While Friday the 13th may be a bad luck day for most people,to me it is one of the best.Six years ago to the day I was diagnosed with squuamus cell carcinoma of the throat and lymph glands. After an operation that was supposed to take 2 hours(it took nearly 8)and a lot of complications;plus radiation therapy 5 days a week for two months along with once a week chemotherapy,I had a whole new perspective on life;mainly I still had one. In the ensuing years, the after-effects of the treatments have created a mul***ude of new problems,but they pale in comparison to the alternative. I know there are a lot of survivors here on the board and this post is essentially directed at them.For those who have yet to experience this;know that there is a life after it. Just letting everyone know how great it is to be alive.
Glad to see you're sticking around. I'd miss your artwork. And somebody has to love them Safaris. overspray
Congrats! My sweetheart just hit her 7year mark cancer free...you aint alone! mine goes back in for her check up August 2nd...she always gets nervous bout this time...
Ray, thanks for posting this. As you know you've shared this with me before and I'm glad to hear it again. One thing we share is the fact we both shouldn't be here. With you it's cancer and with me it's incompetent stupidity. On July 13, 1988 I stepped under a new industrial garage door. One second later it collapsed on me and sent me to a 3 1/2 year stay in the hospital and another year in a rehab hospital learning how to walk, dress myself, write my name, and basically relearn everything it took me a childhood to learn. Nothing like 7 brain operations to give you a new perspective on life and an appreciation for EVERY day this side of the gr***. Like you it's changed my life and makes a lot of things a real challenge. I'm grateful to just be here. Frank
Ray - You da man! How are you feeling these days? You were under the weather about a month back - trust you are feeling better. Any day above ground is a good day...Trust you'll be able to come on over and stripe the Roadster one of these days! Take care man - you're one inna million!
'Knut, I've always enjoyed your posts, especially your insights into the early East Coast scene...never realized there was more to your own story. Cheers to all the survivors. Cris
Your my hero Ray.....and I want to thank you for the "small message" about a month back.... I misplaced your number and would love to yack. Call me.....you talented sunna***un! Jeff
Ray, We all have things in our lives that make us realize what is really important in life. Good health for ourselves and our loved ones is certainly one of them. Its been two years now since my son had is brain tumor removed and I think about that every day and am thankfull that he is still around. And we are all happy that you are still around Ray!
Good on ya best of health from here on in yes the alterintive is not good but glad you here !!!!!!!!!!!!
Thanks Safari and Frank! We all, on occasion, need a dose of reality and a whole lifetime of dreams. To your health!
Glad to hear you're doing well and for sending out the message that the Big 'C' can be beat. My son-in-law, lunnati_c on here, was diagnosed with throat cancer about the same time - six years ago. Doctors told him he had a 14% survival rate. He beat the odds and is doing well. He just got through building a 48'x60' barn, almost entirely by himself.
Ray, We've never met, but I've seen you around for years. Glad to hear your still here and makeing the world a much more colorful place. I think that some of the never give up at***ude that it takes to actually finish a hot rod project bleeds over into the physical and spiritual being when needed. One day at a time. Reminds me that I haven't seen our friend Spike in a long time...I need to go check on the cantankerous old ***hole .
Ray -- You're an inspiration to more people than you could ever imagine. Besides that, you're one hell of a striper/sign painter/raconteur/license plate restorer.
From one survivor to another . . . congratulations. I celebrated the 17th anniversary of my last chemotherapy treatment on 4/17. I treated myself (and my Model A) to some work by Tingler inspired by the event.
This makes me remember my Dad, that is some hard **** to go through! He had Leukemia but it was basically the same type of treatment except for the operation, He's the whole reason I got into cars, he dreamed of being a mechanic but instead ended up being one of the best, it not THE BEST Stone Mason in the state of Kansas, he was offered a job as part of the restoration of the Statue Of Liberty but turned it down because he didn't want to be that far away from his family, when he was in the hospital we spent most weekends watching the car shows that were on at the time (Like 96 or so) and I can only imagine the **** we would have built if he wouldn't have p***ed. We had around a 55 Ford Fairlane 500 2 door lined out that already had a 428FE Big Block and a toploader 4 speed in it while he was in remission and after we finally talked the guy down a litte on the price the **** came back. DAMNIT!
Ray and Frank, I've met you both within the last year and my life is far richer for the experience. I'm sure glad you guys are still here and doing well. Hope to see you both real soon. Larry
Ray, You have touched and improved many lives during your stay on this marble. I am one of them! Glad to hear things are still going so well. We need to get together soon. I will call you..... moose
The Jalopy Journal
