Camp Happy Days

[spareparts]

this was filmed last year

http://www.vimeo.com/20943891

[aussie]

SPARES i thought i had problems mine seem nothing compared to yours .I hope your life turns around for the better digger

[spareparts]

Aussie, it has turned around, 07-08 were the most trying times of my life, but since then, with the help, support, and prayers of many friends(including the v20 crowd) my family has been doing great. My daughter and wife are both clear, my sister in law(diagnosed 14 days before my wife) is also clear. My mother is still fighting ovarian cancer, shes doing good, still on chemo, but doing well, shes doing far better than she was predicted. During this time I lost two dear friends and mentors(one from lung cancer, the other from heart attack), but I feel comfort in knowing they were called. After losing my job in the fall of 08, I started my business and have been swamped with work. From time to time I have to stop and look around, and just let it all set in what I've been thru with my family, and be thankful of how we've endured it. A constant reminder has been some of the families we've met that haven't been as lucky as we are, we all want the story to end happy, but it doesn't some times. There are plenty of families that have had to deal with far worse than we have. Looking back, I've learned to be thankful of the blessings we've had and to thank God for them every day. This site has been a welcome outlet for me over the past years and the support I've gotten from it. Thanks to you all!

[Destroyer]

You know.. thinking about it ... at age 67 it's really not easy for me to get "inspired" by too many things.. I've seen and done a lot in my life. But truthfully, you are an inspiration to me Spare. I really don't think I could ever have done as well as you have in the face of your adversity. Thank you for being an inspiration, for giving me something to shoot for as a human being.

[aussie]

thanks SPARES what you say makes me pick my self up again . just want to share a little with you on my health side .just a quick run down sorry if i already told you.had rematic fever at 7 from a bad heart valve . 30 i got acromegally . yesterday i found out i need heart surgery cause the acromegally has damged my heart valve more. tomorrow i go back to see if im fit enough to have my hips done first or my heart .I have to have it done or i will be looking at a transplant .My wife is falling appart and my mum and dad are over seas and i dont want to tell them .At this stage of my life it seems to be a test for me but after your words im happy to take any thing thrown at me , my boat will have to just wait. another thing on my mind before i do my heart surgery i think i better do a will never got around to it maybe theres no need for it maybe leave a note for my wife who i want my specail things to go too .well im not doing good on here meant to be for boats not cry babies lol

[spareparts]

my Father has a faulty heart valve from rheumatic fever he had when he was 12(1944), they've been talking about replacement valves for the past 40 years, he never had anything done with the valve, he's doing pretty good at 79

[spareparts]

as far as picking your self up, I've told this many times. " If your feeling down, lift your head and eyes long enough to look around and you'll be surprised to find some one worse off than you, dealing with it far better than your self. They are usually right in front of you, you just never noticed with your head down. You'll find inspiration and guidance in everyday life, you just have to look beyond yourself to find it" This has been one of the hardest lessons I've had to learn, not because its difficult to do, its just easy to not do!

[aussie]

Originally Posted by spareparts

my Father has a faulty heart valve from rheumatic fever he had when he was 12(1944), they've been talking about replacement valves for the past 40 years, he never had anything done with the valve, he's doing pretty good at 79

well i have had no problems only what the ultra sound showed but the acromegally gave me a enlarged heart

[Destroyer]

Originally Posted by spareparts

my Father has a faulty heart valve from rheumatic fever he had when he was 12(1944), they've been talking about replacement valves for the past 40 years, he never had anything done with the valve, he's doing pretty good at 79

My brother caught rheumatic fever when I was 2 (1946).. I caught a mild case from him.. gave me a floppy mitral valve.. (Mitral Valve Prolapse) I'm 67 now and it's still working..I think I'll keep it a while longer.