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Sad story
We pulled into Blackwell Island Resort in Coeur d’Alene, ID Friday afternoon. A couple of hours later a couple parked next to us. They weren’t retired yet and were on their 2nd RV trip with their two dogs. Saturday afternoon while we were away, the EMTs came and took him to the hospital. Turns out he had a massive stroke and heart attack. His wife said he was a very strong man – never sick and never any sign of such a potential problem. Right now he is off life support barely hanging on with no chance of survival. What a terrible experience for his wife, especially being 1500 miles from home with only a car, RV, and two dogs – no children or family to come help.This sort of thing can happen to any of us. So, here’s a short message titled “Twilight Years” to keep in mind.>>>>>>>As I approach my twilight years, I am struck by the inevitability that the party must end. And one clear, cold morning after I’m gone, my spouse will awaken in the warmth of our bedroom and be struck with the pain of learning that sometimes there isn’t “anymore.”
No more hugs, no more special moments to celebrate together, no more phone calls just to chat, no more “just one minute.”
Sometimes, what we care about the most gets all used up and goes away, never to return before we can say good-bye, or say “I love you.”
So while we have it, its best we love it, care for it, fix it when it’s broken and heal it when it’s sick.
This is true for marriage…..and old cars, and children with bad report cards, and dogs with bad hips, and aging parents and grandparents. We keep them because they are worth it, because we are worth it.
Some things we keep — like a best friend who moved away or a son-in-law after divorce. There are just some things that make us happy, no matter what.
Life is important, like people we know who are special. And so, we keep them close!
Suppose one morning you never wake up, do all your friends know how you really feel? The important thing is to let every one of your friends know your true feelings, even if you think they don’t love you back.(Original writer unknown) -
27 Replies
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Enjoy every minute of the journey….life is good
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Oh My!
Can you find out if there is anything that can be done to help her get the RV and car back home if he passes? IF there is no one to help them surely we have enough folks around here that somebody might be able to drive their rig home when the time comes.
Davy
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Grizz,
Im near by. If they need anything, let me know. Only about 45 minutes away over in Washington and can do what I can to help out. Dogs, help drive, etc.
Let me know…
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Very sad, I hope we can help them out.
On this subject, Al and I have an agreement cut in stone. If one of us gets in trouble from an unforseen medical problem or worse, the other immediately gets on a plane or drives and takes care of the bus. No matter what distance, time of year, time of day or other complications, WE GO…
So, hook up with someone and make that agreement. To us, it’s just like an insurance policy and there if needed.
In addition, with so many members on PC, we can take care of our own if a problem comes our way.
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Having been in the RV business in times past, this sort of event, sadly, is encountered occasionally. I have a friend who has been a motorhome owner and a professional bus driver and I’ve told my wife…if anything happens to me, to call him.
By the same token, if anyone were to have a need for someone to get your coach home from anywhere, I’d be more than happy to offer my assistance….no charge.
I just can’t imagine a more desperate and lonely feeling for anyone than to have a spouse pass away miles and miles from home…particularly when an RV get stirred into the mix.
In my phone, I have what’s called ICE…In Case of Emergency with numbers to call…so if you’re concerned about the remote possibility of something like this happening…just get in touch…I’d be glad to help out if I can. From the tone of things here on this forum, I suspect there are many of us who feel the same way about offering their services.
Tom Young
704-477-3719
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Griz, I live 4 hours South if a driver or other help is needed once thing get sorted out I can be contacted at 509 -301-5492
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Thanks for the offers. I’ll pass the information along if needed.
He passed this morning at 5:07, and she is making arrangements as required at this time.
Meanwhile, Sandy is helping where possible. Sandy and I have reservations here long enough to see her off.
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Where is the couple from? How far away from home are they?
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The woman was able to get a couple they know from Billings to drive out and help her get back to Minnesota with the RV and toad. It was very nice of the several PC members to offer help.It would be a great PC membership benefit to initiate an owner pairing program to cover emergencies similar to the gentleman agreement between Al and Tom.
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I agree that is a great thing to put together, for those that have some medical problems, you never know when your card will come up, Thank goodness my wife can drive the bus and in the event that some terrible thing happens it would be good to know that help is only a call away, this site is the best! bar none, I will keep this lady in my prayers, Gary
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The gentleman who this story is about was only 63 and very healthy. His wife stated he was very strong and never had any health issues.
Sandy could drive the coach if she had to, but could she safely handle an emergency, add fuel, prep the coach for departure or hook up the toad, etc.? I wouldn’t chance it! For now she is instructed to contact PC or someone she knows well at Marathon Coach to send a driver. Hopefully, that situation will never come up.
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That is such a sad story…. I am happy they got the help they needed… This happens more than we realise… It happened to friends of our friends last year… they had SkyMed and I was told they took care of every detail.
Most people don’t have that luxury… Larry has gotten ill on two of our trips and I have had to take over the driving hooking up the toad and everything else… so glad I can do that and that the illness was only temporary !
We do need to be aware that things can change in the blink of an eye !!
Diane
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FMCA have a program to take care of this type of medical issue. I hope we use this service when needed. -
“FMCA have a program to take care of this type of medical issue. I hope we use this service when needed.”
We have belonged to FMCA for over 25 years and had enlisted for almost that long to be a driver in that program.
For the first time, I received a call from FMCA early this year, at home, asking if I could help a couple out who were in jam due a medical issue for him about 110 or so miles west of where we live, at a fuel stop right off I-10. He had been taken to a Kerrville medical facility and his wife stayed with the coach. We helped out; my wife drove our car following and I took the coach (Allegro) and his wife, towing their pick-up, to an RV campground near the hospital.
The point of this is that perhaps such a program, or list of willing drivers by location could be generated within PC, or perhaps PC and POG. I think of the mess my wife might be faced with if such a problem should befall us. I think the only people I would consider driving my Prevost (theirs was a 39 footer), if I had a choice, would be one of you.
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I think that with over 2000 members on the PC that simply posting a notice of PC or POG member (or even friend of a PC or POG member) having a problem would quickly result in offers to help. I know if I saw a posting of someone from this web site who needed help and I was a reasonable distance away, I’d be moving quickly to help … long with others who were close by.
I’ve stopped to help broken down racers on the road and I’ve offered to help get drivers, their rigs, and their equipment home from the track when they experience trouble at the track … and many others have done the same.
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