halfthrottle
New member
- Joined
- Dec 5, 2024
- Messages
- 1
- Reason
- Lost a loved one
- Diagnosis
- 03/2000
- Country
- US
- State
- UT
- City
- Springville
Mark and I became instant friends in the Missionary Training Center way back in 1998 when we both decided to serve a mission for our church. It was the type of friendship that you can only make when you are young and it's easier to trust someone quickly.
I loved spending time with Mark. It seemed we had everything in common.
All of this happened before the days of social media and when our missions ended we unfortunately lost touch with each other for many years. I thought about Mark often and would search for him on facebook from time to time but he hadn't made a profile.
One day Mark found me. He had finally made a facebook page. He was married with 4 kids, and serving as a police officer in a suburb of Phoenix, AZ. He was reaching out because he was coming on a trip to Utah and wanted to catch up. I was so happy.
He had noticed his left hand was too weak to fire a pistol in training and the doctors had diagnosed him with ALS. I didn't know much about it, he didn't look sick to me. It was early in his diagnosis. It was great to see him again and tell old stories about the good clean mischief we had gotten into 10 years ago.
Later I went on a trip to Arizona to visit with him. I brought my camera equipment I work as a videographer. I suggested we find somewhere quiet and he make video messages for each of his children that could be given to them during major milestones in their lives. One for their high school graduation, their wedding day, etc.
I promised to keep track of his kids and deliver these messages at the appropriate time. He thought about it and said, "I don't think I could do it without crying."
I said, "So, what's wrong with that? Then cry! Just leave something for your kids to remember you by. Give them this special moment on their special day."
I still regret not pushing him more. He's gone now, and his kids were so young It will be difficult for them to remember their father. He had a 5th child only 8 months old when he passed that will have no memory of him.
I recently came across a YouTube video for the Motus wheelchair featuring these 2 friends, one of them has cerbral palsy and they go on the craziest adventures. It's just the type of stuff I would have done with Mark when he lost his ability to walk.
I guess I just felt like sharing this story with a group of people who would understand.
Seize the day everyone. Get outside and make the most of every minute we have left in this crazy world.
<commercial link and video removed>
I loved spending time with Mark. It seemed we had everything in common.
All of this happened before the days of social media and when our missions ended we unfortunately lost touch with each other for many years. I thought about Mark often and would search for him on facebook from time to time but he hadn't made a profile.
One day Mark found me. He had finally made a facebook page. He was married with 4 kids, and serving as a police officer in a suburb of Phoenix, AZ. He was reaching out because he was coming on a trip to Utah and wanted to catch up. I was so happy.
He had noticed his left hand was too weak to fire a pistol in training and the doctors had diagnosed him with ALS. I didn't know much about it, he didn't look sick to me. It was early in his diagnosis. It was great to see him again and tell old stories about the good clean mischief we had gotten into 10 years ago.
Later I went on a trip to Arizona to visit with him. I brought my camera equipment I work as a videographer. I suggested we find somewhere quiet and he make video messages for each of his children that could be given to them during major milestones in their lives. One for their high school graduation, their wedding day, etc.
I promised to keep track of his kids and deliver these messages at the appropriate time. He thought about it and said, "I don't think I could do it without crying."
I said, "So, what's wrong with that? Then cry! Just leave something for your kids to remember you by. Give them this special moment on their special day."
I still regret not pushing him more. He's gone now, and his kids were so young It will be difficult for them to remember their father. He had a 5th child only 8 months old when he passed that will have no memory of him.
I recently came across a YouTube video for the Motus wheelchair featuring these 2 friends, one of them has cerbral palsy and they go on the craziest adventures. It's just the type of stuff I would have done with Mark when he lost his ability to walk.
I guess I just felt like sharing this story with a group of people who would understand.
Seize the day everyone. Get outside and make the most of every minute we have left in this crazy world.
<commercial link and video removed>
Last edited by a moderator:
