My Little Moment of Perfect Camaro Clarity - Wally's Meet

[timwoodbury]

First and foremost lets not take away from the reason behind this event, Fisher House. Whether you agree with the reasons our military goes where it goes and does what it does is irrelevant. These folks go where they are told and risk their lives daily so we can enjoy the lives we live. With that said I would like to publicly thank all former, current, and future members of our country’s armed services for providing the daily freedoms we all too often take for granted. Without you, there wouldn’t be this very forum I am posting on today. Maybe next time there can be a way to identify you so I can thank you in person.

My name is Tim; I am the father of that wonderful boy in the pictures. In April of this year I was struck down with an enormous amount of pain and endless vomiting that have plagued me on a daily basis since. I have visited countless doctors, surgeons, and specialist running every test you can imagine and a few you probably can’t. At first, we thought I had the flue but the symptoms never went away and I began losing weight at a remarkable rate ( I began at 250 and am now <180) the rapid weight loss carried its own list of issues and I currently take both pain and nausea medications to control symptoms and prevent the hospital visits we were making to try to stop the gut wrenching vomiting. To date my longest episode has lasted more than 72 hours and each time is worse than the last. The weight is still falling just a little slower than the 10 pounds a week I was losing without it. I have been off work all this time trying to survive and take care of a family of 5 on the meager $300.00 a week my short term disability policy pays (that’s less than a days wages if I was able to work). Needless to say I live with daily stress and concern for my family. As of this post whatever is causing this is unknown and all of the tests indicate there is nothing wrong save a mildly elevated white count, yet the source has not yet been discovered. All that said I have been doing my best to create memories for my children that will last long after I am gone should things not work out in my favor. Tim Jr. my son was diagnosed with Autism very early on and we have learned the triggers and how to deal with them and he has come a long way and is quite the amazing child. He is very outgoing and friendly and always makes me smile. This all started as Gary said with a simple “how ya doin?” from his wife and my asking if Timothy could “meet” her car knowing this would leave him with a fun memory that would last forever. When she told me about the fundraiser it was more than I could ever ask for, a in-your-face testament to the saying “all things happen for a reason “ upon our arrival Maggie stopped what she was doing grabbed my sons hand and off they went to meet “Bumblebee” I can honestly say that was the happiest day of his life. The day was amazing and in no way was it supposed to be about me, this was just a father wanting to make sure he left his son with some memories he would always cherish. Gary has pretty much covered the rest of the day and I can’t thank Mya May enough for what she did, what may have seemed like a small act at the time impacted me and my family in a way I could never imagine. Its little things like that that make me smile even on the worst of days, thank you so much. My deepest thanks and gratitude to all of you for helping me create the most amazing memory ever. You truly are an amazing group of people and made us feel like we belonged and were part of your very special family. Gary and Maggie, thank you from the bottom of my heart that car has allowed you to bring joy to so many, maybe one day I will be able to park along side that beautiful machine and join you in bringing such joy and happiness to someone’s life. No matter what life throws your way remember that day and the smiles and joy you brought to that little boys life when everything around him seemed to be falling apart, for that day, you made him the happiest boy on earth. I will never be able to thank you enough.

[crsr1]

OP, Awesome story! Thank you so much for sharing! Tim, you're in my prayers....stay strong.

[KJS]

Originally Posted by 376LS3

Awesome story man! Its nice to see there is still a glimpse of humanity out there. Kudos to you for all your hard work organizing and best wishes to the boy and his family. Hope all ends well!

WOW - ditto



And Tim, you and your family are in our prayers.
Peace.....

[Ryanbabz71]

That's awesome!

[revychevy]

Wow. Just wow. Thanks for sharing man.

[RubyCamaro]

Tim, thank you so much for posting here with your story. Thank you for being a fantastic father. I work as a mental health therapist and know how challenging and wonderful autistic children can be. I can see the joy in your son's face in the pics & can hear the love and pride in your post. May God bless you and your family and may a medical miracle discover the solution to your issues. I have been blessed to be able to use my Camaro to help me help the children I work with and know how much joy these cars seem to be able to bring, but your story is simply amazing. This is indeed a community of fantastic people who do a lot of wonderful things using these beautiful Camaros.

["prima"Donna]

........And this is what all of us Camaro owners know in our hearts: this is way more than 'just a car'

This story both warmed my heart, and broke my heart.

I am so glad for Tim, that his son got the experience of a lifetime; both meeting 'Bumblebee', and winning 'Bumblebee'.

Tim, I hope and pray hard that they will find out what is wrong with you, and that God will put his hands on you and restore you to full health, so that you may live a very long life with your family.

God bless all of you.

This magical Camaro has brought me, and all of you, so much joy and life experiences like this that others will never know; much less even imagine.

OP, thank you for sharing this heartwarming story, and starting my day off with a smile, and a tear.

God bless them, and thank you, to our brave military heroes, who are out there making their sacrifice to keep us safe.

[Scalded Dog]

Sometimes I don't know why I even visit C5... the bickering, the whining, the trolling, the needling and silliness... worse than my grade school kiddos. But, being a sucker for pain, I still check in every now and then, and it is posts like THIS that are so top- shelf, beautiful, touching, inspiring--- even well written!--- that redeem every troll's negativity ten times over.

Great pics (how I do love SGMs... ), great backstory, and GREAT to see how the Camaro brothers and sisters ARE when it comes to philanthropy. THIS is what I dig about the "club..." good people.

(I will say this, though... you referenced how some of the yellow Camaro owners may have seemed mildly irritated by Bumblebee references by kids... while mine is not a Transformers Edition, nor even close, few things are more enjoyable to hear than kids talking about, or even talking TO "Bumblebee." It NEVER gets old... any yellow Camaro owner who gets irritated at a kid who is thrilled to see "Bumblebee" needs to turn in his Camaro, and go get a greyish, mid '90s Honda or Toyota, so he can blend in instead of stand out!)

[RedRaven]

Originally Posted by Scalded Dog

Sometimes I don't know why I even visit C5... the bickering, the whining, the trolling, the needling and silliness... worse than my grade school kiddos. But, being a sucker for pain, I still check in every now and then, and it is posts like THIS that are so top- shelf, beautiful, touching, inspiring--- even well written!--- that redeem every troll's negativity ten times over.

Great pics (how I do love SGMs... ), great backstory, and GREAT to see how the Camaro brothers and sisters ARE when it comes to philanthropy. THIS is what I dig about the "club..." good people.

(I will say this, though... you referenced how some of the yellow Camaro owners may have seemed mildly irritated by Bumblebee references by kids... while mine is not a Transformers Edition, nor even close, few things are more enjoyable to hear than kids talking about, or even talking TO "Bumblebee." It NEVER gets old... any yellow Camaro owner who gets irritated at a kid who is thrilled to see "Bumblebee" needs to turn in his Camaro, and go get a greyish, mid '90s Honda or Toyota, so he can blend in instead of stand out!)

Amen!

[Jayhawk500]

First off I want to Thank Envy and Dragonlady one more time for putting on such a fantastic meet for such a worthy cause. As a former military member it warms my heart to know there are places like the Fisher House that families can stay at while their loved ones are recuperating in the hospital. For those of you that don't know what Fisher House is...It's like the Ronald McDonald House for kids.



So about my day.

The wife and I left our house on the coast a little late last Saturday morning. I wanted to be on the road by 0730 because I knew it was a long drive and there would be traffic. OH the TRAFFIC! The meet was scheduled from 11 - 3. We arrived about 11:40.
As soon as we pulled into the parking area. Maggie (aka Dragonlady) came over thanking us for making the drive up while she had a little boy in tow. She explained she had someone who wanted to meet Bumblebee. I said okay.
So I start doing the normal stuff as I always do when I go to a car show. Opening the hood, getting the canopy and chairs out of the back of the car, Setting my bumblebee transfromer in front of the car. Then I reached in from the center console and grabbed a stack of little bumblebee cards I made up (with the help of GeekFreekScotty) and handed the child one. I had the bumblebee helmet in the back seat and set it on the console so it would look like thats where Bumblebees's head was normally. My wife said, " Wouldn't it be better if we set the helmet up here, on top of the radiator?" I said "Sure". So she grabs the helmet and sets it in front. The little boy just went nuts when he saw it. I remember his dad saying, "Now don't touch anything." I immediately grabbed the helmet and asked him if he would like to put on the helmet. Being a bit shy, he just nodded his head. Thanks Gary for the picture!!!Perfect timing. So I then, go about cleaning all the bugs guts off the car making 'Bee presentable to be shown in public. It was then (I'm a little slow at times), that I realized this young man is really liking my car. He wouldn't go away, not that I wanted him too. I love it when the kids react this way. So once I get the car cleaned up, the wife and I had to go take a walk to grab some cash for the raffle. But before we did I stopped by the raffle tent to see what was donated. My wife says that would be good for the kids for Christmas and points to a number of different items. One being the Bumblebee car. She's always thinking ahead, and shops all year long for Christmas.
So we get back from the ATM that is about 2 blocks away and this little boy is still sitting with my car. (another nice picture by Envy Photography) The wife said she was hungery, so we walked over to Wally's and got a burger and ate. We then walked back to find that the raffle drawing had already started. My wife asked me if the Bumblebee car had already gone. I looked and said it had. It was then someone pointed to the little boy and his dad. This young man was just beaming after being handed the car.

Gary, Maggie and Tim,

If I would have know the situations I would have takin' more time with this young man. I know some family things are private and shouldn't be broadcast worldwide. But as God as my witness, I promise that if I get back up to Buckley next year, and Tim if your still with us, both you and your son will get a ride in Bumblebee. But, if the inevitable happens, Maggie, Please bring this young man and I'll make sure he gets his ride anyways. I feel this is the absolute least I can do.

Tim,

May all of our prayers be answered that the doctors find out whats wrong with you. Your a good dad, I saw this first hand! May God Bless You and your Family and watch over you!

This is not just a car, "It's a Camaro!"

Chris

[Dragonlady]

Originally Posted by Jayhawk500

Gary, Maggie and Tim,

If I would have know the situations I would have takin' more time with this young man. I know some family things are private and shouldn't be broadcast worldwide. But as God as my witness, I promise that if I get back up to Buckley next year, and Tim if your still with us, both you and your son will get a ride in Bumblebee. But, if the inevitable happens, Maggie, Please bring this young man and I'll make sure he gets his ride anyways. I feel this is the absolute least I can do.

Tim,

May all of our prayers be answered that the doctors find out whats wrong with you. Your a good dad, I saw this first hand! May God Bless You and your Family and watch over you!

This is not just a car, "It's a Camaro!"

Chris

Chris, you were the first person I thought of when Tim told me they were coming and I knew that you'd take good care of them.
I felt so bad that you were just setting up when I brought them to you, but I knew it would be my only moment to introduce you.
Thank you for taking such good care of my buddies!

Fingers are crossed that we can put Tim and Jr in the car with you.

Thank you all for your understanding and compassion. Tim and I have been friends for a long time. We used to work together in the same plant and it hasn't been the same since he transferred to another. Tim always made my day, making me laugh and always making me smile, so I'm glad that I got to return the favor.

Our lives have changed since we brought our "friend" home. Dragonfly has taken us to places we have never been, met people that we would have never have met, made friendships that will last a lifetime. Every day I look at that car and give thanks for the joy he has given us and others. Every day, our Camaro makes me smile. Everyday our Camaro makes someone smile and that to me, is priceless.

[brengeek]

Seriously....where IS the Kleenex?!?

[HarryNW]

Great cause and great meet-up. Always great to see people getting together for a greater purpose.

Met lots of great folks and was a great event - looking forward to next year already.

Was fun showing up in a caravan that began build on Hwy 167 en route to the event. Cool to see there was a picture of the caravan arriving (mine was the 4th car - black with green halos - in that picture).

[Wabbit]

At least now I know why that little kid was beaming so much. He was really getting a kick out of the time he was there.