Cancer Survivor

Jeff Higgins · 04-15-2008, 06:57 AM

I just spent Sunday riding with one of my dearest friends; "Big Denny" as we call him. Granted, Denny isn't so big anymore - cancer reduced him to about "half the man he used to be". I thought we were going to lose him just a few short years ago. But, Denny is a survivor. He fought, and he fought hard. He has a wife and two wonderful kids that he just wasn't going to leave behind. At least not until last Sunday...

Denny grew up riding in rural Wisconsin. When he moved out here and got married (and I met him) about 30 years ago, he (like many of us) got all "responsible" and sold his bikes. He always loved to talk bikes with me, and was quite envious that I was still riding. For Denny, it was always "Jeff, someday, we're gonna ride together..." Well, Sunday was "someday".

His wonderful wife Penny put him up to it. He was always there for his family, always putting them first. Penny told him it was time to do something just for Denny. She told him to go out and buy that bike; he had more than earned it. So he did. He did it "right", revisiting the motorcycle safety classes and relearning to ride. He's been taking little putts around the neighborhood after work. He's been regaining his "sea legs". Well, Sunday, it was time.

We put a couple hundred miles on the scooters together. It was great. I hope to put many, many more miles in with Big Denny in the coming years. So, here we are, on the ferry crossing to Whidby Island, at the start of our day. That's Big Denny on the left (with his new bike in the background) and me with my trusty Road King in front and on the right.

Dottore · 04-15-2008, 07:20 AM

Great story Jeff. Happy trails.

LakeCleElum · 04-15-2008, 08:03 AM

Pass our regards on to Denny. I've known several that have beat cancer and a few have it come back on them in a few yrs. Seems to be a crapshoot. Deenny's doing the right thing, none of us know how many years we'll be around.

You see many bike on Whidbey Sunday? A group I ride with was headed there the same day.

Racerbvd · Racerbvd's Garage

Great sorry, there just aren't enough of these.
Thanks for a positive story.

MMARSH · MMARSH's Garage

Great story Jeff. Heres to enjoying many more miles together.

Jeff Higgins · 04-15-2008, 12:54 PM

Thanks, guys. This really was a special day for me.

Saw lots of bikes, but no big groups, Bob. Blue Knights?

look 171 · 04-15-2008, 01:31 PM

Jeff,

Enjoy the ride with Big Danny. My dad had ung cancer and after many treatments. Thanks goodness he fine now. Its been 7 years. He's one of the poster boys at the City of Hope. Belive in modern medicine. He finally got to see the Great wall last year, he's in his early 70s. He enjoy the grandkids a lot. They go there 3-4 times a week. Nice to see Danny out and ride. sometimes it takes wack in the head for us to realize what's been missing in our busy lifes.

Jeff

LakeCleElum · 04-15-2008, 03:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeff Higgins

Thanks, guys. This really was a special day for me.

Saw lots of bikes, but no big groups, Bob. Blue Knights?

Nope - Kawasaki Concours Group.....

kimlangley7 · 04-16-2008, 05:34 PM

Great story...

My wife [Kimberly] of 25 years undergoes a stem cell transplant tommrow [17 APR] at NIH [National Institute of Health] in DC... she has multiple myeloma.... she has not ridden on any of my bikes > but she has logged a few miles in my 80SC.... hoping it turns out as well as Big Denny ....