Over the last year i have been battling one of the rarest fastest growing types of cancer, Aveolar rabdomyosarcoma. unfortunately things have taken a turn for the worst and i have tumors growing faster than my vette vs. a pedal bike. i found and got my dream vette and joined this forum. i got a 2003 zo6 torch red with mod red interrior. but onto why i really wanted to write this post to say thank you to all who have been nothing but helpful and so inciteful with anything that i have had a question about. unfortunately i didnt get to attend any meets with the group but could only imagine how awesome it would be with this great forum. i am within my last month at tops here on earth and to me i beleive everything happends for a resason and theres a reason i got my vette and got hooked up with the forum.
I am wanting to turn my vette over to my dad and hopefully he will start using my screenname on here and get joined up with you! theres one of our family friends im also trying to have hookup with the forum. i asked my dad to at least get on here once to type up a in memoriam post through his eyes to really show what i showed and loved through my vette.
I am from columbus, OH and have had some really good newspaper articles and little clips wrote up on me over my year with the columbus blue jackets and oppurtunities that has made my last year quality of time amazing. my dad and uncle have a blog they have been keeping up if anyone is interested its www.teamsalmons.com
Again, thanks to all. I love this forum and love my vettes and all vettes.
Ryan - We've never met, but I wanted to commend you for facing up to your illness and for having had the courage to write what must've been a very painful posting. It's acts of courage like that, that make the problems of the rest of us pale by comparison. Ryan, thanks for having joined our Forum and for having contributed towards it; as it's meant a lot to you, so you've meant a lot to those who've known and loved you best. As your time draws nearer, I wish you inner peace and reflections of a life well lived. May God bless you, and keep you, forever. - Loren
Ryan, I've never been very good with words in this situation, all I can say is please don't feel alone, as I'm sure you know this forum is made up of some very special people that I'm sure will stay with you, comfort you & remember you. They have helped me cope with & fight my demons, I've been given 12mths, 2 years tops for my base of tongue cancer matastases, which have appeared in my lungs, to become fatal. So I can safely say that if words & wishes help, there'll be lot of those coming your way very soon.
But at least there is a small chance I can beat it, unlike your situation, so I'll fight on and think how lucky I was to have found this forum & had 56 years on this planet.
Maybe there's a Corvette forum on the other side & we'll catch up there!!!
Location: ...Southampton, PA I love you & miss you Linda
Ryan, what a nice thing for you to write this post. I really don't know what to say except I wish you peace and I hope you can believe as I do that we will all meet again.
It is so nice that your Z06 has brought you such joy and that the Corvette community has also brought you joy and added fun to your life.
May God be with you and may Peace to you my friend.
<=== I know when I pass that it will be the beginning of the next life and I will reunite with all my loved ones whom have gone before me. I hope you can believe the same.
First, congratulations on signing with the Blue Jackets. It's always nice to see a professional team sign an athlete with character and courage to go along with skill. To be sure, they will be a better team with you on the roster.
Second, life is a full on contact sport. Sometimes we face challenges that seem insurmountable and, yes, sometimes we don't prevail in the win column. However, there is a special place in the hearts and minds of fans for those who gave their best...always. And they are surely winners in the grand scheme of things!
Ryan, the blog and your comments in this thread definitely show your courage and love for all aspects of life, including the corvette lifestyle. You are inspiration to many of us best wishes and our prayers are with you and to your family.
I cried today - not something that happens to me often. I cried because Ryan's story reminded me as it should remind everyone, that precious few of us really appreciate what we have. More importantly it reminded me that every second of life is precious and that I/we need to exercise care, concern, compassion for those around us, and that every opportunity for interaction with others should be carried out in a positive manner, no matter what.
Ryan's story imparts many lessons of courage that we all can learn from. I personally will strive to do better in all areas, especially when presented with challenges that in the overall picture, most often are really minor challenges.
Thank you for sharing and know that you are having a positive impact and will continue to have an impact on others after you leave us behind. How many of us can truly point to what we have done in our lives and know that we have truly made a difference beyond those we can directly see, touch or feel? You have, and for that may God bless you and all those that love and care for you...
With DEEPEST respect and appreciation for the example you have set...
Kevin Hand
__________________
Kevin H.
1986 Silver/Gray Coupe
1974 Bricklin SV-1 (#462 - 1 of 144 4spds built)
2008:Vert/AW/Blk Top/Red 2-tone/Z51/MN6/NPP/R8C
NCM Delivered 02/04/2008
COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS SIGN VERSATILE DEFENSEMAN RYAN SALMONS
Hard-hitting blueliner from Central Ohio can also play forward and will wear No. 3 for the club
Pretty cool.
We all could strive to be as brave in the face of such adversity. My wife and I give our sincerest best wishes to you and your family.
Location: just the other side of Spencer Mountain NC
Dear Ryan:
I echo the thoughts of many here in that your courage and strength to face this illness and know that life, in it's fleeting moments, can have the thrill of the journey. Not many people can say or see that. Those who could talk about it perhaps are paralyzed with fear. But you my friend, are fearless. That is a positive trait to have, one worth sharing for a lifetime, to give others - known and unknown - hope for the future.
While your family and friends in Columbus will most certainly miss see ing you, we here in the WWW realm of CF will miss your insights and contributions. I am quite sure that your dad will enjoy your Corvette to the fullest. He'll be spurred on by your enthusiasm, your zest for life, your choice of sports cars! I hope that he'll take a trip one day to any of the thousands of cities represented by this Forum and tell us his greatest stories about you.
Lastly, I hope and pray that you have an eternity for your soul. That is the greatest choice you'll make. Everything is just icing on the cake.
Best wishes for the journey that remains my friend. May God bless you richly for the life you've lived.
Let me also begin by thanking you for having the strength and courage to share your story with your fellow friends on the forum.
As a Ewing Sarcoma survivor, I can truly respect the way you are handling your fate. I am a sincere believer that God has a plan for all of our lives, and that only He knows when we will be moving on to meet others who have left this life as we know it.
Regardless of your diagnosis, and its outcome, I will include you in my prayers, and I will ask that God grant you a miracle, if it's in His plan.
I will pray that He grants all your family and friends, peace, comfort, and understanding during this very difficult time.
wow, your a brave person, we've never met but by reading your blog and post I feel like I have known you forever. God bless you and your family, thanks for being an ispiration to me and to other forum members. My thoughts and prayers go out to you and your family
You have no idea who I am, and just minutes ago, I had no idea who you were, but I am now a deep admirer. Thank you for sharing your courage and your amazing attitude. I know that God has a plan for each of us, even at times such as this. I pray that you continue to be blessed and provide encouragement to those around you.
Corvette Store
Very close to my time. want to thank you all!
