T-Bird is alive and somewhat well! long story UPDATE 9-25-19

[T-Bird]

Since there are so many new people on this forum and they have no idea who T-Bird is, I'll start from the beginning. I forewarned you...it's long and not as good as something DDT would write, so you better bail now
Some already know, I had a heart transplant 16 years ago next month, and little did I know it would start a whole new chapter in my life. I was able to cut back on working and spend more time riding. I started buying and selling bikes in hopes to find one that really suited me and my riding style the best. I had always wanted a Valkyrie ever since 98 when I saw them at Daytona Bike Week. Well I got a chance a year or so after my transplant. When I bought that first one (1st of 4) I started web surfing about them. I saw where there was a thing called Inzane (what??? can't this group evenspell!)
 It was being held the first time at Johnson City TN...just up the road from me. I saw it was a week long deal and I was still working at that time, so I scheduled to go on the Saturday for awhile. It was one great turnout,  Cool Bikes everywhere, I thought I died and went to Valkyrie heaven!! I didn't know what to expect, and I didn't plan on staying long. I met several folks that were super nice to me...and I thought I could get into this club and have a good time. I started  reading the forum and found out there was a rowdy bunch out of Clinton that rode any day that ends in Y. haha. I just happen to run into Gorden (Lucky 13) and Big Al at the tail of the dragon. I knew right then I had found some riding buddies. The next weekend I met them and Smokin Joe for a ride in the Tellico Mountains. We rode from sunup till sundown, I think we did 350 miles that day and ate about 4 meals and never were more than 100 miles from home...my kind of riding! Over the next ten years I shared a lot of miles, meals, and memories with those rascals called the "Wild Bunch". In those same years I also got to know and ride with many in this club, too many to name , but you know you you are. I consider you guys as family. About seven years ago I started slipping in health, I was getting tired and weak, even started dropping my beloved yellow tourer at the slightest off balance. I went back to Vanderbilt and they diagnosed me with Sarcoid, the same inflammatory disease that caused the need of a transplant. It had come back after 11 years. This time it was throughout my system. These past few years they were able to get it cleared up in all organs but my heart and kidneys. I am now on the transplant list again for heart/kidney. The last two months have been long and hard on me, I have been traveling back and forth to Vanderbilt a couple of times a week, and I'm not as young and fit as I was the first time around. I'm not allowed to go more than 200 miles away from the hospital in case a donor heart/kidney comes available. I will stretch it a little when I go to Smokin Joe's Fall Color ride in two months.
So I hope to see many old friends there and get to meet new ones.
Rainman...I hope your keeping my bike in good shape, I will want it back after this transplant! Love ya buddy mean it!
Carolyn Schmidt...you got a spare kidney? Love you too girl!

Terry the T-Bird!

[Pappy!]

Wow! Not often you are lucky enough to read a post like this one.
You are an inspiration to all of us! If they ever tell us where the next inZane is I hope to meet you and shake your hand if possible!

[JimC]

TBIRD,
Great to hear from you, even if it is not great news.
Lets hope for a call from the list and another successful repair.

Our group still talks about you and Joe telling lies at Inzane in Wisconsin, good times.
It looks like Inzane is east this next year, and whaen I heard that you were the first one I thought of.
We miss ya buddy, get well soon and I hope to see ya'all at Inzane.

Jim Callaghan
Wisconsin

[old2soon]

         cursed Glad ta hear from ya Teryy!  While I dasn't consider myself an "Old Timer" I iz still here just Not ridin 12-14 G a year no mo. Old age and oxtgen needs.  My last Inzane was 16.  There IS Something bout our machines and this group that IS addictive.  NOT a complaint-just Fact. Really good to hear from ya. Prayers up from the Missouri Ozarks for a double transplant with Good results Soon.  RIDE SAFE.

[trout dude]

T-bird it was good to see you post and how great will it be too ride together again   Man I know the wild bunch misses you   You are always talked about mostly all good LOL   We will keep you in our prayers and looking forward to seeing you soon

[Misfit]

Truly one of the great ones. Terry I wish you and Gina the very best. Prayers continue from CO. 

[GiG]

Terry:
You been on my mind a lot, Brother!
Putting a lot of miles on the 99 Interstate lately, thinking it would be great to see you soon and wishing you all the best.

][url=https://postimg.cc/sMF8cV8h]russian image host[/url]

"The Flying Wild Rice Bike stands alone"
Love you, man, I mean it!

[Disco]

Great to hear from you, Terry! 

Wishing you the best in your efforts to kick its ass a second time. 

Hope to see and ride with you at IZXX!

[hubcapsc]

Hi Terry... you're out of sight here too much, but never out of mind... you were in my
ride post last week, remember 281?

http://www.valkyrieforum.com/bbs/index.php/topic,107854.0.html



-Mike

[DDT (12)]

Terry,

Thanks for the update and most uplifting news! Yeah, you are indeed thought of fondly and often, and you're missed more than you might realize... Your riding is impressive, and your bikes were always awesome... but, you, the man, is the 'feature' all who know you are most drawn to... Really good to learn we may ride together again... soon!

DDT

[..]

 

[Oss]

Wow  T-Bird glad to hear from you !

Still have that picture of your helmet with the
"I'm not  speeding   I'm qualifying "  sticker from when we rode east from GOTF in 2014  

Best wishes for return to good health and hope to see you at the next Inzane.

Oss

[Skinhead]

Terry,

I was axin' if anyone heard from you the other day.  Glad things have gone from bad to not-so-bad.  Here's hopin' for progression to all-better-now.  I have 2 kidneys, and I'll offer you one but I don't think yankees make good donors for Rebels.  Although, if I recall, I believe you told me once you was born north of the Massie/Dixie.  One of my kidneys is just about dried out from our Natchez Trace boat ride.  Good to hear from you my friend, please stay in touch.

[Bighead]

Terry good to see you post. Hope you get your much needed organs.

[Reb]

Holy Hellfire.... The man, the myth, the legend!

Glad to see you checking in T-bird! 

[JimmyG]

Good to hear from you Terry. Everyone misses riding with you. Hopefully and prayerfully, the heart and kidney upgrades will get you back riding before long.   

[Dave Ritsema]

Hey there Terry! So glad to see you checking in, thanks for the update and you are missed Brother!

[RDAbull]

Great to hear from you Terry.  Looking forward to a fireside chat at the FCR.

[Charlie McCready]

Hey Terry, good to hear from you. I tried to call ya a few times but never could catch ya at home.  Hope you get the ticker taken care of and get well soon. Lookin' forward to seeing you the next time !!

Charliemac

[T.P.]

T-BIRD     YEP!!  One of the BEST!! 

T.P.

[f6gal]

Hey T-Bird!!  So glad to hear from you!  I'm glad they got most of it.  Here's hoping you get your transplants soon!  Hope to see you at InZane XX. 

[robin]

Well Well the T-Bird good to hear from ya buddy hope all goes good for ya and you may be able to ride again Judy and I will see ya in Robbinsville and she won't be doing any wood splitting.

[rainman]

Since there are so many new people on this forum and they have no idea who T-Bird is, I'll start from the beginning. I forewarned you...it's long and not as good as something DDT would write, so you better bail now
Some already know, I had a heart transplant 16 years ago next month, and little did I know it would start a whole new chapter in my life. I was able to cut back on working and spend more time riding. I started buying and selling bikes in hopes to find one that really suited me and my riding style the best. I had always wanted a Valkyrie ever since 98 when I saw them at Daytona Bike Week. Well I got a chance a year or so after my transplant. When I bought that first one (1st of 4) I started web surfing about them. I saw where there was a thing called Inzane (what??? can't this group evenspell!)
  It was being held the first time at Johnson City TN...just up the road from me. I saw it was a week long deal and I was still working at that time, so I scheduled to go on the Saturday for awhile. It was one great turnout,  Cool Bikes everywhere, I thought I died and went to Valkyrie heaven!! I didn't know what to expect, and I didn't plan on staying long. I met several folks that were super nice to me...and I thought I could get into this club and have a good time. I started  reading the forum and found out there was a rowdy bunch out of Clinton that rode any day that ends in Y. haha. I just happen to run into Gorden (Lucky 13) and Big Al at the tail of the dragon. I knew right then I had found some riding buddies. The next weekend I met them and Smokin Joe for a ride in the Tellico Mountains. We rode from sunup till sundown, I think we did 350 miles that day and ate about 4 meals and never were more than 100 miles from home...my kind of riding! Over the next ten years I shared a lot of miles, meals, and memories with those rascals called the "Wild Bunch". In those same years I also got to know and ride with many in this club, too many to name , but you know you you are. I consider you guys as family. About seven years ago I started slipping in health, I was getting tired and weak, even started dropping my beloved yellow tourer at the slightest off balance. I went back to Vanderbilt and they diagnosed me with Sarcoid, the same inflammatory disease that caused the need of a transplant. It had come back after 11 years. This time it was throughout my system. These past few years they were able to get it cleared up in all organs but my heart and kidneys. I am now on the transplant list again for heart/kidney. The last two months have been long and hard on me, I have been traveling back and forth to Vanderbilt a couple of times a week, and I'm not as young and fit as I was the first time around. I'm not allowed to go more than 200 miles away from the hospital in case a donor heart/kidney comes available. I will stretch it a little when I go to Smokin Joe's Fall Color ride in two months.
So I hope to see many old friends there and get to meet new ones.
Rainman...I hope your keeping my bike in good shape, I will want it back after this transplant! Love ya buddy mean it!
Carolyn Schmidt...you got a spare kidney? Love you too girl!

Terry the T-Bird!

Glad to hear from you Diana i through s and payers are with you.  If you need anything lets us know and we will see you at the fall color ride.  Love and miss sharing the wind with you.

[T-Bird]

Thanks to everyone for the well wishes. I've beaten the old Scythe slinger many times through the years, one more is still in me!    I can't wait to see many of you at FCR 

[Carolyn Schmidt]

T-Bird. I love you too!

So happy we've been able to know one other. You are a good man. Patrick and I had the pleasure of riding with the "Wild Bunch" when leaving Eureka Springs a few years back.

Because of you and Michael I'm an active volunteer with Gift of Life Michigan. You are both poster folks of why organ donation is so important.

I'm riding my own bike now, got a spyder and loving it. My days of riding 2 up are over.

I pray you get that heart and kidney soon so you can get back at it. I look forward to seeing you down the road at an event.

If I had another kidney I'd certainly let you have it!

Keep us posted.

[Smokinjoe-VRCCDS#0005]

I can't get on my bike without thinking " wish I was hookin' up with T-Bird " for  this ride. I've rode motorcycles with a lot of riders and you are no doubt one of the best.  I wish you only the best  my friend. Call me anytime you have both my numbers. Not read the board lately it was great seeing you post. My other laptop took a crap with all my pictures I still have most of our rides burned on CD in my gun safe need to go through those.

[thedon]

T-Bird,
Good to see you on the board. We sure miss your smiling face and humor.
Hope everything goes well for you.
Sending our prayers.

[T-Bird]

I don't know where to begin....  I have been going to Vanderbilt twice a week getting tests done to get on the transplant list, and they have been wearing me down. I received a call today that wasn't what I was expecting. A test they did last week came back positive for Prostate Cancer. The Urologist is going to discuss the course of action with the transplant team. It will be either radiation treatment or a prostatectomy. The Urologist recommended for them to proceed with the transplants, because it was less than 1 %. They have a criteria, and it is 0%. So now I will have to get this cleared up, before I can get back on the list.
I have a heart ablation scheduled for Friday, I'm not too worried about it, I've had enough right heart caths done these last 17 years it's no biggie.
Next week I go back for a complete body MRI and a complete body PET scan. they are making sure every doctor gets a piece of the pie!
I'll check back in next week. 

[Bighead]

Praying for you Brother.

[Skinhead]

Give 'em hell T-Bird!

[HayHauler]

Great to see you posting T-Bird.  Keep us in the loop on your progress and we will keep you in our thoughts and prayers.
Love ya,
Hay
Jimmyt

[T-Bird]

Another Update ( 9-25-19 )
I got good news today!
The Transplant teams (heart & kidney) had a meeting yesterday to discuss my case. They are taking my Urologist's recommendation on preceding with putting me on the list, then deal with the cancer sometime after the transplants. They told me this was very unusual for this to happen, and they are listing me at level 4 on a scale of 1-7, one being the most urgent, and seven the least. Each time I have to be hospitalized for several days, I will move up the list. I could get lucky, with matching blood type, weight, and height of the donor, and get one sooner, especially if someone higher on the list can't be contacted.
Keep the prayers coming, and I hope I will be able to make it to Smokin Joe's Fall Color Ride.  

[Disco]

Great report, T-Bird!      Looking forward to seeing you in June!

[f6gal]

Fingers crossed for a quick find.   

[Smokinjoe-VRCCDS#0005]

Another Update ( 9-25-19 )
I got good news today!
The Transplant teams (heart & kidney) had a meeting yesterday to discuss my case. They are taking my Urologist's recommendation on preceding with putting me on the list, then deal with the cancer sometime after the transplants. They told me this was very unusual for this to happen, and they are listing me at level 4 on a scale of 1-7, one being the most urgent, and seven the least. Each time I have to be hospitalized for several days, I will move up the list. I could get lucky, with matching blood type, weight, and height of the donor, and get one sooner, especially if someone higher on the list can't be contacted.
Keep the prayers coming, and I hope I will be able to make it to Smokin Joe's Fall Color Ride.  

You are a true fighter my friend wishing you only the best. Hope to see you in Robbinsville for The Fall Color Ride . Take care and stay in touch.

[Wolfhound]

T-Bird,

so glad to hear the good news.
Will never forget the time when the wild bunch allowed me to join them for a ride.
We only met a couple of times - but every time it's been a pleasure.

Sending prayers over the big pond,
Jorg

PS: found a nice pic with you, my wife Christina (left) and Becky (right), hope the link works...
https://photos.app.goo.gl/sHrHKq5Qt2Rhmmr2A

[Hooter]

I get it T-Bird, I also have Sarcoid (Sarcoidosis). It was found when I was in a motorcycle accident 13 years ago by Cat Scan. It's a miserable disease to have and regulates what you do day to day. I hurt like hell every day, more if I push it. We can't give into this crap and have to keep fighting! Hang in there!