Time to bow out again

Jim,

It is always devistating to receive such news. Your ability to deal with it is very positive and while the prognosis does not offer any relief, attitude is everything. You have been a very valuable and active member of the PCS since returning and it is my wish that you will continue to remain as active as you are able, while working through this.

I am a "glass half-full" kind of guy and having worked in health care for nearly 40 years, I have seen many people rebound from such circumstances, by maintaining a positive outlook and living life to the fullest. None of us knows how long we will be here, but making the most of the time we DO have, is what I've been taught to do.

My sister, Barbara Duffy-Stewart is very involved as the Executive Director of the Association of American Cancer Institutes, which comprises 95 hospital/cancer research centers accross the US. She was formerly with the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute and has many contacts, to which you may find useful, as you fight this disease. If either of us can be of any assistance, please don't hestate to contact me.

I wish you all the best and know that I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers.

I look forward to seeing you at the Ohio Chapter meet in July!

Sincerely,

Rick
 
Jim Tighe said:
rejecting potential treatments. I have weighed the pros and cons, and would rather not suffer the ravages of the Whipple surgery.
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I admire your position on this Tim. I too feel if something like this were to happen to me I would do the same. I have the same attitude regarding becoming a pill popper and living your life going from Doctor to Doctor. Not for me.

Best of luck Jim.
 
I first met Jim on the day Ron Devies invited me to come help get the combo running & ready for transport. Todd Merrifield, Jerry Jacobson, and Ron's mechanic were all there too. Listening to Jim talk, his stories of days ago, his passion for Packards & trains, and just the overall interaction of the day I found a friend in Jim. A friend that has proven himself to be a great friend as well as his wife Sharon.
My daughter & I have stopped in & visited them on several occasions since. We've went to Ohio chapter PCS events together, dinners, help with his cars, and his Eagle hearse is safely tucked away in my shop for winter. Sharon has even helped in trying to find a similar building to buy, comparable to the one I have now since she has real estate connections.
True friends indeed. A few weeks ago Jim called me with this news... and asked for help in selling his hearse. He asked me to be the "middle man" and handle all the hassles as he doesn't have the energy for dealing with such a task. I gladly accepted & had the car sold in less than 48 hours to Rocky, as I knew he was looking for a good coach to buy.
The two of them settled up between themselves. Rocky is flying in April 30th to pick up the hearse here at my shop. He is staying until Sunday so if anyone would like to come meet us Saturday April 30th & see all the cars (bring your procar too, lots of parking!!!), i'll have a big cookout here for everyone who would like to come. (Will start a reperate thread for this).

Jim is not going to give up easily, he does have a lot of spunk left! Please respect the route he's chosen, he's given it a lot of thought, researched, and made the best decision for him. Jim, if you choose to attend the International in July, i'll bring dad's mobility scooter so you don't have to walk it all. It fits right in the ambulance & i'd be glad to bring it for you to any event we both attend. It's the least I can do to help a friend enjoy the day.
 
Sorry to hear the bad news. Just remember cancer treatment has improved greatly over the last few years. Keep thinking positive and you will remain strong.

I am also sorry to hear you had to sell the Eagle. Rocky is a lucky man to get such a beautiful coach. It looked like it just rolled out of the factory earlier that day. I remember seeing it at Johnson Williams, I came very close to buying it, but I did not have the funds because I just bought my 95 Superior Chevy just weeks before.

All your PCS friends are thinking of you.
 
Jim,
The prayers of mine and my family will be with you & your's. Someone very close to me is going through the same situation. It is through the support of friends that her daily walk is made easier. As I see in the postings you are blessed to have the PCS family and friends to help smooth you path. Keep the positive attitude and outlook as I, too, wish to meet you someday.

Regards & Respect

Joe & Marie Melanson
 
Jim, I know what you are going thru. I am recovering from lung cancer in which 2/3 of my right lung were removed. I have checkups every 6 months now, but have little energy or stamina to do anything. Most of my time is spent online looking for anything about EMS from days past. I worked out of many auto-based ambulances in my early EMS years as a paramedic. May God's Speed be with you and keep you around for a long time.
 
I have not known jim for long, but i can say is that he seems like a awsome guy. Im looking forward to possibly meeting him when i fly in to pick up the coach. I have had many family members have cancer, and i can whole hartilly understand your choice on your care. Im glad that you have not given up and that you are planning to live the best you can every day, and to try to keep the time you have with us as much quailty time as you can. And i hope that time is good and long. And im proud to be the next caregiver of his coach.
 
Steve, thank you for the encouragement. I wish you the best. BTW, are you related to Joy Tarbert of Bucyrus, who was on radio and tv locally for many years? There is an article about her in the Bucy paper 2day. She had a stroke couple yrs ago and now resides in an assisted living care place.
 
I to was at a loss of words after first reading Jim's news yesterday. I'm saddened to hear of this and I wish you the best Jim and will be keeping Jim and his family in my thoughts and prayers. It was a great pleasure to finally get to meet Jim at the M-M reunion after hearing his name and reading his post over the past few years. Please keep us posted on your status Jim.
 
Like others, I am saddened to hear this news. It has been years since we've talked in person, and I was (am) looking forward to seeing you again at the International Meet in Ohio. I do hope you'll be able to attend, if even briefly.

I understand fully your choice, and I wish you luck on your journey. Dad's and my thoughts are with you.
 
Hi, agin, All. Here is the latest medical news: A PET scan Monday showed more CA activity, this time in lymph nodes and gall bladder, as well as bile ducts. Big surprise to all involved. Treatment plan is for targeted radiation doses 5 days per wk, 15 min per session, for 5 wks, starting 2morrow. With CA new spread out, rads will have to be also, which increases side-effects problem, so hope I am ok for Sat. in Bucyrus at Dwayne's. Overall prognosis not good, so this Bucy gig will prob. be my last such, being realistic about all this.

But life goes on. Assembled a new vacuum cleaner y'day, and the grass needs cut, but the rain persists. Business as usual. Looking 4ward to seeing some of you Saturday. Thanks for your encouragement. Bye for now, Jim
 
Jim Tighe said:
Hi, agin, All. Here is the latest medical news: A PET scan Monday showed more CA activity, this time in lymph nodes and gall bladder, as well as bile ducts. Big surprise to all involved. Treatment plan is for targeted radiation doses 5 days per wk, 15 min per session, for 5 wks, starting 2morrow. With CA new spread out, rads will have to be also, which increases side-effects problem, so hope I am ok for Sat. in Bucyrus at Dwayne's. Overall prognosis not good, so this Bucy gig will prob. be my last such, being realistic about all this.

But life goes on. Assembled a new vacuum cleaner y'day, and the grass needs cut, but the rain persists. Business as usual. Looking 4ward to seeing some of you Saturday. Thanks for your encouragement. Bye for now, Jim
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Best as always Jim but honestly, I like your style. Hang in there buddy.
 
If any of you would like to get a good idea of what this is like, get the John Wayne movie, "The Shootist," Duke's last film. I am J.B. Books. Pay very close attention to the dialogue between Books and Doc Hostettler, played by James Stewart. Over the last decade, I have watched that movie umpteen times, always wondering what it would be like to be in Books' place, never imagining that it would actually happen. In a very real way, the movie helped prepare me for this, and not "come apart" at the news. Life imitating art, perhaps?
 
Jim Tighe said:
Steve, thank you for the encouragement. I wish you the best. BTW, are you related to Joy Tarbert of Bucyrus, who was on radio and tv locally for many years? There is an article about her in the Bucy paper 2day. She had a stroke couple yrs ago and now resides in an assisted living care place.
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yes, she is my mother. My father worked in EMS starting back in the funeral home days
 
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