life…..they forgot about their many blessings. Even though getting the opportunity to purchase a new GT is the pinnacle of my car experience, its value in my life is safely tucked where it should be.
If you were denied and are so emotionally distraught that you feel you have to lash out at Ford, look around your life and take stock. Because you are missing out on a lot of important things. There are many things in life that are so simple, yet so precious that we take for granted. Health being one.

I am just happy to be here to enjoy the ride……….:thumbsup

Amen and God Bless you! Very well said! It is so easy to forget how blessed we all are!

 

[THamonGT]

Thank You for sharing your Blessed Story with all of us on the Forum. You have brought all of us back to what reality really is and what should be # 1 on everyone's list and its not an Automobile. Blessings come in small and large packages but being able to recognize them when they happen makes the person stronger in his faith. Well said my Friend, Thank You.

 

[WildWest]

Thank you for sharing your story with us and for the reminder of what is truly important in life. God Bless you and your family!

 

[ByeEnzo]

God bless you brother! My wife had stage 3 ovarian cancer in '05. 5 surgeries, chemo, hair falling out (that's why I shaved my head in support...stayed with it). Bought the GT after she healed up. Celebratory gesture at that time. Life is good.

 

[donnymac]

Champions win. Heroes beat death. Each at God's will. You are both.

When did you learn how to write?

Call me.

 

[txviper]

Wow! Thanks for all the kind words and blessings everyone!

The intent of telling my story was to hopefully help people look back at their trials and triumphs in life and put things in perspective. But I knew if I didn't share mine it would probably go on deaf ears. I didn't expect to get such warm responses!

 

[txviper]

I witnessed my nephew at 18 battle the same tumor a few years ago, he lost the battle. Yours is a amazing story and puts it all into a correct perspective! Thanks for sharing!

I'm sorry Gene, and I am sorry for his parents. It pisses me off every time I hear this. I gave the rated PG version of my story because there is nothing graceful or majestic about dying of cancer.

 

[txviper]

God bless you brother! My wife had stage 3 ovarian cancer in '05. 5 surgeries, chemo, hair falling out (that's why I shaved my head in support...stayed with it). Bought the GT after she healed up. Celebratory gesture at that time. Life is good.

Very awesome! When you make it through something like this, 99% of anything thrown at you is a cake walk. Congrats!

 

[jaxgt]

Your story is very special and extra inspiring to me. As someone who in my professional career has taken the fight to cancer every working day, it is all the more meaningful. I have seen too many GBMs in my work, and lost friends to them. I am so glad you beat the odds. I always tell folks, some people do. Stay well and enjoy life. It is far too short for all of us. Cars are mere toys. Though very fun ones.

Friends and family, and helping others, be they people or even animals, is what matters most IMHO.

 

[GT35065]

Incredible story, thank you for sharing. Can't imagine what you must have felt at 15 and what you've been through. My older and only brother survived a terrible battle with leukemia last year. He had a year and a half of hell and a bone marrow transplant with my sister who luckily was a 100% match for him. Even with that his odds were 50/50. Cars are a blast, but perspective is important.

 

[68Rcodeman]

Wow! God Bless you and your family. I hope that everyone that enters this forum with joy's and disappointments of the chase for the NFGT gets the chance to read this. I don't read every new post but am very glad to have read this one.Thank you for sharing for sure!

 

[fjpikul]

You sir, are one hell of a statistic.

 

[PL510*Jeff]

I truly appreciate that you posted your "GT in Perspective". I pray your life will be long, with continued good health.

Most of us have not experienced anything close what you've endured. You have won the "lotto" of life. Anything else is a bonus.

 

[shesgotlegs]

What an inspiration you are and how you've truly reminded us of what is important in life.

I thank and wish you only the best in what life has to offer!

Terry

 

[Ed Sims]

You are amazing txviper. A hero in my eyes!

Ed

 

[B.M.F.]

Amazing story!! Cars are truly an amazing thing to love!

 

[FENZO]

Helluva thing to go through. You hear the Ford guys say it a lot.... Family.
Everything else is gravy.

 

[1418]

Thank you for sharing...

 

[Triheart7]

Thank you for such an amazing post. Your story puts a lot of things in perspective.

When we drive around in our exotic cars we are all on display to the world. Sometimes it is great to be reminded how lucky we are, and how insignificant our "burdens" can be. A dose of humility is a good pill for all of us to swallow from time to time.