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Life changes in an instant.
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One day you're running full speed ahead, coaching, educating, pouring everything you have to your community and your family.
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And the next, you're fighting a battle most people have never even heard of.
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My college brother Scott Alter and his wife Katie know that reality better than any.
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For the past few years, Scott's been quietly waging a war against a rare, life-altering condition called non-systemic vasculitic therapy.
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Inflammation that cuts off the blood flow to your nerve endings and changes how you operate every single day.
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For a guy whose life was built on coaching, educating, and leading, having to step away from those roles to pursue treatment is a mountain of a different kind.
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Scott and Katie aren't walking this alone.
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This is Jeff Jordan.
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People call me Chop.
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And on this episode of Come Get That Smoke, we're keeping it real about resilience, family, raising Sawyer and Millie, and what it looks like when life throws you a curveball you never saw coming.
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Grab a seat and let's talk about a story of guts and ingredients.
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Hello guys, welcome to Come Get That Smoke.
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Today we're gonna be talking to two of my good friends, Scott and Katie O.
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Known Scott a long time.
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Scott and good friends can tell Tommy University, college in the first quarter, Scott Change, Change, now for almost 30 years.
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It's crazy to think back and it's been there.
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Both of us have a similar background, both were educators, both taught, both coached.
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Scott is still in that profession, even though he's having to take a small hi-80s, but he's still in that profession today.
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Me, I got out and born barbecue full-time.
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Our friendship goes way back.
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Um Scott and Katie, I want to welcome you guys to the show.
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Go ahead and talk to listeners if you'd like.
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Hey everybody, thanks for tuning in.
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Um, you know, we're glad to do this to help educate not just our friends, our family, but anybody who might be having a neuropathy issue or goes through something like this.
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But, you know, it's just so grateful.
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And I I we can't go any further without acknowledging, you know, a lot of people.
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I I can't name everybody because I would leave somebody out, but you know, most importantly, my family, uh parents have done a lot for us.
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Uh my in-laws have done a lot.
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You know, they come over and they do things, they pick up food, they they take kids places they need to be.
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And, you know, with Katie's work schedule, they they all jump in and shifts.
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So, you know, we're so thankful for that and blessed to have a family like that and have uh, you know, what you would call a support staff or you know, your inner circle, whatever you want to call it.
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Um, and then I know, you know, I'm thankful my sister, she did a um meal train and a uh GoFundMe type deal.
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It's not GoFundMe, it's some other kind of website, but uh we can share the links to that.
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But you know, that's something for me I was very hesitant to do out of pride for simple fact of you know, I don't want to ask for help, but you know, at this point in time in my life and and what I've learned is is you got to reach out for those who are willing to help you and and guide you.
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So we've had so many people who have signed up for meals, who have donated money, sent checks, gift cards, whatever.
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We are so thankful for you.
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It doesn't matter to us, the amount you send us, every gift that you give us is greatly appreciated and will be greatly used appropriately to help us get through this difficult time.
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So on behalf of myself, and I'm sure I can speak for Katie and my family, we thank you so much for your prayers, you know, and I think prayer to me is something that is very important, and I feel those prayers, I really have.
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Probably for, you know, I would acknowledge first time in you know my life for the past two and a half years that I feel that.
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And so my whole outlook on life has changed, and I look forward to diving into that a little bit more now for my beautiful bride.
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Hi, I'm Katie.
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I'm Scott's wife, and I'm just also here to talk about what the last two and a half years have been for us and what they've meant to us.
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And um, we hope to shed a little light on everything going on with Scott and share some education.
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Um, and like he said, if you are battling something and going through something and you feel like you're alone, just know that you're not.
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There's always people out there that love you and want to support you, and we're so thankful for our village and everything they've given to us.
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Awesome.
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All right, we're gonna dig into this thing pretty quick and we're gonna start talking a little bit about you know the past, y'all's relationship.
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I mean, I remember when you guys first met, because me and Scott were really close at that time, still really close today.
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And he kept talking about this hot blonde cheerleading coach at East Side High School when he was coaching over there.
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And I remember that like it was yesterday.
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Scott and I both went to a divorce early on, and um, this was after his divorce, and he was coaching at East Side High School.
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And I'll never forget when he came, when he came back one day, I was hanging out at his house, and he just flat out said, He's this hot blonde cheerleading coach.
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And lo and behold, here we are.
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So, Scott, tell us a little bit about how you guys met.
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Well, it was really hard.
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She she was really just you know pursuing me really hard.
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No, I'm just kidding.
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We know I'm just kidding.
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No, no, I I just appreciate you making sure you clarified that I was a coach, and she was a cheerleading coach, not a cheerleading uh participant.
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So we get that we got that question before, but it's it's no, she was a coach, and I simply remember at Eastside.
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You know, those of you who may listen to this can remember the old Eastside setup where Coach Carlisle had his office and we had like a little small single, some kind of portable.
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It was a portable that was a coach's office.
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And I can remember coming out for um picture day, and we were standing, of course, everybody hates picture day, and I'm standing there and I just looked down at the end zone from the top of this little hill, and I looked down and I just saw this blonde hair, and I was like, oh my! And I was like, Who is that?
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So thankfully there were some connections with her head cheerleading coach, and I worked alongside um her mom at a middle school, and then I worked with her dad at the high school coaching football.
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He was a defensive coordinator, I was a defensive line coach.
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So, you know, he she was dating a jerk, loser.
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Um, so I, you know, swooped in and he ain't gone, he gone.
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So he gone, but um, that's just the way it works, you know, and it was it was it's been great.
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So that's that's that's my version.
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You want to add anything, Katie?
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Um, I'll say that I think the whole entire coaching staff of Eastside High School football team was rooting for us to get together.
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And I think the entire um cheerleading squad got on board too, and so everybody was really excited when we started dating.
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And um, it's just it's been a a really sweet story and fun to tell people how we met and we were both coaching at the same high school, and it's just a meat cute.
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Cool.
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Well, Katie, while you're still got the microphone, we're gonna ask you a little bit.
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Tell us a little bit about your profession, what you do for a living.
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Okay.
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I have been a nurse for 18 years, and I've always worked in pediatrics.
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Um, since this has started, I have stepped away from the children's hospital where I worked for 18 years, but I do continue to work two other nursing jobs.
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Uh they just allow me to be more flexible and I can work more so with scheduling for appointments and helping out where I need to, but still in pediatrics and just still loving, taking care of kiddos.
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Awesome.
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Scott, now I know right now you're on a little hiatus, but tell us a little bit about your job, where you work, and what you do for a living.
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Sure.
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So I I very proudly say that I work at Swafford Career Center and Spartanburg uh School District One.
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We also serve Spartanburg School District Two, but to work at a place like Swafford Career Center um is just a humbling experience.
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They're they're fantastic people.
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I can't say enough about uh the people there and the support they've given us.
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We had a group of them come build a ramp right out here that you've seen past couple times.
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Um, you know, they did that in two afternoons, not two days, two afternoons, um, after their work schedule.
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So, you know, my high praises uh to everybody there.
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I I and I miss them.
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I miss the the morning, you know, shooting the bull looking before the kids come in and things like that.
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You know, you miss those little things, but I'm thankful for them.
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They have been the utmost supportive group that I've ever been around the last two and a half years.
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Um, and I also gotta thank District One as well.
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They have done a great job of guiding us through this um process of what we're having to go through with work and getting some other things figured out.
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But, you know, uh D1 has has taken care of me.
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I I don't have anything to complain about.
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Um, you know, I you know, it means something to me when the superintendent visits your school just to come see you because you're at work one day.
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And that that happened to me a couple weeks ago when I only attended school like two and a half days, but you know, one day I was there, he came over to see me.
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And you you see stuff like that, you don't get that in a big district.
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You know, you you got that small town, you know, community involvement, and that's what you want.
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That's what I need.
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That reminds me of how it was when I grew up.
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That's what I love about the community I'm in now.
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So Yeah, and I you know, I know the principal at Landrum High School, the football coach at Landrum High School, and those guys love the community, love, love the the school and the district for the same reasons.
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They love it because the superintendent's involved, but he lets you do your job and he wants you to know that he's there to support you.
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He's not there to get you, he's there to support you.
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And and I've heard that from numerous people.
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So whatever the superintendent's name is Mark Smith.
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Mark Smith.
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Mark Smith, whatever you're doing, man.
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Keep it up.
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You're doing a fantastic job.
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I know everybody talks really highly of you.
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I've had the chance to meet him.
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I met him last year at a track meet, I think, with um Coach Hannon.
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Coach Hannon?
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No, who's head track meeting?
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Coach Farnham.
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Farnum.
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I don't know why I said Hannon.
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Coach Farnum.
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I had a chance to meet him last year when I brought the food truck over.
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Um, so basically, Scott, tell us a little bit about, and I remember some of this thinking back to some of the small changes your body was making, some of the some of the issues you were having that we just didn't know whether it was just fatigue or or what it was.
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But can you explain when and how you started to notice a change in your body?
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Yes.
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So it was spring break 2024.
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And for us, that's usually in Spartan Registrick 1, that's usually the first or second full week of April.
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So during that time period, we had uh, I guess you just call it a GI bug, 24-hour bug, whatever, come through our family.
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Well, it hit, you know, my daughter first, and then it hit me, and uh then it did hit Katie.
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Um sorry was the only one who escaped.
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But then after that, you know, it was really a couple weeks later, and and you know beforehand, and a lot of people do, I was a big, I'm a big gym guy.
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Like I was I lived weights for maybe even sometimes five days a week.
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Uh, maybe a little excessive, but you know, um that was part of my commitment, passion, and I know, you know, all that other stuff.
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But I started noticing some soreness some in my calves, and I thought it was weird.
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Um I was like, well, maybe I've just strained something, pulled something, you know, no big deal.
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So I kind of let that go for, you know, really the rest of the school year because it wasn't like hindering me in any way.
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I just didn't, you know, use my calves to lift any weights or anything, you know.
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And by the time I got to summer, I noticed I'd come home every day and like I'd almost go in there and take a nap.
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And I was like, well, this ain't like me, but I also contributed that to you finish a season, and it was the same way during football.
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Usually your body shuts down, coaches get a little sick, everything that's been pinned up again is is kind of let out.
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And so I just kind of chalked it up the way it's just the end of a season, it's the end of a school year.
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So I still didn't think much of it.
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I even had a couple instances where I'd go to the gym and I couldn't get through my workout.
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Now, you know, I go in there and I and I've got a mission.
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Like I'm not there socialized, and I would I mean I would push myself to the max to get that workout just because that challenged me.
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That was a way for me to let go of all my anxiety, my stress, you know, anything that was bothering me.
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And and that's true, you know, when you if you work out, that's a true statement that does help you.
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But I couldn't finish those workouts.
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And then, you know, at that time I had already quit, or not quit, I had stepped away from coaching football.
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And yeah, I'd started working for you some.
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I helped a buddy at Swalford cut grass for a summer because obviously I lost that supplement.
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And I, as a man, knew I had to step it up and provide for this family.
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And so I picked up the grass cut and I picked up working with you with catering and you know, weddings and food truck stuff, and I picked up with another buddy uh at Swalford that also did a food truck, just trying to, you know, like everybody, kind of make ends meet, provide for your kids, you got all this stuff to pay for.
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And so I had already gone through a lot of processes of like going to a local chiropractor, getting foot insoles, getting certain shoes.
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I had done all this stuff thinking like it's just my body's out of whack or something.
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And so, you know, it it was uh 4th of July, and I was standing over a 350-degree uh oil cooking uh fried Oreos and uh uh funnel cakes.
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And so like I'm going, I'm going, you know, and I'm I'm I'm one of those guys, I'll grind it out.
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I ain't I ain't gonna stop.
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And so I'm sitting there the whole day now.
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This is like early in the morning until you're talking about after fireworks on the 4th of July.
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By the end of the day, my body hurt so bad from the waist down, like I was in tears, and had no idea what was going on, couldn't just other than my back's out or something.
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So I ended up, you know, it took me a while to get home and all that kind of stuff, and the next day I rested.
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I just was like, man, I'm tired.
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The day after that, which was a Saturday, I went to the Durham gym.
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And that Sunday night, we eat dinner at Katie's parents, and I'm over there and I just kind of break down.
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Like I told her, I said, I'm hurt.
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Like it's bad.
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So that that's kind of when we kind of really um figured out that it was gonna be bad, and the next day we went to the emergency room, which kind of started the whole avalanche of doctors' appointments.
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So that's where we that's how it started.
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And now what were and and you can answer this, or Katie's probably a little more aware of diagnoses and that kind of stuff, because she is probably by far the smartest person in the room right now.
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So what were the early diagnoses or thoughts on what was going on?
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I mean, I remember a lot of that conversation back in the day, and it was like it was it could be this or it could be that, or it could be this or it could be that, or this is a symptom of this, or this is a symptom of that.
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But I mean, what what were those early diagnoses?
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So, like he said, we ended up going to the ER shortly after the 4th of July that summer, and he was definitely a mystery to many of the doctors there.
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A lot of the symptoms just weren't lining up with one another.
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Uh, he had so many labs done and so much done in that initial ER visit.
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And they at first were just ruling out Lyme disease, although he hadn't really been hiking or anything like that.
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Um, some of the symptoms were just kind of lining up with what those symptoms would be, and then they thought that it could be an abnormal um presentation of something called Galeon Buret syndrome, which it is similar in that it's kind of a paralysis and has to do with peripheral nerves, but ultimately that was also ruled out.
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Um so the biggest thing they were looking at as one of the diagnoses was called CIDP.
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It is very similar to what he does have, which is non-systemic vasculatic neuropathy.
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But um it was finally diagnosed after a nerve biopsy, and it showed that it was not CIDP.
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It was this other thing, and it's it's been a lot of back and forth, and with it being such a rare condition, it has been really difficult, and I think that's made this whole journey a lot more difficult and frustrating.
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Um but there again, doctors don't always know everything, and it's hard to pick symptoms and figure out exactly what it's all coming from.
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Yeah, it's a lot of a lot of different things.
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I mean, because it it changes daily sometimes.
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One day he's okay, the next day he's you know struggling to do basic things.
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Like when I walked in today, I could tell that he wasn't Scott.
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So he's doing this podcast and he's not 100% his self.
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So we're gonna get through this thing and let him tell his story.
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Well, you gotta finish, you gotta finish.
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So when did your doctors figure out you had the non-systemic vasculytic neuropathy?
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And that can be Katie or Scott, either one can answer that question.
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Uh so like I said, the final diagnosis was pretty much confirmed after he had a muscle and nerve biopsy done uh last summer.
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Where was that?
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Was that Greenville Memorial?
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Okay, it wasn't when y'all were in uh no, they um Mayo Clinic.
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Mayo Clinic, yeah.
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They did it at Greenville Memorial in June, I believe, of 2025.
00:18:30.960 --> 00:18:35.759
And the results came back pointing to this non-systemic vasculatic neuropathy.
00:18:35.920 --> 00:18:47.200
But even with that being kind of pointed to, it still seemed like there were still a lot of questions among our physicians and everything like that.
00:18:47.440 --> 00:18:53.279
So we did end up reaching out and having a second opinion at Mayo Clinic.
00:18:53.440 --> 00:18:59.359
We went this past April and we're totally blown away by the Mayo Clinic, and it was incredible.
00:18:59.519 --> 00:19:03.759
The staff was incredible, everything there was beyond what we could have imagined.
00:19:04.000 --> 00:19:21.839
But um, I did recently review all of the tests and procedures Scott has gone through, and I calculated the total of 26 different procedures, anywhere from just an X-ray to a lumbar puncture to bone marrow aspiration.
00:19:21.920 --> 00:19:24.720
It's it's just been incredible what he's had to go through.
00:19:25.359 --> 00:19:33.119
And that does not even start to count the amount of blood draws he's had, but it's taken a very long time to get to the diagnosis.
00:19:33.200 --> 00:19:54.000
Um, Mayo Clinic was able to confirm that it is non-systemic vasculatic neuropathy, and um they're helping our physician team down here kind of come up with what the best treatment plan is gonna be for him, even though some of the treatments have failed, but we're just trying the next one until we can find something that works.
00:19:54.319 --> 00:20:00.079
Yeah, one thing I know about Scott is he's not real tough, so I'm sure some of those things, some of those things have probably been really hard on him.
00:20:00.160 --> 00:20:00.799
I'm just kidding.
00:20:00.880 --> 00:20:05.440
He's um he's fighting a fight that not any of us want to be a want to be a part of, but we're all right there with it.
00:20:05.519 --> 00:20:07.359
We're gonna fight it with him, there's no doubt about that.
00:20:07.519 --> 00:20:14.960
But moving on to what is, and and like I said, Katie's answering some of these questions just because, like I said earlier, she's the smartest one in the room.
00:20:15.119 --> 00:20:16.000
I think all of us know that.
00:20:16.079 --> 00:20:17.119
We're well aware of that.
00:20:17.279 --> 00:20:20.000
Yeah, she can leave, and I'm gonna be the smartest person in the room.
00:20:20.720 --> 00:20:21.759
No, I'm just kidding.
00:20:21.920 --> 00:20:23.680
Scott's probably way smarter than I am.
00:20:23.839 --> 00:20:27.680
Um, what is not what is the non-systemic vasculytic neuropathy?
00:20:27.759 --> 00:20:28.720
What is that exactly?
00:20:28.880 --> 00:20:30.160
What does it entail?
00:20:30.319 --> 00:20:39.599
Um, I mean, I had a doctor tell me the other day in the in the at the country club what it was because I could I was kind of talking about Scott, but what is it when you guys describe it to somebody?
00:20:39.680 --> 00:20:40.720
How do you describe that?
00:20:41.119 --> 00:20:47.039
So we do describe that it it is an autoimmune condition from you know an unknown source.
00:20:47.200 --> 00:20:54.319
You know, we really believe it did happen after the initial virus, and that just kind of opened up the body for the attack to happen.
00:20:54.480 --> 00:20:59.200
And um, it's an autoimmune condition where the body's immune system is what is doing the attacking.
00:20:59.279 --> 00:21:04.880
So it attacks the small blood vessels that are supplying the nerves with blood and oxygen.
00:21:05.440 --> 00:21:16.319
And because the blood vessels aren't getting enough blood and oxygen, it causes them to become damaged, painful, per makes him have numbness, weakness, trouble walking.
00:21:16.880 --> 00:21:24.799
Um it is different than vasculitis because vasculitis affects the organs in the body.
00:21:25.359 --> 00:21:30.000
And this type of vasculitis he has just is affecting the peripheral nerve.
00:21:30.160 --> 00:21:34.880
So we're thankful it's not vasculitis because that that is much more involved.
00:21:35.039 --> 00:21:40.000
Um this is not a walk in the park, but we're thankful it is not any worse.
00:21:40.480 --> 00:21:48.160
Um for Scott, this has affected both of his lower legs and his left hand over the course of the last two and a half years.
00:21:48.640 --> 00:21:52.000
Um, for other people, it affects different parts of the body.
00:21:52.559 --> 00:21:59.759
Um and really it's just become more challenging as the flares have been more constant and consistent.
00:22:00.160 --> 00:22:02.960
And just affecting his everyday life.
00:22:03.759 --> 00:22:07.519
Yeah, I remember when we started dealing with the hand because he would have like fingers.
00:22:07.759 --> 00:22:14.000
He couldn't move and stuff like that, that was just kind of different for him, something he had never experienced before.
00:22:14.160 --> 00:22:19.119
So I do remember that part of it of playing his day, and the same thing with his legs when it all first started.
00:22:19.279 --> 00:22:22.319
But I mean, this is probably going to be a Scott question, I guess.
00:22:22.480 --> 00:22:31.119
Um, Scott, will you do me a favor and just talk about everyday life pre-uh diagnosis versus everyday life now?
00:22:31.359 --> 00:22:31.519
Okay.
00:22:31.680 --> 00:22:40.160
What's the difference in how your life used to be before all the symptoms and side effects and everything came into play versus how your life is now?
00:22:40.400 --> 00:22:41.279
Talk a little bit about your life.
00:22:41.440 --> 00:22:48.079
Well, I mean, I think anybody that knows me knows, and I know you know, um, but I'm a worker.
00:22:48.240 --> 00:22:50.000
That's just how I was raised.
00:22:50.240 --> 00:22:52.160
I don't understand laziness.
00:22:52.400 --> 00:22:54.240
Um, I don't believe in it.
00:22:54.480 --> 00:22:58.559
Um, there's times to rest, but there's times where you gotta work.
00:22:58.799 --> 00:23:04.720
And you know, I was taught that as a young age, and and for me, you know, it was getting up every day.
00:23:04.799 --> 00:23:19.839
Obviously, I'd go teach, uh, depending on what season it was, you know, um, you know, turning baseball would be the most recent, you know, because I think I stepped away from coaching before this all started, football.
00:23:20.079 --> 00:23:40.079
Um, but it, you know, you go to practice, you know, you're dealing with, you know, you game schedule, you practice schedule, you play multiple games a week, kid, you know, you Millie would have a game or a practice or something, so you try to manage jetting from uh your practice into her game, uh, you know, trying to get there and catch a couple innings.
00:23:40.319 --> 00:23:44.000
Usually the weekends you're going to the ball field somewhere.
00:23:44.160 --> 00:23:48.319
Um, you know, and it's just non-stop.
00:23:48.480 --> 00:23:53.839
Yeah, and you know, I I just go so hard with everything I do.
00:23:53.920 --> 00:23:57.119
Like there's no, let's not dial it back.
00:23:57.200 --> 00:23:59.119
Like, you know, you and I are kind of the same.
00:23:59.279 --> 00:24:01.359
You know, when we do it, we do it right.
00:24:01.680 --> 00:24:05.039
And so for me, it was just I was always so busy, you know.
00:24:05.119 --> 00:24:08.319
And there's some things I look back on, like, did I need to be in the gym that much?
00:24:08.559 --> 00:24:08.880
No.
00:24:09.279 --> 00:24:10.799
As a selfish move.
00:24:11.039 --> 00:24:23.039
But to me, I looked at it as a way to show my kids and my family, like, look, I'm not, I'm not a obviously I'm not a uh well-in-shaped guy, but you know, my dad, you know, I want my kids to say my dad goes there and works out.
00:24:23.279 --> 00:24:24.640
Yeah, and it's good mentality for you too.
00:24:24.880 --> 00:24:26.160
Yeah, it's good mental release.
00:24:26.400 --> 00:24:34.960
I don't ask for for my kids and even my players, like, if I'm not willing to do what I'm asking you to do, then I don't think that's right.
00:24:35.039 --> 00:24:36.160
You know, I'm a liar.
00:24:36.400 --> 00:24:38.000
So that was part of it for me too.
00:24:38.079 --> 00:24:39.200
I challenge myself.
00:24:39.359 --> 00:24:41.039
But you know, it was just always something.
00:24:41.119 --> 00:24:50.079
Uh, you know, every night, even now, you know, it is it's so crazy with taking time off, and you know, I can't help do anything.
00:24:50.160 --> 00:24:51.599
But that's pretty much what it was.
00:24:51.759 --> 00:24:57.920
It's just like, you know, we're going 100 miles an hour like a lot of people are, you know, and I and we got two kids, darn.
00:24:58.079 --> 00:25:00.720
I know people that's got three and four people.
00:25:00.960 --> 00:25:03.200
Three and four, not pick four kids.
00:25:03.920 --> 00:25:08.319
And they'd be playing on multiple teams and might have one in college, and uh, it's crazy.
00:25:08.400 --> 00:25:10.480
I I tell you what, I don't know how they do it.
00:25:10.559 --> 00:25:11.920
I mean, it takes a village.
00:25:12.079 --> 00:25:13.519
That's the only answer.
00:25:13.759 --> 00:25:18.480
And so we're beneficiaries of a village right now.
00:25:19.039 --> 00:25:22.079
So yeah, we live our life a lot alike.
00:25:22.160 --> 00:25:24.640
I mean, I'm not in the gym working out, that's that's for dang sure.
00:25:24.880 --> 00:25:32.640
Those days left when I left college because I guess I did work out through through when I was coaching and stuff, but when I decided to get out of coaching, those days were gone.
00:25:32.799 --> 00:25:34.319
I didn't enjoy it, never enjoyed it.
00:25:34.400 --> 00:25:36.720
Not a day in my life did I enjoy working out.
00:25:37.039 --> 00:25:38.960
But um, but we were always the same.
00:25:39.039 --> 00:25:42.480
We're 100 miles an hour, we're on the go, we're trying to invest in our kids.
00:25:42.640 --> 00:25:50.079
And for a long time we tried to invest in everybody else's kids as as much as we possibly could, even if it took away, took us away from our families.
00:25:50.160 --> 00:25:52.480
And that's that's something me and you truly believe in.
00:25:52.640 --> 00:25:58.559
And, you know, just watching this whole process from my side, I asked that question because I've watched it all.
00:25:58.640 --> 00:26:05.920
I've seen you have to take steps back, I've seen you have to miss school when you were one of those who just didn't take days off.
00:26:06.079 --> 00:26:10.160
I mean, the only time you would take off was when we were traveling to see Vaughn play or something.
00:26:10.319 --> 00:26:15.279
You know, we'd go watch Miami or go watch whoever together when Vaughn's coaching.
00:26:15.440 --> 00:26:18.480
But I mean, it's one of those things where those were the days you took off.
00:26:18.559 --> 00:26:20.319
You didn't take off just to take off.
00:26:20.640 --> 00:26:23.599
And that's been a huge change for you, I know.
00:26:23.759 --> 00:26:34.960
Uh, and I think that's kind of you know what has happened with you with the whole job situation is is they're willing to work with you, but you are one of those people that don't want to take advantage of anybody.
00:26:35.119 --> 00:26:35.519
Correct.
00:26:35.759 --> 00:26:41.759
And deep down inside of you, you felt like you were taking advantage of them because you couldn't be at work when you're supposed to be at work.
00:26:42.000 --> 00:26:49.200
And I know you well enough to know that's what's going through your head, even though in their mind, no, this guy's given us everything he can possibly give us.
00:26:49.359 --> 00:26:50.720
Now it's our turn to give back.
00:26:50.799 --> 00:26:50.960
Yeah.
00:26:51.119 --> 00:26:57.440
But I know in your in your mind, I know how you are, you're a lot like me, you feel like that you weren't doing your part, even though you had done your part.
00:26:57.759 --> 00:27:08.000
Well, I I'd like to add to that too, because you know, the past two and a half years, I've had a lot of time to sit in a recliner and just ponder life's mysteries.
00:27:08.240 --> 00:27:11.599
And so I always, you know, I'll do a lot of self-reflection and stuff like that.
00:27:11.680 --> 00:27:14.319
And I just always kind of wonder because I know I have anxiety.
00:27:14.480 --> 00:27:16.079
I know stuff would just wear me down.
00:27:16.160 --> 00:27:20.240
I carry people's emotions, I I want to be able to carry other people's problems.
00:27:20.400 --> 00:27:25.440
I don't know if it's just being the oldest child or whatever, you know, but that's just kind of how I feel.
00:27:25.599 --> 00:27:35.839
But you know, my biggest thing, which, you know, a lot of people can say their biggest strength is also their weakness, but I've I've come to come to determine and I've diagnosed myself with I have a fear of disappointment.
00:27:36.319 --> 00:27:46.079
And I think that's a lot of times what goes in my mind first is you know, I'm disappointing somebody because I can't do my job or I can't do my responsibility.
00:27:46.400 --> 00:27:56.640
And even if I am doing it, I always want to make sure that individual, you know, especially a head coach, like, you know, I'm I was one of those guys, like, I want to make sure this head coach wants me around.
00:27:56.799 --> 00:27:58.240
And so I'd work my tail off.
00:27:58.319 --> 00:27:58.799
Yep.
00:27:59.119 --> 00:28:07.839
And so to me, you know, like I say, it can be a strength, but there's times where I have to understand it's a weakness that I I I'm not disappointing people.
00:28:07.920 --> 00:28:08.480
I know that.
00:28:08.640 --> 00:28:23.599
But that's hard for, you know, I don't consider myself a fully blown alpha male, but I'm confident and I'm gonna, you know, speak my mind and speak speak what I feel like is the truth and stuff like that.
00:28:23.839 --> 00:28:28.400
But you know, I I can't get I know people are not disappointed, I know that.
00:28:29.119 --> 00:28:33.519
And you know, that's just a hard thing for a man to get over.
00:28:33.759 --> 00:28:34.160
Oh, I agree.
00:28:34.400 --> 00:28:34.640
Yep.
00:28:34.799 --> 00:28:37.200
You know, I I've I've said this numerous times on the podcast.
00:28:37.359 --> 00:28:39.519
My my biggest fear is failure, period.
00:28:39.759 --> 00:28:46.960
Like, I've been so close to losing everything I've got financially because of my dream of running this barbecue business.
00:28:47.359 --> 00:28:48.160
It is constant.
00:28:48.319 --> 00:28:55.279
Like, there's days we wake up, we don't know how we're gonna feed our kids, put food on our table because I gotta make sure everybody that's working for me is taken care of first.
00:28:55.680 --> 00:29:01.200
And that's one of my biggest fears, and I know you're when you're a lot alike, and and that's true, disappointment sucks.
00:29:01.440 --> 00:29:07.519
You know, when you have to look somebody, when you when you know you're you're getting paid to do a job and you can't do that job, I get exactly where you're coming from.
00:29:07.599 --> 00:29:09.359
Like, I see that, I feel that with you.
00:29:09.440 --> 00:29:11.039
So I know how that is.
00:29:11.200 --> 00:29:12.880
And you know, it's kind of like today, man.
00:29:12.960 --> 00:29:21.759
I woke up this morning and the first thing I thought about was Eeyore, just because I got a couple sick, I got a couple people sick that I needed today.
00:29:21.839 --> 00:29:25.839
I got so much stuff on my plate that needs to be done.
00:29:26.000 --> 00:29:28.799
And I just had an Eeyore moment before I got in the shower this morning.
00:29:28.880 --> 00:29:31.039
Just like poor, poor pitiful man.
00:29:31.279 --> 00:29:32.400
Yeah, thanks for noticeing.
00:29:32.799 --> 00:29:34.079
I mean, just kind of thing like that.
00:29:34.160 --> 00:29:38.799
And man, while I was taking my shower, uh, I've been listening to somebody called John Lynn.
00:29:38.880 --> 00:29:42.240
He's just a singer, he sings a lot of gospel music and Christian music.
00:29:42.319 --> 00:29:50.160
And I was listening to him, and I started thinking about man, I get to do a podcast with one of my good friends who's a pastor in the area this morning early.
00:29:50.319 --> 00:29:53.839
I got a chance to do a podcast with him that that just blessed my heart.
00:29:54.000 --> 00:30:14.240
And I'm like, I get a chance to do what I love, which is cook barbecue, serve barbecue, run the restaurant, run the food trucks, and I get a chance to come spend time with one of my best friends and talk about something that's important to him and something that's important to me, and something that we're gonna try to get some people educated on so that we can get y'all some help.
00:30:14.400 --> 00:30:17.200
And from that moment forward, I'm kind of like, you know what?
00:30:17.279 --> 00:30:21.200
It don't matter what this day throws at me, it can always be way worse.
00:30:21.519 --> 00:30:21.680
Right.
00:30:22.319 --> 00:30:25.759
And, you know, I'm just thankful to be here and have the opportunity to talk to you guys.
00:30:25.839 --> 00:30:28.480
But Katie, this next question is kind of gonna fall to you.
00:30:28.799 --> 00:30:31.119
Take Scott, the microphone microphone away from Scott.
00:30:31.200 --> 00:30:32.720
Everybody's tired of hearing him talk anyway.
00:30:32.880 --> 00:30:46.079
So question number eight is gonna be, Katie, what kind of effect has it had on everyday family life with assisting Scott, working your job slash jobs, and then helping raise your kids?
00:30:46.160 --> 00:30:49.759
And the job you didn't tell anybody about is you're like a late-night babysitter.
00:30:50.000 --> 00:30:54.799
You just go to people's house, spend the night, take care of the baby while they get to sleep.
00:30:54.960 --> 00:30:56.880
Where was this when my kids were growing up?
00:30:57.279 --> 00:30:59.599
I mean, I didn't know you were you would have done that kind of stuff.
00:30:59.680 --> 00:31:01.039
I'd have been calling you years ago.
00:31:01.279 --> 00:31:03.759
It's that job has been a blessing for me.
00:31:03.920 --> 00:31:07.039
I get to love on little babies and then leave them.
00:31:07.599 --> 00:31:08.240
True that.
00:31:08.400 --> 00:31:20.240
Um, but that that honestly has been a blessing of a job for our family since I can step away at night when I think, you know, everybody should be safe and at home and in bed and not needing me.
00:31:20.400 --> 00:31:22.640
And then I'm home by the time everybody's waking up.
00:31:22.720 --> 00:31:27.519
So anyway, little little side blurb about my new job.
00:31:27.680 --> 00:31:36.240
But um I would say overall, there isn't an aspect of our life that hasn't changed since this has started.
00:31:36.720 --> 00:31:46.799
Um initially it was just little things here and there, but you know, more recently it's it's been a total change for everybody and everything.
00:31:47.440 --> 00:31:57.519
Um there's honestly, I know we've talked about our parents and our family and our village, but there's no way we could have made it through the last couple of years without them.
00:31:58.400 --> 00:32:07.200
And there's no words or adequate sayings to say exactly how much they mean to us and how blessed we are to have them.
00:32:07.920 --> 00:32:20.400
Um, you know, raising the kids, they they have a huge hand in that, and their teachers and coaches all know what's going on and have been huge for us as well.
00:32:21.200 --> 00:32:28.319
And um without them, without everybody, I definitely can't do this alone.
00:32:28.640 --> 00:32:33.119
Scott wants to be able to do it, and he can't, and that's very difficult.
00:32:33.680 --> 00:32:43.359
Um you know, he he misses things that before he would have never missed, and that's hard for everybody.
00:32:43.440 --> 00:32:48.319
And I think our kids, our kids know that he would be there if he could for sure.
00:32:48.559 --> 00:32:55.279
Um, but anyway, we're just very thankful to have everybody that helps us pretty much every single day.
00:32:55.680 --> 00:33:03.920
Yeah, and that, you know, and that's one of the things about you know, me being an ex-educator and being in the school system and understanding teachers and understanding coaches.
00:33:04.000 --> 00:33:08.400
And sometimes, you know, people think teachers, some teachers are heartless because they're hard on you.
00:33:08.559 --> 00:33:08.960
They are.
00:33:09.039 --> 00:33:13.039
They they push you in the classroom, they want what's best for you all the time.
00:33:13.200 --> 00:33:15.599
They want you to be the best student you can possibly be.
00:33:15.759 --> 00:33:19.680
But at the end of the day, they care about you and they care about your kids.
00:33:19.839 --> 00:33:20.559
It's that simple.
00:33:20.799 --> 00:33:34.160
They might not know you as a parent, but if you communicate with them, hey, this is going on, they're gonna do whatever it takes to make sure your kid has an atmosphere at school to where they feel comfortable, to where they can be successful and they can flourish.
00:33:34.400 --> 00:33:39.920
And for anybody that that that doesn't believe that, they've never worked in that field before.
00:33:40.000 --> 00:33:43.839
If you think a teacher's there to give your kid a hard time, that's not the purpose of that.
00:33:43.920 --> 00:33:46.880
Their purpose is to make you make your kid the best they could possibly be.
00:33:47.039 --> 00:33:52.240
And whatever they have to do to do that, they're willing to do that with all the teachers I've ever worked with, and I've worked with a lot.
00:33:52.400 --> 00:33:54.319
So, and then how have your kids responded?
00:33:54.400 --> 00:33:59.839
Uh, do they understand the diagnosis or are they still kind of, you know, trying to figure this whole thing out too?
00:34:00.319 --> 00:34:03.759
I am definitely biased, but I think our kids are amazing.
00:34:03.920 --> 00:34:09.599
Um, they have handled all of this just great.
00:34:09.920 --> 00:34:14.719
Um, you know, like I said, he misses things he definitely would never miss before.
00:34:14.800 --> 00:34:16.079
And they they never complain.
00:34:16.159 --> 00:34:19.920
They don't complain when plans change, when plans have to get canceled.
00:34:20.239 --> 00:34:25.519
They don't complain that someone else has to take them somewhere because mom and dad have to go somewhere else.
00:34:25.920 --> 00:34:36.400
Um, they help however they can, whether it's cutting the grass or doing the laundry or just however they can help pick up what we can't handle.
00:34:36.880 --> 00:34:39.679
Um so they're amazing.
00:34:39.920 --> 00:34:42.719
I don't know that they understand the actual diagnosis.
00:34:42.960 --> 00:34:48.079
Um, I don't know that we've ever explained word for word what's going on.
00:34:48.239 --> 00:34:53.920
They just kind of know they're they can read when he's having a good day and when he's having a bad day.
00:34:54.159 --> 00:35:03.599
Um and they honestly just know how to act accordingly and to help and to just sit sometimes.
00:35:04.320 --> 00:35:15.519
Um you know, they've been living through all of this just alongside us, and they have adapted amazingly.
00:35:15.760 --> 00:35:16.400
Yeah.
00:35:16.719 --> 00:35:18.079
And this is gonna be for Scott.
00:35:18.239 --> 00:35:20.079
Scott, how have you been able to?
00:35:20.239 --> 00:35:23.760
And I know the answer to this because I've I've seen the change in you the past couple of years.
00:35:23.920 --> 00:35:26.000
Your your faith's grown a whole lot stronger.
00:35:26.079 --> 00:35:34.159
Yes, your your trust in the Lord's grown a whole lot stronger, which has been a testament for to all of us, all your friend group noticed that, all the unit efforts noticed that.
00:35:34.400 --> 00:35:40.800
And how have you been able to stay positive through this process when every day I know is just a it's a hundred percent roller coaster?
00:35:40.880 --> 00:35:41.840
It's just insane.
00:35:42.159 --> 00:35:43.039
Yeah, I mean, it is.
00:35:43.119 --> 00:35:43.679
It's crazy.
00:35:43.760 --> 00:35:48.559
I know I told you about my day today where you know this morning I wanted to get some sun.
00:35:48.639 --> 00:35:51.440
I took my little jazzy out for a spin.
00:35:51.599 --> 00:36:03.039
I, you know, I took it on the road and went up to my brother's house and road it up his driveway and all that stuff just to get out, man, just to feel freedom, you know, smell fresh air.
00:36:03.199 --> 00:36:06.960
And but um I got stuck, you know, coming back.
00:36:07.039 --> 00:36:08.239
I got stuck on our sidewalk.
00:36:08.559 --> 00:36:10.159
You see Scott in the jazzy, don't get worried.
00:36:10.239 --> 00:36:10.880
He's good to get it.
00:36:11.119 --> 00:36:15.119
I don't have you know, I'll call, I'll call the I'll call my Uber, my dad.
00:36:15.199 --> 00:36:16.639
He'll come, he'll come get me.
00:36:16.880 --> 00:36:21.599
Um But I mean, for me, state the question again.
00:36:21.679 --> 00:36:22.079
I'm sorry.
00:36:22.239 --> 00:36:24.400
I just want to know how you're staying positive through this process, man.
00:36:24.559 --> 00:36:24.960
Yeah, sorry.
00:36:25.039 --> 00:36:26.960
So and sometimes folks, I do forget stuff.
00:36:27.039 --> 00:36:28.719
Uh like He's been that way forever.
00:36:28.960 --> 00:36:31.840
Well, that's not that's not a new that's not a new symptom.
00:36:32.079 --> 00:36:36.320
Sometimes I get the this we call it a brain fog, but how to stay positive.
00:36:36.400 --> 00:36:39.119
Well, number one, you know, I use my family, you know.
00:36:39.199 --> 00:36:49.440
I think that's number one, as far as like what's your motivation to kind of, you know, see this through, battle, you know, because you gotta be an example to your kids.
00:36:50.159 --> 00:37:07.199
And, you know, I've I've my faith has grown in this to where, you know, I used to probably always be so negative on myself and hard on myself, to where now I just, you know, always want stuff to be done and done quickly.
00:37:07.280 --> 00:37:17.440
And I want I don't want to sit around and waste time, but it's taught me patience, which has allowed me to dive into, you know, my you know, deeper faith.
00:37:17.519 --> 00:37:26.159
I mean, not that I haven't always believed that Jesus Christ was my Lord and Savior, but I think like you and everybody else, we ain't always really demonstrated the best times.
00:37:26.320 --> 00:37:32.159
We've had periods of life where, you know, we ain't too good, but you know, I wasn't too bad.
00:37:32.480 --> 00:37:47.039
But, you know, I think for me, I have to rely on the fact that of all these kids I've coached for 26 years, of all the times I said adversity is gonna come smack you in the face one day.
00:37:47.519 --> 00:37:50.559
And when you when it does, how are you gonna handle it?
00:37:51.280 --> 00:37:58.000
So I've always talked about pushing through, grinding through stuff, finishing, you know, be confident.
00:37:58.159 --> 00:38:01.039
So if I can't do that, I'm a hypocrite.
00:38:01.119 --> 00:38:13.840
Yeah, and now please understand young people, because and even even even husbands, like don't think that my mental health was always thriving.
00:38:15.039 --> 00:38:19.199
It was not, especially that first year when we have no answers.
00:38:19.360 --> 00:38:19.599
Yeah.
00:38:19.840 --> 00:38:28.559
So I probably took a few rock bottoms, you know, in the middle of the WrestleMania ring, you know, during that time.
00:38:28.719 --> 00:38:28.880
Yeah.
00:38:29.119 --> 00:38:33.760
Not to say that I haven't had some since, but you know, that that's to me is a thing.
00:38:33.840 --> 00:38:46.400
And I'm not gonna say, you know, I I get up every day and I want to just, you know, somehow get better or win the day, as you would wanna want to say.
00:38:46.480 --> 00:38:51.519
Uh and some days that doesn't totally happen, but a lot of times I do, I thrive.
00:38:51.679 --> 00:39:00.079
I I I recall my kids that I've coached, and I don't want to lie to them because I that that would be a fear disappointment for me.
00:39:00.639 --> 00:39:02.880
Um, you know, I think I look at two other things too.
00:39:03.039 --> 00:39:10.480
Number one, I look at my uncle Mike, who passed away from ALS, and back in '93, and you know, I would go over there as a kid.
00:39:10.800 --> 00:39:16.639
I'd be scared to death because you know, he'd be hooked up at that point to, you know, a computer.
00:39:16.880 --> 00:39:19.519
Back then it wasn't like today where it kind of sounds like a voice.
00:39:19.599 --> 00:39:23.519
You know, it was like it sounded like a computer, you know, like very digitized.
00:39:23.679 --> 00:39:28.000
And, you know, every time I saw him, he just had a smile on his face.
00:39:28.320 --> 00:39:31.519
You know, and to me that that encourages me.
00:39:31.599 --> 00:39:34.159
That's one of those things, like, like he had ALS.
00:39:34.320 --> 00:39:44.559
So like, you know, there's no cure, especially, you know, however many years ago, you're talking what, 10, 20, 30, something years ago.
00:39:45.119 --> 00:39:50.000
And so, but I never saw him in a bad mood.
00:39:50.239 --> 00:39:56.880
You know, and so even though I was as a younger kid scared to kind of be around him, you know, because you don't understand.
00:39:57.360 --> 00:39:58.559
But I did see that.
00:39:58.639 --> 00:40:00.159
And so kids watch.
00:40:00.400 --> 00:40:17.760
You know, I even got, you know, my uncle Jeff, who's been, you know, he's been uh um I don't know, is it he's got a physical wheelchair bound, physical disability from a you know, a car wreck back in, I think before I was born.
00:40:17.920 --> 00:40:19.599
So is that the calibash guy?
00:40:19.840 --> 00:40:20.880
Yeah, okay, yeah, yeah.
00:40:21.039 --> 00:40:21.440
Yeah, yeah.
00:40:21.519 --> 00:40:23.440
And so I mean, you know, I'm 44.
00:40:23.679 --> 00:40:27.280
So uh for all my life, that's all I've ever known was him.
00:40:27.440 --> 00:40:28.159
But you know what?
00:40:28.239 --> 00:40:31.840
He he's done his own lawn care business, he's gotten out and work, he still runs it.
00:40:31.920 --> 00:40:38.800
So, like, you know, that that to me tells me plain enough, like I can tell you what now, right now guaranteed, I ain't sitting in a chair the rest of my life.
00:40:38.960 --> 00:40:41.119
Yeah, somebody gonna get hurt.
00:40:41.599 --> 00:40:44.800
And but that's just kind of how I stay positive.
00:40:44.880 --> 00:40:46.800
You know, I look at things, I go the Bible, man.
00:40:46.880 --> 00:40:52.400
I mean, I, you know, and I'm not no Bible expert, but you know, I think it's really coincidental.
00:40:52.559 --> 00:41:06.960
I don't know if you saw, I don't know if you say coincidental, but to me, it's like too much to say that, you know, I don't know if God is there, but like I got this Cliff Notes Bible that kind of dummies it down for me.
00:41:07.199 --> 00:41:08.079
I know what you mean.
00:41:08.239 --> 00:41:16.079
And I got the athlete's Bible, which you get at FCA camps and stuff during the summer, which is already kind of filtered down to where I can understand it.
00:41:16.159 --> 00:41:20.960
You know, I don't all these these, thou's and thou's to that confuses me.
00:41:21.199 --> 00:41:35.840
But you know, essentially I can read this page and a half passage, and it gives me a Cliff Notes version of what I'm getting ready to read in the Bible, and it just so happened that the first passages I read, I'm still reading it because I'm still not where I should be with that.
00:41:35.920 --> 00:41:48.639
But it's about Job and how Job, and I'm probably gonna miss, I'm not gonna go into great detail, but essentially he has a lot of things taken away from him from by God, and he suffers and yeah, probably one of the roughest lives of anybody in the Bible, no doubt.
00:41:49.199 --> 00:41:50.639
If it could go wrong, it went wrong.
00:41:50.800 --> 00:41:53.920
Yeah, so I mean it's one of those things, like I don't play the victim.
00:41:54.079 --> 00:41:56.079
I I'm not a victim of anything.
00:41:56.320 --> 00:42:00.480
Um, this is this is my journey, and by God, I I'm a competitor.
00:42:00.559 --> 00:42:01.039
Yeah, yeah.
00:42:01.199 --> 00:42:02.320
And I'm gonna go at it.
00:42:02.480 --> 00:42:05.440
You know, and there's some mornings I wake up, man, I'm tired.
00:42:05.679 --> 00:42:10.320
You know, I'm on this large, you know, O'Connor County does these staggered starts now.
00:42:10.480 --> 00:42:14.719
So elementary starts at 8, middle starts at 8:30, high school starts at 8:50.
00:42:14.800 --> 00:42:16.480
So everything's staggered.
00:42:16.639 --> 00:42:20.400
So this year, Hadley's in middle school for the past, you know, however many years.
00:42:20.480 --> 00:42:23.840
She's been an elementary kid, so my wife just took her to school every day when she went.
00:42:24.000 --> 00:42:26.320
Well, now my wife has to start at 8.
00:42:26.480 --> 00:42:28.800
So that means I gotta take her to school every morning.
00:42:28.960 --> 00:42:41.119
And, you know, I used to complain about it, but now I just I embrace it because it's an extra 30 minutes I get to spend with her in the morning, taking her to school, enjoying that time down the road.
00:42:41.280 --> 00:42:43.360
And, you know, I I wake up tired.
00:42:43.519 --> 00:42:50.239
I got so much things, so many things to to happen, so much stuff I got to get done, all this stuff I've had planned.
00:42:50.480 --> 00:42:53.199
But then I start thinking about everything else and the people around me.
00:42:53.280 --> 00:42:57.920
And I think about you some mornings, and I'm like, you know, it don't matter.
00:42:58.000 --> 00:42:59.760
This dude's got to wake up every day.
00:43:00.000 --> 00:43:03.440
He's got to be ready to fight, he's got to be ready to win the day.
00:43:03.599 --> 00:43:12.719
And that's just one of the things that I've seen out of you for the past couple of months, because I've been paying a whole lot more attention now that we know the severity of everything.
00:43:12.960 --> 00:43:22.000
And it's just one of those things that it's an inspiration to see somebody that knows that it don't matter what kind of day you're having, by the end of the day, you may be fighting.
00:43:22.159 --> 00:43:23.440
You may be fighting by the end of the day.
00:43:23.519 --> 00:43:27.760
You can wake up feeling good, but by the time you go to bed, you may be in a you may be in a in a battle.
00:43:27.920 --> 00:43:42.639
And that's just one of those things that that's really that's really, you know, something that that I think is very helpful to other people is to see the way you're trying to live your life, even though you're going through a tough, a tough stage right now.
00:43:42.880 --> 00:43:51.760
Um, if you had to pick a song, a quote, a movie line, anything like that to describe your situation, what would that be and why?
00:43:52.159 --> 00:43:55.039
Well, I mean, I love that question.
00:43:55.199 --> 00:43:59.760
That's probably the one I was really looking the most forward to answering uh for you.
00:44:00.079 --> 00:44:03.280
You because I'm one of those guys and I think it's just being a coach.
00:44:03.599 --> 00:44:06.880
You just you find you try to find that quote.
00:44:07.039 --> 00:44:07.599
Yep, you do.
00:44:07.840 --> 00:44:14.320
Or that saying that just might trigger a little fire under your team for a big game or something like that.
00:44:14.480 --> 00:44:19.360
So I'm constantly saving stuff on Facebook and going back to it and looking at it.
00:44:19.440 --> 00:44:26.639
And I kind of went through today because I again I'm not one of those people that's like, hey, this is the quote of all quotes.
00:44:26.800 --> 00:44:29.840
This is the song of all songs.
00:44:30.000 --> 00:44:31.679
This it can vary.
00:44:31.920 --> 00:44:45.039
But I went back through a lot of my screenshots, and they can be of just Bible verses, they can be of what have you, of uh a quote from somebody else, or you know, but it's Habakkuk.
00:44:45.119 --> 00:44:46.239
I probably said that wrong.
00:44:46.320 --> 00:44:47.840
Yeah, uh, two, three.
00:44:48.079 --> 00:44:52.880
It says, God says, My timing may feel slow, but I have not forgotten you.
00:44:53.119 --> 00:44:56.800
I am preparing answers to your prayers.
00:44:57.440 --> 00:45:04.079
So, you know, that to me is something that is so important for me now is patience.
00:45:04.239 --> 00:45:06.480
Like I feel like I'm being taught patience.
00:45:06.639 --> 00:45:13.440
I don't feel like I'm being done used in the coaching uh brotherhood, sisterhood.
00:45:13.679 --> 00:45:17.199
Um, I don't yet know what those plans may be.
00:45:17.440 --> 00:45:19.840
Um, but you know, I'm not done.
00:45:20.000 --> 00:45:21.360
Like I'm scheming all the time.
00:45:21.440 --> 00:45:22.400
I'm a schemer.
00:45:22.719 --> 00:45:24.880
So I'm trying to figure out how to get something done.
00:45:24.960 --> 00:45:35.360
And then I guess really with you know a daily uh a daily thing I use is I compete every day.
00:45:35.679 --> 00:45:48.559
You know, you you you gonna compete whether you're getting up and you got a blue-collar job and you go into the mill, you gonna compete if you're on your own business and you got to get out in the world and take care of your clients.
00:45:48.719 --> 00:45:54.559
You gonna compete if you're that doctor or nurse, you're gonna compete if you're that teacher, administrator.
00:45:54.800 --> 00:46:02.320
So every job, like you gotta compete, you know, even when you don't feel like it is your best day.
00:46:02.800 --> 00:46:15.599
Um, you know, as far as you get with like movie quotes and stuff, I mean, gosh money, I the library of movies I have watched over the last two and a half years, I I think a better question is what what have been my favorite movies?
00:46:16.079 --> 00:46:22.480
Because I don't I I might can remember the quote when I'm watching the movie, but um, you know, for me it depends on my mood.
00:46:22.639 --> 00:46:27.039
Like if I'm ticked off and I'm mad, I'll watch like John Wick.
00:46:27.440 --> 00:46:35.360
And just that or the equalizer with Denzel Washington, just watching somebody just honestly just take a beating because they need it.
00:46:35.599 --> 00:46:38.800
And it just, you know, I can't do that, you know.
00:46:38.880 --> 00:46:43.199
So it's just like I don't know, that's a way to be like, yeah, man, get him, get him.
00:46:43.519 --> 00:46:52.880
You know, it's just a way to be like get rid of that anger that I might be feeling, or regret or frustration, you know, songs.
00:46:52.960 --> 00:46:55.519
I mean, I have I'm such I love music so much.
00:46:55.760 --> 00:47:09.760
Um, you know, there's so many artists out there, but there's a great song that I've really kind of taken to um recently uh by Tedesky Trucks band, uh, which I don't know if you've ever listened to them.
00:47:10.000 --> 00:47:12.800
Uh extremely, extremely good.
00:47:12.880 --> 00:47:15.440
But this song right here is one of my favorites.
00:47:15.519 --> 00:47:17.440
Uh it's called Bound for Glory.
00:47:17.920 --> 00:47:20.800
Um, you know, it's just a beautiful song.
00:47:20.960 --> 00:47:24.480
I mean, they're not a Christian band as far as like they label themselves as that.
00:47:24.559 --> 00:47:27.519
They're they're your kind of folk, you know.
00:47:28.079 --> 00:47:41.920
Western Scott, you know, um Derek Trucks in the band, who's related to all the you know, the Alman Brothers, stuff like that, or had dealing, you know, gigs with them growing up as a young kid, so he can absolutely wail on a guitar.
00:47:42.079 --> 00:47:47.760
So man, I'll pull that stuff up on YouTube and I'll just watch a concert and have myself a good time in my recliner.
00:47:47.920 --> 00:47:51.199
But that that song means a lot to me, you know.
00:47:51.599 --> 00:47:54.400
Um, you know, and it just depends on the mood, man.
00:47:54.559 --> 00:48:05.199
Like I could I might need something a little heavier like Metallica, or you know, I might need to hit my favorite group, Christian group, third day up, you know, do that kind of stuff.
00:48:05.280 --> 00:48:11.920
Of course, Zach Brown band and the Eagles, of course, are been a primary uh fixture in my life for a long time.
00:48:12.000 --> 00:48:18.480
Uh, so their music's very, you know, it's very relaxing to me because it just I know every word.
00:48:18.639 --> 00:48:18.960
Yeah.
00:48:19.119 --> 00:48:20.719
So something something familiar.
00:48:20.880 --> 00:48:21.440
I get it.
00:48:21.679 --> 00:48:23.360
And then this one's gonna go to Katie.
00:48:23.760 --> 00:48:25.920
Katie, what are the treatment options available?
00:48:26.079 --> 00:48:32.320
Some of the stuff y'all tried in the past, some of the stuff you're trying now, and then what some other future future may hold.
00:48:32.400 --> 00:48:34.880
And do we know if there's a cure or not?
00:48:36.400 --> 00:48:49.119
So for this condition, there isn't necessarily a cure, but the goal is to get the symptoms in remission and allowing him to, you know, live a normal life.
00:48:49.360 --> 00:48:56.159
Um, so to get the symptoms controlled, it's all done pretty much by shutting down his body's immune system.
00:48:56.400 --> 00:49:00.320
Um, so initially he responded very well to high dose steroids.
00:49:00.480 --> 00:49:05.360
He would take a few days of steroids and be able to live life normally.
00:49:05.679 --> 00:49:15.039
Um, and over the summer, I would say that the steroids kind of quit working in that way for him, which has led to a lot of bad days.
00:49:15.519 --> 00:49:22.000
Um he has also been getting infusions off and on to help with immunosuppression.
00:49:22.320 --> 00:49:24.320
Uh he goes to an infusion center.
00:49:24.400 --> 00:49:25.519
Shout out to Vital Care.
00:49:25.599 --> 00:49:26.159
We love them.
00:49:26.320 --> 00:49:33.840
They're very great with Scott and they, you know, want him to do the best and get better for sure.
00:49:34.000 --> 00:49:34.400
We love them.
00:49:34.480 --> 00:49:36.159
But anyway, everybody loves me.
00:49:37.280 --> 00:49:44.880
Um so kind of last ditch treatment, I would say, is a chemotherapy.
00:49:44.960 --> 00:49:47.679
And so that's what he has recently started a few weeks ago.
00:49:47.760 --> 00:49:53.840
It's a chemo pill that he takes daily, and it's gonna be a six-month treatment plan.
00:49:54.000 --> 00:50:00.159
So we're just you know, prayerfully hoping that this works and gets his symptoms in remission.
00:50:00.639 --> 00:50:07.199
Um, and you know, the goal is to get to get to that remission status and then just control symptoms going forward.
00:50:07.360 --> 00:50:14.960
So it's gonna take a few more months to see if the chemo is um able to do that.
00:50:15.119 --> 00:50:20.800
And I'm sure there's gonna be days that are a lot harder because the chemo is called cytoxin.
00:50:20.880 --> 00:50:24.079
And you know, they they keep preparing us that it's called that for a reason.
00:50:24.159 --> 00:50:25.199
It's pretty toxic.
00:50:25.840 --> 00:50:39.679
Um but after all of this that's been said, I think his positive outlook and just wanting to get better and compete every day, win every day, like he's gonna take those bad days and stride, just knowing that the end goal is to feel better.
00:50:40.320 --> 00:50:47.440
Um after the six months of chemo, then we'll move on to the next kind of step-down medication.
00:50:47.679 --> 00:50:49.599
But that is the goal for now.
00:50:50.559 --> 00:50:54.400
Yeah, and you can and and I know he's done some treatment so far.
00:50:54.639 --> 00:51:02.159
I know we had a lot of success with some, I guess, holistic type medicine with a chiropractor in was it in Asheville or somewhere?
00:51:02.559 --> 00:51:04.719
I know we had a lot of success with that.
00:51:04.960 --> 00:51:09.760
Uh, but I think that's kind of left now too, to where that's not working like it was.
00:51:09.920 --> 00:51:14.000
And so how is your body responding to the treatments that you're getting?
00:51:14.159 --> 00:51:16.480
And can you tell a difference in some of those treatments?
00:51:16.719 --> 00:51:17.840
Uh yeah, I can.
00:51:18.000 --> 00:51:21.440
I mean, I I know people have been asking how how do you feel on the chemo?
00:51:21.519 --> 00:51:25.360
Well, I think I still have some time before I'm really supposed to feel an effect.
00:51:25.440 --> 00:51:33.840
Now, you know, I've had days where um over the past couple weeks where uh my taste buds could be off.
00:51:33.920 --> 00:51:37.039
Like I think a couple weeks ago I had a high craving for fruit.
00:51:37.280 --> 00:51:40.159
Like I just couldn't get enough pineapples, strawberries, blueberries.
00:51:40.320 --> 00:51:41.119
I mean, it was weird.
00:51:41.199 --> 00:51:41.360
Yeah.
00:51:41.440 --> 00:51:44.880
And I did and I like fruits, but like it was like kind of feminine how you felt.
00:51:45.199 --> 00:51:45.519
I guess.
00:51:45.599 --> 00:51:46.559
I guess I felt yeah.
00:51:46.800 --> 00:51:50.159
But I was like, man, I need those fruits.
00:51:50.320 --> 00:51:52.320
Like it was just all I could stomach.
00:51:52.480 --> 00:51:56.559
Like right now, I have zero interest in anything fried.
00:51:56.719 --> 00:51:57.039
Really?
00:51:57.280 --> 00:51:58.559
I have no interest in anything fried.
00:51:58.800 --> 00:52:00.320
I don't think I have a diet if it's not fried.
00:52:00.800 --> 00:52:04.480
Um, you know, I I might get away with a couple French fries here and there.
00:52:04.719 --> 00:52:10.880
But like if you wanted me to go get, you know, fried chicken or chicken tenders from like Guthrie's or Chick-fil-A, like I can't do it.
00:52:10.960 --> 00:52:12.480
Like I can't stomach it right now.
00:52:12.719 --> 00:52:14.559
You know, it just doesn't sound good.
00:52:14.800 --> 00:52:17.440
Even though and then people who really know me know this is bad.
00:52:17.519 --> 00:52:19.119
There's days when I don't want a Coca-Cola.
00:52:19.360 --> 00:52:19.760
Really?
00:52:19.920 --> 00:52:20.559
And that's big.
00:52:23.199 --> 00:52:24.800
I actually just had Jersey Mics today for lunch.
00:52:25.039 --> 00:52:25.920
That does not surprise me.
00:52:26.239 --> 00:52:29.679
Um that used to be one of our rituals, weekly rituals when we were at North Greenville.
00:52:29.920 --> 00:52:37.760
Yeah, I had to, I had to sit and think about what I wanted because I was having some reflux going on because right now we're out of one of our medications.
00:52:37.920 --> 00:52:43.360
It's an acid that causes me to my stomach to you know cough up stuff.
00:52:43.440 --> 00:52:44.960
And so I didn't really want anything.
00:52:45.039 --> 00:52:52.159
But then when I settled down and took some medication, I was like, okay, I think I can eat and kind of went plain with just jersey mics.
00:52:52.320 --> 00:52:59.039
You know, a lot of stuff's plain, baked potatoes, you know, um uh mashed potatoes, stuff like that.
00:52:59.119 --> 00:53:00.800
I mean you don't get moes much anymore.
00:53:00.880 --> 00:53:01.199
Mexican?
00:53:01.360 --> 00:53:02.719
No, that moes and greer sucks.
00:53:03.119 --> 00:53:04.320
It used to be one of your go-to's.
00:53:04.559 --> 00:53:05.360
It is, it is.
00:53:05.519 --> 00:53:08.880
I think they close now, but we don't go there anymore.
00:53:09.039 --> 00:53:11.840
So if you're listening to this, you have to go to the Mo's on Pelham Road.
00:53:11.920 --> 00:53:12.800
It's way better.
00:53:12.960 --> 00:53:13.519
Way better.
00:53:13.760 --> 00:53:15.599
Pelham Road in Greenville, South Carolina.
00:53:15.760 --> 00:53:21.039
Yeah, and so that's you know, we we don't make that trip often, but you know, if I want Moe's, that's where you go.
00:53:21.119 --> 00:53:24.400
I quit going to the one in Rear probably a couple years ago.
00:53:24.639 --> 00:53:25.039
Gotcha.
00:53:25.280 --> 00:53:28.320
Um, but yeah.
00:53:29.360 --> 00:53:46.159
Um, but the treatment with um the chiropractor, you know, when I went up to Asheville, it was kind of a you know, a shot in the dark that we got advice from some friends of ours, uh, the Mings and Terry, and you know Terry.
00:53:47.760 --> 00:53:54.079
He had been using them, you know, he you know, with his cancer, and he would go to several and I was like, hey man, won't you try this guy?
00:53:54.159 --> 00:53:56.960
Of course, I'm like, man, what is a chiropractor gonna do to this?
00:53:57.119 --> 00:54:00.880
Yeah, but of course, you know, we we would try anything.
00:54:01.039 --> 00:54:04.960
You know, it really wasn't whatever you throw at us, we'll probably consider.
00:54:05.920 --> 00:54:11.519
And so really we went up there with, I mean, I don't know what expectation I had.
00:54:11.840 --> 00:54:24.639
Um, but I go in there and you know, I'm you know, I get in there and I'm hurting, you know, and I'm sitting there and he's talking about all this, and like, you know, I just, you know, worried about how's this really gonna work.
00:54:24.880 --> 00:54:30.639
He actually takes x-rays of me, does all these scans, and actually came up with a game plan.
00:54:30.719 --> 00:54:42.320
And he was probably the first person, you know, doctor or not, that I went and visited in an office that had a had a positive outlook.
00:54:42.639 --> 00:54:50.960
And so for me, that really convinced me that all right, you you feel like there's a pathway?
00:54:51.280 --> 00:54:53.679
Well, you're the first one, so I'm I'm all in.
00:54:53.760 --> 00:54:54.239
What's up?
00:54:54.320 --> 00:54:55.599
You know, what we gonna do?
00:54:55.920 --> 00:55:01.119
And so I've been going to him for I don't know, it's probably been 13, 14 months.
00:55:01.440 --> 00:55:08.079
And I'm gonna tell you, man, there's been days where I'll go in there, especially early on, and I couldn't walk.
00:55:08.400 --> 00:55:11.360
And I think that was the first day I went, I couldn't.
00:55:11.840 --> 00:55:13.199
Dude, I walked out of there.
00:55:13.280 --> 00:55:13.519
Yeah.
00:55:13.760 --> 00:55:15.760
And so to me, I was sold.
00:55:16.159 --> 00:55:22.000
And uh, you know, whatever your opinion is on chiropractic care, uh, you know, whatever.
00:55:22.239 --> 00:55:25.679
But for me, it made such a huge difference in my life.
00:55:25.840 --> 00:55:34.000
You know, yeah, it is an Ashefield, but when you felt as bad and feel as bad as I do, it it really doesn't matter.
00:55:34.159 --> 00:55:34.480
Yeah.
00:55:34.639 --> 00:55:49.760
Um, and I I have started going to another chiropractor in Greer uh with some back decompression and some, what is it, sound was it sound wave, soft wave, which have therapy, which has done also a lot of good for me.
00:55:49.920 --> 00:55:55.280
I haven't been able to go just because of fatigue and feeling bad, but so that's where I go mostly.
00:55:55.440 --> 00:55:57.599
Um, it does give me relief.
00:55:58.239 --> 00:56:02.400
Um it can allow me to go maybe, you know, a little bit.
00:56:02.719 --> 00:56:11.360
Um, but I I will continue to go and I totally support, you know, both the things I'm getting done.
00:56:11.440 --> 00:56:11.760
Yeah.
00:56:11.840 --> 00:56:19.840
Uh, because it does, I mean, my my C4 and C5 was so compact and crushed from just a life of going hard.
00:56:19.920 --> 00:56:20.239
Yeah.
00:56:20.480 --> 00:56:31.360
And so we're trying to create space uh to also kind of loosen that up and see if that's also adding any additional pain or any type of additional problems.
00:56:31.519 --> 00:56:31.679
Yeah.
00:56:31.840 --> 00:56:35.599
And I'm sure when they're dealing with that, I mean they're trying to create better blood flow, period.
00:56:35.679 --> 00:56:43.760
They're trying to adjust your body to take pressure off of certain points, and that's what you need is better blood blood flow by the definition of what Katie shared earlier.
00:56:43.920 --> 00:56:46.079
Is we've got to get blood flow to those nerve endings.
00:56:46.400 --> 00:56:46.639
Yes.
00:56:46.800 --> 00:56:49.199
And if that's working for you, man, I'm I'm excited about it.
00:56:49.440 --> 00:56:54.960
But just moving forward for anyone experiencing hardship or a similar situation.
00:56:55.119 --> 00:56:57.519
I know there's not many people that are going through what you're going through.
00:56:57.679 --> 00:56:59.440
No, it's very rare.
00:56:59.599 --> 00:57:01.679
Uh, it's not something that's common at all.
00:57:01.840 --> 00:57:17.440
Uh, but there's people that are going through other things too, whether it's cancer or whether it's, you know, all types of different things where you wake up in the morning and you're staring fear, you're staring the unknown, you're staring this stuff in the face constantly.
00:57:17.840 --> 00:57:34.480
So for anyone experiencing any kind of hardship or a similar situation as you and Katie and your family right now, what advice would you like to share with them about how to look at that or how to overcome that or how to keep a positive attitude while you're while you're experiencing that?
00:57:34.800 --> 00:57:43.599
Well, uh, I I hope that, you know, the people out there who have, you know, whatever disease it is, it could be something that's incurable.
00:57:43.679 --> 00:57:53.199
It could be something like you're like me, where you know it's not really a cure, but you can still get to a point where you can maintain, you know, a satisfactory life or productive life.
00:57:53.440 --> 00:58:00.000
And, you know, for me, the most important thing is you cannot do it on your own.
00:58:00.480 --> 00:58:04.480
If that's gonna be your approach, you're gonna fail.
00:58:04.960 --> 00:58:15.519
And I I know there's people out there who don't have great families or great, you know, they might have a great family, maybe they got great friends, you know, or vice versa.
00:58:15.679 --> 00:58:20.559
You know, but you you've got to find that little piece, you gotta find that goal.
00:58:20.719 --> 00:58:30.079
Like, okay, like, you know, number one, my goal is to love to be able to travel with, you know, y'all up to NC State to watch them play in November.
00:58:30.159 --> 00:58:31.440
Like, that's a goal of mine.
00:58:31.599 --> 00:58:32.960
Like, uh do I make it?
00:58:33.039 --> 00:58:33.440
I don't know.
00:58:33.760 --> 00:58:35.920
We're gonna figure we're gonna figure out that's a goal, you know.
00:58:36.159 --> 00:58:37.360
Piggy back in if I have to.
00:58:37.519 --> 00:58:38.800
I ain't got nothing to do with piggyback.
00:58:39.280 --> 00:58:40.960
Oh, we got oh, I forgot we got the jazzy.
00:58:41.679 --> 00:58:43.119
I'll just get a ride on the jazzy then.
00:58:43.280 --> 00:58:48.559
Yeah, it's yeah, but then you know it's just one of the things like my goal is to take my kids back to Disney World.
00:58:48.719 --> 00:59:00.960
You know, not for just a couple days, but like my family deserves, not me, my family deserves that type of vacation to where we're there and we're chill.
00:59:01.119 --> 00:59:02.159
We're gonna go have a good time.
00:59:02.639 --> 00:59:04.239
I don't care if I ride a ride.
00:59:04.559 --> 00:59:05.519
I don't need that.
00:59:05.679 --> 00:59:08.000
I've ridden them before many times.
00:59:08.400 --> 00:59:10.559
But my kids love it, my wife loves it.
00:59:10.719 --> 00:59:12.400
It's been a it was a great memory for us.
00:59:12.559 --> 00:59:14.800
It's kind of like our first family vacation.
00:59:15.280 --> 00:59:16.719
So, like, that's a goal for me.
00:59:16.880 --> 00:59:21.840
Now, if I have to ride my, you know, tail around in a jazzy, I don't care.
00:59:22.000 --> 00:59:24.960
Yeah, so it's not about me.
00:59:25.119 --> 00:59:34.159
It's about what point can I start giving back to my family and providing for them because for the past two and a half years for the most part, they've been taking care of me.
00:59:34.320 --> 00:59:34.800
Oh, yeah.
00:59:34.880 --> 00:59:38.159
And but but I mean you and they understand they understand the situation.
00:59:38.559 --> 00:59:38.800
Oh, yeah.
00:59:39.119 --> 00:59:47.440
Well, you know, it's not like it's a burden, it's not like it's they they completely understand the situation you're in, and they know that you sacrificed for them for a long time too.
00:59:47.840 --> 00:59:49.920
And so uh it's kind of like full circle.
00:59:50.239 --> 00:59:52.960
I would I would say the beach, but man, I can't even get on the beach.
00:59:53.199 --> 00:59:54.320
I don't want to get on the beach.
00:59:55.440 --> 00:59:57.519
If it wasn't for the sand and the salt, I'd be okay with it.
00:59:57.920 --> 01:00:02.000
I could take Katie to the beach for a month and she'd be like, drop her off.
01:00:02.320 --> 01:00:02.800
I could, yeah.
01:00:02.960 --> 01:00:05.039
Yeah, then we'd be the smartest people in the house.
01:00:05.280 --> 01:00:06.000
You would, yeah.
01:00:06.159 --> 01:00:07.039
Then we would be at that point.
01:00:07.360 --> 01:00:07.920
That's exactly right.
01:00:08.079 --> 01:00:08.880
That's exactly right.
01:00:09.039 --> 01:00:10.159
All right, question 14.
01:00:10.320 --> 01:00:22.480
And this one's gonna be a little more intense and probably the most in-depth question we've asked, but for better or for worse in sickness and in health, no one thought that you guys would ever be here.
01:00:22.719 --> 01:00:36.480
But how much does this vowel mean to you now through the whole two and a half years that you've processed this entire situation, this diagnosis, this battle, this search for answers.
01:00:36.800 --> 01:00:45.119
How true is that statement now that you're staring something like non-systemic vasculitic neuropathy down the down the barrel right now?
01:00:46.159 --> 01:00:49.440
Well, I mean, this, you know, you're looking at her.
01:00:49.920 --> 01:00:52.320
Um to me says a lot.
01:00:52.400 --> 01:01:26.239
I mean, I know, like you mentioned earlier, we you and I both went through a divorce early, and you know, I don't have anything negative to say about anything like that or previous relationships, but you know, I think I made a comment to my dad the other day, you know, about something and a relationship or whatever, and we really was a joke about something, and then it was something like, you know, well, maybe, you know, with getting with me marrying Katie and finding Katie, Katie, you know, at Eastside and you know, her marrying a guy who had already been married once at such a young age, you know, to me, God blessed me.
01:01:26.639 --> 01:01:36.559
God knew that at this point that Katie was going to be a central figure and play such a huge important role in this.
01:01:36.960 --> 01:01:37.679
Yeah, let's be honest.
01:01:37.760 --> 01:01:39.679
If Katie wasn't here, we wouldn't even know what this thing meant.
01:01:39.840 --> 01:01:40.000
No.
01:01:40.320 --> 01:01:42.559
That's why she's answered, we wouldn't have a clue about this.
01:01:42.880 --> 01:01:44.639
That's why she's answered all the smart questions.
01:01:44.880 --> 01:01:47.280
We'd just be like, Well, I ain't feeling good today.
01:01:47.519 --> 01:01:48.800
That's what it'd be like pretty much.
01:01:49.440 --> 01:01:52.079
Yeah, I mean, there wouldn't be no no brains to it for sure.
01:01:52.480 --> 01:02:00.960
I mean, it's one of those things, and I so yeah, for me, you know, I mean that that just shows true commitment.
01:02:01.039 --> 01:02:08.639
Yeah, you know, and and and you mean what you say, you know, and obviously if the roles were reversed, I would do whatever I could.
01:02:08.719 --> 01:02:11.519
Now, she don't want me going to these doctors' appointments and taking notes.
01:02:11.920 --> 01:02:12.639
No, definitely not.
01:02:12.800 --> 01:02:16.880
And listening, but I would go and sit there and wait while her mama took notes.
01:02:17.039 --> 01:02:19.440
Yeah, somebody would have to somebody else would have to sit there and take notes.
01:02:19.760 --> 01:02:22.559
So I would do what I could to best serve her.
01:02:22.639 --> 01:02:23.039
Yep.
01:02:23.280 --> 01:02:27.119
And, you know, I think that's what's so great about her.
01:02:27.280 --> 01:02:32.320
You know, um, I can't speak highly enough of her, what she's doing.
01:02:32.480 --> 01:02:38.800
I mean, I'm uh she, you know, she needs a break and she she grabs them when she can.
01:02:38.960 --> 01:02:49.039
But as far as her, she'll pick up shifts and work extra shifts to try, you know, just kind of keep it coming in and you know, stay busy and keep her mind off stuff.
01:02:49.119 --> 01:02:50.400
But I know she gets overwhelmed.
01:02:50.639 --> 01:02:51.199
I mean, I'm sure.
01:02:51.519 --> 01:02:52.239
She's a young buck, man.
01:02:52.320 --> 01:02:53.280
She's young and strong.
01:02:53.519 --> 01:02:54.400
Yeah, she's 40.
01:02:54.639 --> 01:02:55.599
She can fit 40.
01:02:55.760 --> 01:02:56.320
She's 40.
01:02:56.480 --> 01:02:57.199
She's 40, really?
01:02:57.599 --> 01:02:58.400
About to be 41.
01:02:59.840 --> 01:03:00.320
I ain't young.
01:03:00.639 --> 01:03:11.519
You definitely ain't seen the days of walking uphill in the snow, barefoot both ways to school.
01:03:11.599 --> 01:03:12.719
You ain't seen them days yet.
01:03:12.800 --> 01:03:15.199
But uh, I actually had cars back when you were going to school.
01:03:15.360 --> 01:03:15.840
That's right.
01:03:16.159 --> 01:03:21.119
Yep, you know, you know, we you know, we didn't get, you know, a little brown paper sack for lunch.
01:03:21.519 --> 01:03:24.239
We got passed by the rich kids riding horses when we were going to school.
01:03:24.400 --> 01:03:25.119
You know what I mean?
01:03:25.280 --> 01:03:27.039
So that's kind of how it worked for us.
01:03:27.280 --> 01:03:32.000
But yeah, I know, I know this has been a and and and the thing is, I mean, y'all have been married a while.
01:03:32.079 --> 01:03:32.880
There's no doubt about that.
01:03:33.039 --> 01:03:33.360
A little bit.
01:03:33.599 --> 01:03:37.119
Y'all have um uh built a life together, something to be proud of.
01:03:37.280 --> 01:03:49.360
You got two great kids that are well behaved and they do well in school and they're good citizens, which is, you know, the number one thing you're looking for with your kids is to be good citizens to the community and their friends and those kind of things.
01:03:49.440 --> 01:03:50.480
And and you're young.
01:03:50.559 --> 01:03:51.920
I mean, you're but we're still young.
01:03:52.320 --> 01:03:54.960
This is what I was telling Laurie, you know, a couple of weeks ago.
01:03:55.039 --> 01:04:26.320
You know, I've I've had a lot, I've been dealing with a lot of, I don't even know the best way to put it, but just like, I don't know if it's question my faith or if it's struggling with my faith or how you put it, but you know, everything now, like my dad, my grandfather passing away, my dad passing away, and then you start looking at Laurie's mom passed away, and all these people that you truly care about, all these people that you've looked up to your whole life, people that you've relied on, you know, that they they disappear, they they they die, they pass away.
01:04:26.719 --> 01:04:33.519
But then you start looking at like now we're at a point where you know you see people our age that that just can't do it, so they commit suicide.
01:04:33.840 --> 01:04:40.079
People that we know personally, or some something like you, you get hit with something that you just didn't never see this coming.
01:04:40.239 --> 01:04:44.159
You didn't know a week ahead of time that you were gonna get hit with these symptoms, it just happened.
01:04:44.239 --> 01:05:00.239
Yeah, and you get to that age now where all of our friends and we're seeing this constantly, people going through divorces, people going through midlife crises, people, people going through all these different things, and you think back and we're like, man, we're not that we're old, but we're not that old.
01:05:00.320 --> 01:05:04.960
Yeah, and we're experiencing that stuff on a daily basis, and man, it's a lot for people to deal with.
01:05:05.440 --> 01:05:06.639
It's a lot for people to deal with.
01:05:06.800 --> 01:05:17.920
I I am thankful and I I do want to, you know, add that you know, during those times where I had dark moments now, dark moments to where I thought about opening that door down that wrong path.
01:05:18.079 --> 01:05:18.639
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
01:05:18.880 --> 01:05:22.159
You know, I I never even once considered that.
01:05:22.320 --> 01:05:23.679
It was like, nah.
01:05:24.239 --> 01:05:25.599
But I have empathy.
01:05:25.679 --> 01:05:27.920
I think that's the right word, not sympathy.
01:05:28.000 --> 01:05:33.280
I think empathy is the right word for people who have lost family members to suicide.
01:05:33.360 --> 01:05:43.119
Not that I didn't feel for them or grieve for them, stuff like that, but I I I guess you just don't really fully understand like what could drive you to make that choice.
01:05:43.280 --> 01:05:43.440
Yeah.
01:05:43.599 --> 01:05:47.840
Well, I could see what could drive you to make that choice.
01:05:48.079 --> 01:05:50.239
So the empathy for me is there.
01:05:50.559 --> 01:05:55.519
Um, you know, but to me, it is it's all about your support system.
01:05:55.840 --> 01:05:59.599
You know, like I know I got the I know I got my my close knit, I'm talking about.
01:06:00.239 --> 01:06:05.679
Height, you know, I guess you would call it, you know, you're you're in your foxhole.
01:06:05.760 --> 01:06:06.000
Yeah, yeah.
01:06:06.079 --> 01:06:18.800
You know, I know who my my coaching brothers are, I know who my my college brothers are, you know, the and I know, you know, who who the guys are, you know, and that to me is so vital.
01:06:18.960 --> 01:06:28.000
So if you know somebody who's going through something, like even just a text, you know, like, hey, don't have to respond, or hey, how you doing?
01:06:28.159 --> 01:06:31.519
Or I have several that call and check in on me every once in a while.
01:06:31.679 --> 01:06:46.079
And, you know, there's days where I sit here and this phone is on do not disturb, and I don't touch it all day because I'll be so fatigued and out of it, like physically reaching to my right here to pick up this jug of water might take me five minutes to convince myself to do it.
01:06:46.719 --> 01:06:48.400
And getting up and going to the restroom.
01:06:49.039 --> 01:06:59.039
It might take me 10-15 minutes just to get from this chair to no more than 10 feet from where I'm at because the fatigue and everything is so heavy.
01:07:00.320 --> 01:07:01.199
I know that wears on you.
01:07:01.280 --> 01:07:01.679
I know it does.
01:07:01.760 --> 01:07:02.480
I know it's been tough.
01:07:02.559 --> 01:07:05.599
I know mentally it's been tough, and physically we know it's tough.
01:07:05.840 --> 01:07:08.239
Uh because you're used to doing whatever you want to when you want to do it.
01:07:08.320 --> 01:07:10.400
I mean, you you've been on the go forever for sure.
01:07:10.559 --> 01:07:14.480
So um last thing, and I guess Katie can probably talk about this a little bit.
01:07:14.880 --> 01:07:16.719
Just kind of give Scott a break for a second.
01:07:16.880 --> 01:07:21.679
But Katie, tell us how to come get how to come get that smoke community.
01:07:22.239 --> 01:07:27.599
Our listeners and y'all's friends and our friends and can can kind of help.
01:07:27.679 --> 01:07:29.119
I know you got a MIL train.
01:07:29.360 --> 01:07:34.639
I thought it was a GoFundMe, but I did look back and it's I can't remember the name of it, but it's a different kind of setup.
01:07:35.599 --> 01:07:38.480
It's a it's a crowd fundraising site like GoFundMe.
01:07:38.639 --> 01:07:39.760
It's called Give a Hand.
01:07:40.320 --> 01:07:45.519
And what we're gonna do is guys, all this stuff, when we drop this episode, it'll be dropped probably first thing in the morning.
01:07:45.599 --> 01:07:49.039
I'm gonna do some editing tonight, and I gotta add music and all that kind of good stuff.
01:07:49.280 --> 01:07:54.880
But once we get this thing dropped, on that drop, we'll have all the links to all this stuff.
01:07:55.119 --> 01:08:01.440
And we want to try to pour as much love and support into Scott and Katie, Millie, and Sawyer as much as we possibly can.
01:08:01.840 --> 01:08:03.280
So all that's gonna be there for you.
01:08:03.519 --> 01:08:05.760
But just kind of listen to Katie as she tells you a little bit about it.
01:08:06.960 --> 01:08:18.239
So Scott's sister Molly was gracious to set all of this up for us um prior to her creating the Mail Train and the site, the Give a Hand um website.
01:08:18.560 --> 01:08:26.000
We had not really shared anything publicly on social media beyond just telling friends and you know family what was going on.
01:08:26.159 --> 01:08:30.079
So that kind of opened up the can of worms, I guess you can say.
01:08:30.239 --> 01:08:38.720
And um this is gonna be helpful to kind of explain to everybody what the last two and a half years have truly been like.
01:08:39.359 --> 01:08:50.399
Um but we're thankful for every single person who has donated, who has given us anything whatsoever, brought us a meal, sent a gift card.
01:08:50.800 --> 01:08:53.840
Um, the prayers, we've felt that from all over.
01:08:53.920 --> 01:09:05.760
Um, we were just told this this weekend that we had someone go to a church in Ireland and light a candle for Scott and pray for him.
01:09:05.840 --> 01:09:07.600
And that that was pretty incredible.
01:09:08.319 --> 01:09:12.720
Um but we do feel the prayers, so we appreciate anyone's prayer.
01:09:13.039 --> 01:09:17.760
And um if you feel led to give, we of course appreciate that.
01:09:17.840 --> 01:09:21.520
And as he said, we don't take advantage of that, we don't take that lightly.
01:09:21.920 --> 01:09:34.000
Um, and so any any help is appreciated, and we may be coming up with a t-shirt to kind of let people support Scott with.
01:09:34.159 --> 01:09:41.279
So um he has a great idea for that, and I know that's just another way people would love to support him, and I'll let him share on that.
01:09:41.920 --> 01:09:50.720
Yeah, I I I do want to touch also on the prayer because I I don't know how prayer works of any, you know, like it gets sent upstairs to the big man.
01:09:50.800 --> 01:09:51.600
What's he do with it?
01:09:51.760 --> 01:09:56.159
Does he put it in like a safety locks box for you or pulls it out when you need it?
01:09:56.239 --> 01:10:06.479
Or and I feel like those times were, you know, we we didn't really cover a lot about how, you know, when I'm when I've been slammed with a flare, like I feel like I've been hit between two trains.
01:10:06.720 --> 01:10:07.119
Yeah.
01:10:07.279 --> 01:10:11.600
You know, but I feel like that's when that prayer comes into play.
01:10:11.840 --> 01:10:31.359
I that's kind of like you think about, you know, the one that on the immortal Hulk Hogan when he's in that ring and they got the good old sleeper hold on him, and they raising his hand two or three times, and on that last one, he he kind of brings it up and he starts fighting to his feet, and he does the typical finger point and all that.
01:10:31.439 --> 01:10:33.520
You know, that's how I feel on those days.
01:10:33.600 --> 01:10:34.479
That's how I relate to it.
01:10:34.560 --> 01:10:35.760
Like, here they are, they're coming.
01:10:35.840 --> 01:10:39.119
You know, that's that's that's how I view it as I use them.
01:10:39.359 --> 01:10:43.119
It may not be right, but that's how I perceive them.
01:10:43.359 --> 01:10:48.159
Um, but you know, other than that, you know, like, and we do want to do a shirt and all this stuff.
01:10:48.239 --> 01:10:51.840
I like again, even the shirt, when Katie told me about it first, I was like, nah.
01:10:52.159 --> 01:10:56.800
Because I still in that mindset of like, man, no, like I'm I'm I'm fairly private.
01:10:56.960 --> 01:11:00.800
This is probably this is way out of my comfort zone, which is okay.
01:11:00.960 --> 01:11:02.159
I've learned that too.
01:11:02.399 --> 01:11:10.560
But you know, I want to do a shirt that those of you who would be willing to purchase them would actually really want to like wear.
01:11:10.800 --> 01:11:15.760
You know, like I think there's a ribbon and a color for this, but I ain't really a ribbon fan.
01:11:16.000 --> 01:11:17.039
Red and purple, man.
01:11:17.199 --> 01:11:18.720
No, red and purple.
01:11:18.880 --> 01:11:20.159
I know, no.
01:11:20.399 --> 01:11:24.800
So I I want something that somebody buys, they'd be like, you know what, I can wear this, it don't matter.
01:11:25.039 --> 01:11:28.399
Okay, I got a lot of people who I know or like to go to the gym, work out.
01:11:28.479 --> 01:11:30.239
I want you to have a shirt that you're like, you know what?
01:11:30.319 --> 01:11:33.680
I'm gonna buy this shirt and I'm gonna cut the sleeves off of it and I'm gonna work out in it.
01:11:34.239 --> 01:11:34.800
I'm okay with that.
01:11:34.880 --> 01:11:36.720
That's an honor to I'll just keep the sleeves on it.
01:11:36.800 --> 01:11:37.359
That's an honor to me.
01:11:37.680 --> 01:11:38.399
Cook barbecue in it.
01:11:39.039 --> 01:11:40.239
Well, that'd be an honor to me.
01:11:40.319 --> 01:11:46.800
If if I know you wore that shirt to the to the gym, and I'm, you know, we're gonna have a good saying on it and some kind of cool logo.
01:11:46.960 --> 01:11:54.159
And um, you know, I don't know when, like, I don't expect it to be like next week or anything, but eventually we're gonna do that.
01:11:54.399 --> 01:12:00.319
Um, you know, because I know other people, you know, would would be like, oh, that's a cool shirt.
01:12:00.399 --> 01:12:01.600
I just think it's gotta be cool.
01:12:01.760 --> 01:12:03.840
Because if I'm gonna wear it, it's gonna look good.
01:12:04.079 --> 01:12:06.399
Yeah, you need something to make you look good, that's for sure.
01:12:06.640 --> 01:12:16.079
So, you know, I like say I I've bought plenty of those, you know, shirts or whatever, and it's just kind of got the point where like I'd just soon give you$25 than have a shirt.
01:12:16.239 --> 01:12:23.119
But if I can get you, you know, if you want to buy a shirt or a hoodie or whatever, you know, options we have, hey, look, this is pretty cool.
01:12:23.199 --> 01:12:25.600
I'll wear this to work, I'll wear this to work out.
01:12:26.079 --> 01:12:28.319
You know, it's a cool looking shirt, you know.
01:12:28.560 --> 01:12:32.479
Not that other people's shirts aren't cool, but let's be honest, some of them aren't.
01:12:32.720 --> 01:12:34.000
Well, I well, yeah.
01:12:34.319 --> 01:12:35.359
Good for a good cause.
01:12:35.520 --> 01:12:37.039
Yeah, for a good cause for a great cause.
01:12:37.119 --> 01:12:39.760
And again, I'd just soon give you money sometimes and get a t-shirt.
01:12:39.840 --> 01:12:40.720
But for a great cause.
01:12:40.800 --> 01:12:42.000
We're not we're not we're not putting that down.
01:12:42.079 --> 01:12:42.880
We're saying a great cause.
01:12:43.119 --> 01:12:44.079
Yes, absolutely.
01:12:44.560 --> 01:12:45.119
But it's not cool.
01:12:45.359 --> 01:12:46.640
Typically, they just go in a drawer.
01:12:46.720 --> 01:12:48.800
Yep, they're gonna get to find their way to goodwill.
01:12:48.880 --> 01:12:52.720
So, you know, I I just want to do something different because I'm different.
01:12:52.880 --> 01:12:55.439
Um, I'm rare as this disease.
01:12:55.520 --> 01:12:56.239
I am very rare.
01:12:56.399 --> 01:13:00.000
I think I think the number is only like one in five million people in the United States.
01:13:00.239 --> 01:13:02.159
Yeah, you'd be the one or five million people.
01:13:02.399 --> 01:13:03.039
You'd be the one.
01:13:03.199 --> 01:13:03.760
I am the one.
01:13:03.920 --> 01:13:04.479
You are the one.
01:13:04.720 --> 01:13:05.039
I am.
01:13:05.199 --> 01:13:06.159
I'm I am the one.
01:13:06.239 --> 01:13:08.079
But and I've got some big ideas, you know.
01:13:08.159 --> 01:13:13.920
I I've got an idea that we're gonna try to to pull off, and I'm gonna talk to Scott and Katie about after we get off the air here.
01:13:14.000 --> 01:13:16.880
And um, I just gotta figure out how many cars we can park on.
01:13:16.960 --> 01:13:17.840
What is this road called?
01:13:18.000 --> 01:13:19.199
This is South McClaney.
01:13:19.359 --> 01:13:28.239
How many roads we can get on South McElhaney between how many cars between Scott's driveway, yard, daddy's driveway, uh Pops' driveway and yard, and his brother's driveway and yard.
01:13:28.319 --> 01:13:40.720
So got some pretty big ideas plan that we're gonna talk about and just try to just try to do some things to to to not just to encourage Scott, not just to raise money for Scott, but just Scott's been there for me.
01:13:40.800 --> 01:13:43.279
My I mean he's been there for me through through my divorce.
01:13:43.359 --> 01:13:46.960
He was there for me uh when he saw our business struggling.
01:13:47.119 --> 01:13:49.520
He's always been somebody I can throw ideas off of.
01:13:49.600 --> 01:13:54.399
He's not he's he's he's a lot like my wife in a sense, to where he's not like my wife.
01:13:54.479 --> 01:13:57.920
He he acts like my wife, I guess, is what I better say.
01:13:58.159 --> 01:14:04.560
He's a lot like my wife when when I tell her something, she's not gonna just say, Oh yeah, that's great.
01:14:04.800 --> 01:14:09.359
She's gonna tell me, even if she disagrees, she's gonna tell me exactly how she feels.
01:14:09.439 --> 01:14:11.039
And that's how Scott is a lot of times.
01:14:11.119 --> 01:14:17.039
I mean, I can tell him how I feel, but if he don't agree with it, he's gonna tell me his feeling on it, his thoughts on it.
01:14:17.199 --> 01:14:23.119
Even though he understands my side of it, he understands my feelings on it, he's not always gonna agree, and that's exactly how my wife is.
01:14:23.279 --> 01:14:30.720
She just, she's always honest with me, no matter if, even if I just, even if I just want her to say, yes, that's great, I don't ever get that.
01:14:30.880 --> 01:14:36.800
And I respect that because, you know, maybe she don't she don't want to lie to me or lead me in the wrong direction, so I get that.
01:14:36.960 --> 01:15:04.640
But we're gonna do something that we can find a way to bring recognition to this disease, and also to show Scott the appreciation that we feel for him for what he's done for us in the past, and then also just to give his family support and let them know that they're not in this by themselves, that they're in this with with people with them, an army behind them that are gonna help them no matter what, no matter what has to happen.
01:15:04.800 --> 01:15:13.039
And um, so I've got I've got a pretty big idea, but we're gonna talk about it here after we get off the air, and then I'm gonna head back and watch Law so he's got a soccer game tonight.
01:15:13.199 --> 01:15:17.359
So um I want to just say thank you to Scott and Katie for their time.
01:15:17.600 --> 01:15:21.119
I appreciate you guys being open to telling your story.
01:15:21.359 --> 01:15:22.960
I appreciate the honesty.
01:15:23.199 --> 01:15:25.119
I appreciate the tears.
01:15:25.359 --> 01:15:46.079
I appreciate all that type of stuff because this this podcast for me, and I said this earlier, started off as a way for me to basically share my business, and I have yet to do that because so much other stuff is way more important than what I do for a living.
01:15:46.319 --> 01:15:55.600
And this morning with the podcast I got to record, this afternoon with the podcast I got to record, with talking with Scott about the coach's corner was just fun.
01:15:55.760 --> 01:16:03.359
I mean, I was just fun, and I'm able to do stuff with this podcast that I never even envisioned to be possible.
01:16:03.600 --> 01:16:15.920
I thought I was gonna be talking about butts and brisket every day, but it's turned into something where I've getting to share other people's stories, I'm getting to share other people's situations that are important to me and stuff that I care about.
01:16:16.000 --> 01:16:30.960
I mean, I've got to share about my grandfather, my dad, I've got to share about my mom, I've got to share about all these people, and we don't talk barbecue very often, and I'm okay with that because I feel like we're doing something and we're doing it the right way, and that's kind of what I am here.
01:16:31.119 --> 01:16:39.840
And this morning, like I said, I had a chance to meet with uh Pastor Tony Medlin, and he has become a vital part of my life.
01:16:40.000 --> 01:16:41.119
Like you have no idea.
01:16:41.199 --> 01:16:47.840
Somebody I didn't know three or four months ago is now one of my I he don't even know he's a mentor of mine.
01:16:48.159 --> 01:17:00.880
I mean, I told him that this morning, he was kind of surprised, but he's just he has his own little podcast, The Power of One, and it's he's a he's a life coach, he's a pastor, he's a chaplain with um a home help, home health, I think is the name of it.
01:17:01.119 --> 01:17:04.239
Um and he's just he's the real deal, man.
01:17:04.319 --> 01:17:12.479
And and the impact he has on me, just my faith, the way I the way I'm trying to live my life, it's been unbelievable.
01:17:12.560 --> 01:17:15.920
And before he left this morning, I was telling him about Scott and I was telling him about Katie.
01:17:16.159 --> 01:17:20.720
And he's like, Jeff, could I just pray with you and just pray for Scott?
01:17:20.800 --> 01:17:26.960
And Katie said, because if you care that much about them, then I know they're good people.
01:17:27.119 --> 01:17:30.640
And I want to make sure that that I I do my part, is what he said.
01:17:30.800 --> 01:17:35.359
And he said that you guys are gonna be on his prayer list, and I'm telling you, man, he he's a he's a great guy.
01:17:35.439 --> 01:17:39.439
He does a lot for me, and I love and appreciate him more than he he would ever know.
01:17:39.600 --> 01:17:43.680
Uh so before we get off of here, if you guys don't mind, I'd love to pray with you guys.
01:17:43.840 --> 01:17:54.079
I'm probably the last person that needs to be praying with anybody, but at the end of the day, you know, I want to I want to end with a prayer here and then we'll close this thing out and um and we'll go from there.
01:17:54.159 --> 01:17:56.640
But dearly Father, I just want to thank you for this day.
01:17:56.720 --> 01:18:00.399
I want to thank you for all these blessings that that you've given us.
01:18:00.720 --> 01:18:03.760
I want to thank you for the friendship I have with Scott and Katie.
01:18:04.079 --> 01:18:07.119
Um, Lord, I know that right now is a tough time for everybody.
01:18:07.279 --> 01:18:15.680
It's a tough time for Scott, it's a tough time for Scott's family, Katie and her family, and everybody's just trying to figure this thing out.
01:18:15.920 --> 01:18:16.960
But Lord, I know.
01:18:17.119 --> 01:18:18.720
I don't know the future.
01:18:19.119 --> 01:18:26.000
I have no idea what tomorrow's gonna hold, but thank God I know who you are and I know that you hold that future.
01:18:26.159 --> 01:18:34.560
And I'm just asking you to be with Scott, to bless Scott, to have your will done in Scott's life, whatever that may be.
01:18:34.720 --> 01:18:38.720
I'm just asking you to do what you want to do with Scott.
01:18:38.960 --> 01:18:43.359
Because Scott has always been loyal to me, he's always been a great friend.
01:18:43.520 --> 01:18:50.319
And I just ask that you bless him, you bless his family, you heal him if that's what you're if that's what you want to do.
01:18:50.479 --> 01:19:01.439
And I ask that you use his story to touch other people and show them that life's not always gonna be easy, but the way you handle it is gonna define who you are.
01:19:01.600 --> 01:19:05.600
And I'm just very thankful for that opportunity, God, and we thank you for everything you've done.
01:19:05.760 --> 01:19:06.960
In the name of prayer.
01:19:07.119 --> 01:19:07.760
Amen.
01:19:08.720 --> 01:19:14.640
Man, sitting here talking with Scott and Katie today just reminds you of what really matters in this life.
01:19:14.960 --> 01:19:24.560
We talk a lot about smoke, we talk about barbecue, we talk about grit on this show, but true grit, it's what you see in living rooms and hospital business.
01:19:24.720 --> 01:19:34.960
It's what it looks like when a man has to step away from the sidelines of coaching and educating, but keeps right on leading by example for his wife and his kids on your building.
01:19:35.279 --> 01:19:37.600
Scott, brother, I've known you since college.
01:19:38.000 --> 01:19:40.399
I've never been more proud to call you my friend.
01:19:40.560 --> 01:19:47.920
To you, Katie, and the whole family, thank you for sitting down, opening up, and showing us all what resilience really looks like.
01:19:48.319 --> 01:19:55.039
When the path gets tough, to everyone listening, Scott and Katie's story hit home for you today.
01:19:55.199 --> 01:19:58.159
Reach out to someone who's fighting the quiet life.
01:19:58.479 --> 01:20:04.159
Check on your people, give grace, hold your family tight, and keep pushing.
01:20:05.600 --> 01:20:08.640
I appreciate you tuning in to this episode.
01:20:09.279 --> 01:20:10.000
Come get that.
00:00:04.799 --> 00:00:06.480
Life changes in an instant.
00:00:06.639 --> 00:00:13.759
One day you're running full speed ahead, coaching, educating, pouring everything you have to your community and your family.
00:00:13.919 --> 00:00:18.160
And the next, you're fighting a battle most people have never even heard of.
00:00:18.480 --> 00:00:23.839
My college brother Scott Alter and his wife Katie know that reality better than any.
00:00:24.320 --> 00:00:32.719
For the past few years, Scott's been quietly waging a war against a rare, life-altering condition called non-systemic vasculitic therapy.
00:00:33.280 --> 00:00:38.320
Inflammation that cuts off the blood flow to your nerve endings and changes how you operate every single day.
00:00:38.560 --> 00:00:48.000
For a guy whose life was built on coaching, educating, and leading, having to step away from those roles to pursue treatment is a mountain of a different kind.
00:00:48.479 --> 00:00:51.039
Scott and Katie aren't walking this alone.
00:00:51.439 --> 00:00:52.560
This is Jeff Jordan.
00:00:52.880 --> 00:00:54.000
People call me Chop.
00:00:54.240 --> 00:01:05.439
And on this episode of Come Get That Smoke, we're keeping it real about resilience, family, raising Sawyer and Millie, and what it looks like when life throws you a curveball you never saw coming.
00:01:06.000 --> 00:01:10.000
Grab a seat and let's talk about a story of guts and ingredients.
00:01:13.920 --> 00:01:17.200
Hello guys, welcome to Come Get That Smoke.
00:01:17.439 --> 00:01:21.760
Today we're gonna be talking to two of my good friends, Scott and Katie O.
00:01:22.319 --> 00:01:23.760
Known Scott a long time.
00:01:24.480 --> 00:01:38.560
Scott and good friends can tell Tommy University, college in the first quarter, Scott Change, Change, now for almost 30 years.
00:01:40.079 --> 00:01:42.319
It's crazy to think back and it's been there.
00:01:42.959 --> 00:01:48.879
Both of us have a similar background, both were educators, both taught, both coached.
00:01:49.359 --> 00:01:55.120
Scott is still in that profession, even though he's having to take a small hi-80s, but he's still in that profession today.
00:01:55.359 --> 00:01:57.760
Me, I got out and born barbecue full-time.
00:01:57.920 --> 00:01:59.599
Our friendship goes way back.
00:01:59.920 --> 00:02:02.799
Um Scott and Katie, I want to welcome you guys to the show.
00:02:03.200 --> 00:02:05.359
Go ahead and talk to listeners if you'd like.
00:02:06.400 --> 00:02:08.879
Hey everybody, thanks for tuning in.
00:02:09.120 --> 00:02:21.439
Um, you know, we're glad to do this to help educate not just our friends, our family, but anybody who might be having a neuropathy issue or goes through something like this.
00:02:21.680 --> 00:02:23.520
But, you know, it's just so grateful.
00:02:23.599 --> 00:02:29.439
And I I we can't go any further without acknowledging, you know, a lot of people.
00:02:29.599 --> 00:02:36.879
I I can't name everybody because I would leave somebody out, but you know, most importantly, my family, uh parents have done a lot for us.
00:02:36.960 --> 00:02:38.639
Uh my in-laws have done a lot.
00:02:38.800 --> 00:02:43.759
You know, they come over and they do things, they pick up food, they they take kids places they need to be.
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And, you know, with Katie's work schedule, they they all jump in and shifts.
00:02:48.319 --> 00:02:58.560
So, you know, we're so thankful for that and blessed to have a family like that and have uh, you know, what you would call a support staff or you know, your inner circle, whatever you want to call it.
00:02:58.719 --> 00:03:07.520
Um, and then I know, you know, I'm thankful my sister, she did a um meal train and a uh GoFundMe type deal.
00:03:07.599 --> 00:03:12.080
It's not GoFundMe, it's some other kind of website, but uh we can share the links to that.
00:03:12.159 --> 00:03:30.000
But you know, that's something for me I was very hesitant to do out of pride for simple fact of you know, I don't want to ask for help, but you know, at this point in time in my life and and what I've learned is is you got to reach out for those who are willing to help you and and guide you.
00:03:30.159 --> 00:03:39.039
So we've had so many people who have signed up for meals, who have donated money, sent checks, gift cards, whatever.
00:03:39.360 --> 00:03:41.039
We are so thankful for you.
00:03:41.199 --> 00:03:52.319
It doesn't matter to us, the amount you send us, every gift that you give us is greatly appreciated and will be greatly used appropriately to help us get through this difficult time.
00:03:52.560 --> 00:04:05.919
So on behalf of myself, and I'm sure I can speak for Katie and my family, we thank you so much for your prayers, you know, and I think prayer to me is something that is very important, and I feel those prayers, I really have.
00:04:06.159 --> 00:04:14.000
Probably for, you know, I would acknowledge first time in you know my life for the past two and a half years that I feel that.
00:04:14.159 --> 00:04:22.079
And so my whole outlook on life has changed, and I look forward to diving into that a little bit more now for my beautiful bride.
00:04:23.680 --> 00:04:24.800
Hi, I'm Katie.
00:04:24.959 --> 00:04:34.720
I'm Scott's wife, and I'm just also here to talk about what the last two and a half years have been for us and what they've meant to us.
00:04:34.959 --> 00:04:42.720
And um, we hope to shed a little light on everything going on with Scott and share some education.
00:04:42.959 --> 00:04:50.480
Um, and like he said, if you are battling something and going through something and you feel like you're alone, just know that you're not.
00:04:50.560 --> 00:04:57.120
There's always people out there that love you and want to support you, and we're so thankful for our village and everything they've given to us.
00:04:57.439 --> 00:04:57.920
Awesome.
00:04:58.079 --> 00:05:04.800
All right, we're gonna dig into this thing pretty quick and we're gonna start talking a little bit about you know the past, y'all's relationship.
00:05:04.959 --> 00:05:09.360
I mean, I remember when you guys first met, because me and Scott were really close at that time, still really close today.
00:05:09.519 --> 00:05:15.199
And he kept talking about this hot blonde cheerleading coach at East Side High School when he was coaching over there.
00:05:15.360 --> 00:05:17.680
And I remember that like it was yesterday.
00:05:17.839 --> 00:05:24.959
Scott and I both went to a divorce early on, and um, this was after his divorce, and he was coaching at East Side High School.
00:05:25.199 --> 00:05:31.920
And I'll never forget when he came, when he came back one day, I was hanging out at his house, and he just flat out said, He's this hot blonde cheerleading coach.
00:05:32.000 --> 00:05:33.519
And lo and behold, here we are.
00:05:33.600 --> 00:05:36.079
So, Scott, tell us a little bit about how you guys met.
00:05:36.480 --> 00:05:37.920
Well, it was really hard.
00:05:38.000 --> 00:05:42.800
She she was really just you know pursuing me really hard.
00:05:43.600 --> 00:05:44.399
No, I'm just kidding.
00:05:44.639 --> 00:05:45.759
We know I'm just kidding.
00:05:45.839 --> 00:05:56.879
No, no, I I just appreciate you making sure you clarified that I was a coach, and she was a cheerleading coach, not a cheerleading uh participant.
00:05:57.279 --> 00:06:04.000
So we get that we got that question before, but it's it's no, she was a coach, and I simply remember at Eastside.
00:06:04.079 --> 00:06:12.560
You know, those of you who may listen to this can remember the old Eastside setup where Coach Carlisle had his office and we had like a little small single, some kind of portable.
00:06:12.639 --> 00:06:14.319
It was a portable that was a coach's office.
00:06:14.399 --> 00:06:31.040
And I can remember coming out for um picture day, and we were standing, of course, everybody hates picture day, and I'm standing there and I just looked down at the end zone from the top of this little hill, and I looked down and I just saw this blonde hair, and I was like, oh my! And I was like, Who is that?
00:06:31.360 --> 00:06:44.879
So thankfully there were some connections with her head cheerleading coach, and I worked alongside um her mom at a middle school, and then I worked with her dad at the high school coaching football.
00:06:44.959 --> 00:06:47.439
He was a defensive coordinator, I was a defensive line coach.
00:06:47.519 --> 00:06:51.199
So, you know, he she was dating a jerk, loser.
00:06:52.079 --> 00:06:57.040
Um, so I, you know, swooped in and he ain't gone, he gone.
00:06:57.279 --> 00:07:02.800
So he gone, but um, that's just the way it works, you know, and it was it was it's been great.
00:07:02.959 --> 00:07:05.279
So that's that's that's my version.
00:07:05.839 --> 00:07:07.360
You want to add anything, Katie?
00:07:08.959 --> 00:07:18.000
Um, I'll say that I think the whole entire coaching staff of Eastside High School football team was rooting for us to get together.
00:07:18.240 --> 00:07:28.160
And I think the entire um cheerleading squad got on board too, and so everybody was really excited when we started dating.
00:07:28.319 --> 00:07:38.720
And um, it's just it's been a a really sweet story and fun to tell people how we met and we were both coaching at the same high school, and it's just a meat cute.
00:07:39.040 --> 00:07:39.199
Cool.
00:07:39.360 --> 00:07:42.560
Well, Katie, while you're still got the microphone, we're gonna ask you a little bit.
00:07:42.639 --> 00:07:45.360
Tell us a little bit about your profession, what you do for a living.
00:07:45.920 --> 00:07:46.240
Okay.
00:07:46.720 --> 00:07:52.319
I have been a nurse for 18 years, and I've always worked in pediatrics.
00:07:52.399 --> 00:08:02.160
Um, since this has started, I have stepped away from the children's hospital where I worked for 18 years, but I do continue to work two other nursing jobs.
00:08:02.240 --> 00:08:15.279
Uh they just allow me to be more flexible and I can work more so with scheduling for appointments and helping out where I need to, but still in pediatrics and just still loving, taking care of kiddos.
00:08:15.600 --> 00:08:16.079
Awesome.
00:08:16.319 --> 00:08:23.199
Scott, now I know right now you're on a little hiatus, but tell us a little bit about your job, where you work, and what you do for a living.
00:08:23.439 --> 00:08:23.759
Sure.
00:08:23.839 --> 00:08:30.720
So I I very proudly say that I work at Swafford Career Center and Spartanburg uh School District One.
00:08:30.879 --> 00:08:38.960
We also serve Spartanburg School District Two, but to work at a place like Swafford Career Center um is just a humbling experience.
00:08:39.200 --> 00:08:41.440
They're they're fantastic people.
00:08:41.679 --> 00:08:46.000
I can't say enough about uh the people there and the support they've given us.
00:08:46.159 --> 00:08:51.120
We had a group of them come build a ramp right out here that you've seen past couple times.
00:08:51.279 --> 00:08:57.519
Um, you know, they did that in two afternoons, not two days, two afternoons, um, after their work schedule.
00:08:57.840 --> 00:09:01.919
So, you know, my high praises uh to everybody there.
00:09:02.080 --> 00:09:04.080
I I and I miss them.
00:09:04.240 --> 00:09:11.440
I miss the the morning, you know, shooting the bull looking before the kids come in and things like that.
00:09:11.519 --> 00:09:14.000
You know, you miss those little things, but I'm thankful for them.
00:09:14.159 --> 00:09:20.879
They have been the utmost supportive group that I've ever been around the last two and a half years.
00:09:21.039 --> 00:09:24.080
Um, and I also gotta thank District One as well.
00:09:24.240 --> 00:09:34.320
They have done a great job of guiding us through this um process of what we're having to go through with work and getting some other things figured out.
00:09:34.480 --> 00:09:38.000
But, you know, uh D1 has has taken care of me.
00:09:38.159 --> 00:09:40.720
I I don't have anything to complain about.
00:09:41.120 --> 00:09:48.159
Um, you know, I you know, it means something to me when the superintendent visits your school just to come see you because you're at work one day.
00:09:48.240 --> 00:09:55.519
And that that happened to me a couple weeks ago when I only attended school like two and a half days, but you know, one day I was there, he came over to see me.
00:09:55.600 --> 00:09:58.960
And you you see stuff like that, you don't get that in a big district.
00:09:59.120 --> 00:10:03.519
You know, you you got that small town, you know, community involvement, and that's what you want.
00:10:03.600 --> 00:10:04.240
That's what I need.
00:10:04.320 --> 00:10:06.720
That reminds me of how it was when I grew up.
00:10:07.200 --> 00:10:09.440
That's what I love about the community I'm in now.
00:10:09.600 --> 00:10:19.039
So Yeah, and I you know, I know the principal at Landrum High School, the football coach at Landrum High School, and those guys love the community, love, love the the school and the district for the same reasons.
00:10:19.120 --> 00:10:25.519
They love it because the superintendent's involved, but he lets you do your job and he wants you to know that he's there to support you.
00:10:25.679 --> 00:10:28.320
He's not there to get you, he's there to support you.
00:10:28.559 --> 00:10:30.480
And and I've heard that from numerous people.
00:10:30.559 --> 00:10:33.679
So whatever the superintendent's name is Mark Smith.
00:10:33.840 --> 00:10:34.320
Mark Smith.
00:10:34.480 --> 00:10:35.759
Mark Smith, whatever you're doing, man.
00:10:35.840 --> 00:10:36.159
Keep it up.
00:10:36.240 --> 00:10:37.200
You're doing a fantastic job.
00:10:37.279 --> 00:10:38.720
I know everybody talks really highly of you.
00:10:38.879 --> 00:10:39.840
I've had the chance to meet him.
00:10:39.919 --> 00:10:43.759
I met him last year at a track meet, I think, with um Coach Hannon.
00:10:44.080 --> 00:10:44.799
Coach Hannon?
00:10:44.879 --> 00:10:46.320
No, who's head track meeting?
00:10:46.480 --> 00:10:46.879
Coach Farnham.
00:10:46.960 --> 00:10:47.200
Farnum.
00:10:47.279 --> 00:10:48.080
I don't know why I said Hannon.
00:10:48.240 --> 00:10:48.799
Coach Farnum.
00:10:48.960 --> 00:10:51.200
I had a chance to meet him last year when I brought the food truck over.
00:10:51.440 --> 00:11:07.600
Um, so basically, Scott, tell us a little bit about, and I remember some of this thinking back to some of the small changes your body was making, some of the some of the issues you were having that we just didn't know whether it was just fatigue or or what it was.
00:11:07.679 --> 00:11:11.360
But can you explain when and how you started to notice a change in your body?
00:11:11.600 --> 00:11:11.919
Yes.
00:11:12.080 --> 00:11:15.679
So it was spring break 2024.
00:11:16.159 --> 00:11:22.080
And for us, that's usually in Spartan Registrick 1, that's usually the first or second full week of April.
00:11:22.320 --> 00:11:29.919
So during that time period, we had uh, I guess you just call it a GI bug, 24-hour bug, whatever, come through our family.
00:11:30.080 --> 00:11:36.399
Well, it hit, you know, my daughter first, and then it hit me, and uh then it did hit Katie.
00:11:36.639 --> 00:11:39.039
Um sorry was the only one who escaped.
00:11:39.200 --> 00:11:47.279
But then after that, you know, it was really a couple weeks later, and and you know beforehand, and a lot of people do, I was a big, I'm a big gym guy.
00:11:47.360 --> 00:11:51.360
Like I was I lived weights for maybe even sometimes five days a week.
00:11:51.519 --> 00:11:59.519
Uh, maybe a little excessive, but you know, um that was part of my commitment, passion, and I know, you know, all that other stuff.
00:11:59.679 --> 00:12:05.440
But I started noticing some soreness some in my calves, and I thought it was weird.
00:12:05.679 --> 00:12:10.480
Um I was like, well, maybe I've just strained something, pulled something, you know, no big deal.
00:12:10.559 --> 00:12:16.879
So I kind of let that go for, you know, really the rest of the school year because it wasn't like hindering me in any way.
00:12:17.039 --> 00:12:21.840
I just didn't, you know, use my calves to lift any weights or anything, you know.
00:12:22.080 --> 00:12:27.759
And by the time I got to summer, I noticed I'd come home every day and like I'd almost go in there and take a nap.
00:12:27.919 --> 00:12:35.360
And I was like, well, this ain't like me, but I also contributed that to you finish a season, and it was the same way during football.
00:12:35.519 --> 00:12:42.399
Usually your body shuts down, coaches get a little sick, everything that's been pinned up again is is kind of let out.
00:12:42.480 --> 00:12:47.120
And so I just kind of chalked it up the way it's just the end of a season, it's the end of a school year.
00:12:47.600 --> 00:12:50.240
So I still didn't think much of it.
00:12:50.480 --> 00:12:54.320
I even had a couple instances where I'd go to the gym and I couldn't get through my workout.
00:12:54.720 --> 00:12:57.679
Now, you know, I go in there and I and I've got a mission.
00:12:57.840 --> 00:13:07.039
Like I'm not there socialized, and I would I mean I would push myself to the max to get that workout just because that challenged me.
00:13:07.200 --> 00:13:12.559
That was a way for me to let go of all my anxiety, my stress, you know, anything that was bothering me.
00:13:12.639 --> 00:13:17.360
And and that's true, you know, when you if you work out, that's a true statement that does help you.
00:13:17.840 --> 00:13:20.080
But I couldn't finish those workouts.
00:13:20.159 --> 00:13:27.919
And then, you know, at that time I had already quit, or not quit, I had stepped away from coaching football.
00:13:28.159 --> 00:13:30.399
And yeah, I'd started working for you some.
00:13:30.480 --> 00:13:35.759
I helped a buddy at Swalford cut grass for a summer because obviously I lost that supplement.
00:13:35.840 --> 00:13:42.240
And I, as a man, knew I had to step it up and provide for this family.
00:13:42.399 --> 00:13:59.440
And so I picked up the grass cut and I picked up working with you with catering and you know, weddings and food truck stuff, and I picked up with another buddy uh at Swalford that also did a food truck, just trying to, you know, like everybody, kind of make ends meet, provide for your kids, you got all this stuff to pay for.
00:13:59.840 --> 00:14:09.600
And so I had already gone through a lot of processes of like going to a local chiropractor, getting foot insoles, getting certain shoes.
00:14:09.759 --> 00:14:14.320
I had done all this stuff thinking like it's just my body's out of whack or something.
00:14:15.039 --> 00:14:28.879
And so, you know, it it was uh 4th of July, and I was standing over a 350-degree uh oil cooking uh fried Oreos and uh uh funnel cakes.
00:14:29.039 --> 00:14:33.279
And so like I'm going, I'm going, you know, and I'm I'm I'm one of those guys, I'll grind it out.
00:14:33.440 --> 00:14:35.039
I ain't I ain't gonna stop.
00:14:35.440 --> 00:14:38.000
And so I'm sitting there the whole day now.
00:14:38.080 --> 00:14:42.559
This is like early in the morning until you're talking about after fireworks on the 4th of July.
00:14:43.200 --> 00:14:59.279
By the end of the day, my body hurt so bad from the waist down, like I was in tears, and had no idea what was going on, couldn't just other than my back's out or something.
00:14:59.600 --> 00:15:04.320
So I ended up, you know, it took me a while to get home and all that kind of stuff, and the next day I rested.
00:15:04.639 --> 00:15:06.320
I just was like, man, I'm tired.
00:15:06.799 --> 00:15:10.000
The day after that, which was a Saturday, I went to the Durham gym.
00:15:11.200 --> 00:15:17.039
And that Sunday night, we eat dinner at Katie's parents, and I'm over there and I just kind of break down.
00:15:17.120 --> 00:15:18.480
Like I told her, I said, I'm hurt.
00:15:18.799 --> 00:15:19.919
Like it's bad.
00:15:21.120 --> 00:15:34.240
So that that's kind of when we kind of really um figured out that it was gonna be bad, and the next day we went to the emergency room, which kind of started the whole avalanche of doctors' appointments.
00:15:34.799 --> 00:15:37.840
So that's where we that's how it started.
00:15:38.559 --> 00:15:47.840
And now what were and and you can answer this, or Katie's probably a little more aware of diagnoses and that kind of stuff, because she is probably by far the smartest person in the room right now.
00:15:48.080 --> 00:15:52.000
So what were the early diagnoses or thoughts on what was going on?
00:15:52.080 --> 00:16:01.200
I mean, I remember a lot of that conversation back in the day, and it was like it was it could be this or it could be that, or it could be this or it could be that, or this is a symptom of this, or this is a symptom of that.
00:16:01.360 --> 00:16:03.919
But I mean, what what were those early diagnoses?
00:16:04.879 --> 00:16:15.200
So, like he said, we ended up going to the ER shortly after the 4th of July that summer, and he was definitely a mystery to many of the doctors there.
00:16:15.360 --> 00:16:18.399
A lot of the symptoms just weren't lining up with one another.
00:16:18.639 --> 00:16:24.399
Uh, he had so many labs done and so much done in that initial ER visit.
00:16:24.480 --> 00:16:30.000
And they at first were just ruling out Lyme disease, although he hadn't really been hiking or anything like that.
00:16:30.159 --> 00:16:52.720
Um, some of the symptoms were just kind of lining up with what those symptoms would be, and then they thought that it could be an abnormal um presentation of something called Galeon Buret syndrome, which it is similar in that it's kind of a paralysis and has to do with peripheral nerves, but ultimately that was also ruled out.
00:16:52.879 --> 00:17:00.879
Um so the biggest thing they were looking at as one of the diagnoses was called CIDP.
00:17:00.960 --> 00:17:05.519
It is very similar to what he does have, which is non-systemic vasculatic neuropathy.
00:17:06.079 --> 00:17:16.240
But um it was finally diagnosed after a nerve biopsy, and it showed that it was not CIDP.
00:17:16.640 --> 00:17:27.839
It was this other thing, and it's it's been a lot of back and forth, and with it being such a rare condition, it has been really difficult, and I think that's made this whole journey a lot more difficult and frustrating.
00:17:28.400 --> 00:17:38.640
Um but there again, doctors don't always know everything, and it's hard to pick symptoms and figure out exactly what it's all coming from.
00:17:38.960 --> 00:17:40.880
Yeah, it's a lot of a lot of different things.
00:17:40.960 --> 00:17:42.799
I mean, because it it changes daily sometimes.
00:17:43.279 --> 00:17:47.119
One day he's okay, the next day he's you know struggling to do basic things.
00:17:47.200 --> 00:17:50.319
Like when I walked in today, I could tell that he wasn't Scott.
00:17:50.559 --> 00:17:53.839
So he's doing this podcast and he's not 100% his self.
00:17:54.079 --> 00:17:56.160
So we're gonna get through this thing and let him tell his story.
00:17:57.359 --> 00:17:58.960
Well, you gotta finish, you gotta finish.
00:17:59.279 --> 00:18:04.960
So when did your doctors figure out you had the non-systemic vasculytic neuropathy?
00:18:05.039 --> 00:18:08.240
And that can be Katie or Scott, either one can answer that question.
00:18:08.960 --> 00:18:17.440
Uh so like I said, the final diagnosis was pretty much confirmed after he had a muscle and nerve biopsy done uh last summer.
00:18:17.839 --> 00:18:18.079
Where was that?
00:18:18.160 --> 00:18:19.759
Was that Greenville Memorial?
00:18:19.920 --> 00:18:23.599
Okay, it wasn't when y'all were in uh no, they um Mayo Clinic.
00:18:23.839 --> 00:18:24.720
Mayo Clinic, yeah.
00:18:25.279 --> 00:18:30.400
They did it at Greenville Memorial in June, I believe, of 2025.
00:18:30.960 --> 00:18:35.759
And the results came back pointing to this non-systemic vasculatic neuropathy.
00:18:35.920 --> 00:18:47.200
But even with that being kind of pointed to, it still seemed like there were still a lot of questions among our physicians and everything like that.
00:18:47.440 --> 00:18:53.279
So we did end up reaching out and having a second opinion at Mayo Clinic.
00:18:53.440 --> 00:18:59.359
We went this past April and we're totally blown away by the Mayo Clinic, and it was incredible.
00:18:59.519 --> 00:19:03.759
The staff was incredible, everything there was beyond what we could have imagined.
00:19:04.000 --> 00:19:21.839
But um, I did recently review all of the tests and procedures Scott has gone through, and I calculated the total of 26 different procedures, anywhere from just an X-ray to a lumbar puncture to bone marrow aspiration.
00:19:21.920 --> 00:19:24.720
It's it's just been incredible what he's had to go through.
00:19:25.359 --> 00:19:33.119
And that does not even start to count the amount of blood draws he's had, but it's taken a very long time to get to the diagnosis.
00:19:33.200 --> 00:19:54.000
Um, Mayo Clinic was able to confirm that it is non-systemic vasculatic neuropathy, and um they're helping our physician team down here kind of come up with what the best treatment plan is gonna be for him, even though some of the treatments have failed, but we're just trying the next one until we can find something that works.
00:19:54.319 --> 00:20:00.079
Yeah, one thing I know about Scott is he's not real tough, so I'm sure some of those things, some of those things have probably been really hard on him.
00:20:00.160 --> 00:20:00.799
I'm just kidding.
00:20:00.880 --> 00:20:05.440
He's um he's fighting a fight that not any of us want to be a want to be a part of, but we're all right there with it.
00:20:05.519 --> 00:20:07.359
We're gonna fight it with him, there's no doubt about that.
00:20:07.519 --> 00:20:14.960
But moving on to what is, and and like I said, Katie's answering some of these questions just because, like I said earlier, she's the smartest one in the room.
00:20:15.119 --> 00:20:16.000
I think all of us know that.
00:20:16.079 --> 00:20:17.119
We're well aware of that.
00:20:17.279 --> 00:20:20.000
Yeah, she can leave, and I'm gonna be the smartest person in the room.
00:20:20.720 --> 00:20:21.759
No, I'm just kidding.
00:20:21.920 --> 00:20:23.680
Scott's probably way smarter than I am.
00:20:23.839 --> 00:20:27.680
Um, what is not what is the non-systemic vasculytic neuropathy?
00:20:27.759 --> 00:20:28.720
What is that exactly?
00:20:28.880 --> 00:20:30.160
What does it entail?
00:20:30.319 --> 00:20:39.599
Um, I mean, I had a doctor tell me the other day in the in the at the country club what it was because I could I was kind of talking about Scott, but what is it when you guys describe it to somebody?
00:20:39.680 --> 00:20:40.720
How do you describe that?
00:20:41.119 --> 00:20:47.039
So we do describe that it it is an autoimmune condition from you know an unknown source.
00:20:47.200 --> 00:20:54.319
You know, we really believe it did happen after the initial virus, and that just kind of opened up the body for the attack to happen.
00:20:54.480 --> 00:20:59.200
And um, it's an autoimmune condition where the body's immune system is what is doing the attacking.
00:20:59.279 --> 00:21:04.880
So it attacks the small blood vessels that are supplying the nerves with blood and oxygen.
00:21:05.440 --> 00:21:16.319
And because the blood vessels aren't getting enough blood and oxygen, it causes them to become damaged, painful, per makes him have numbness, weakness, trouble walking.
00:21:16.880 --> 00:21:24.799
Um it is different than vasculitis because vasculitis affects the organs in the body.
00:21:25.359 --> 00:21:30.000
And this type of vasculitis he has just is affecting the peripheral nerve.
00:21:30.160 --> 00:21:34.880
So we're thankful it's not vasculitis because that that is much more involved.
00:21:35.039 --> 00:21:40.000
Um this is not a walk in the park, but we're thankful it is not any worse.
00:21:40.480 --> 00:21:48.160
Um for Scott, this has affected both of his lower legs and his left hand over the course of the last two and a half years.
00:21:48.640 --> 00:21:52.000
Um, for other people, it affects different parts of the body.
00:21:52.559 --> 00:21:59.759
Um and really it's just become more challenging as the flares have been more constant and consistent.
00:22:00.160 --> 00:22:02.960
And just affecting his everyday life.
00:22:03.759 --> 00:22:07.519
Yeah, I remember when we started dealing with the hand because he would have like fingers.
00:22:07.759 --> 00:22:14.000
He couldn't move and stuff like that, that was just kind of different for him, something he had never experienced before.
00:22:14.160 --> 00:22:19.119
So I do remember that part of it of playing his day, and the same thing with his legs when it all first started.
00:22:19.279 --> 00:22:22.319
But I mean, this is probably going to be a Scott question, I guess.
00:22:22.480 --> 00:22:31.119
Um, Scott, will you do me a favor and just talk about everyday life pre-uh diagnosis versus everyday life now?
00:22:31.359 --> 00:22:31.519
Okay.
00:22:31.680 --> 00:22:40.160
What's the difference in how your life used to be before all the symptoms and side effects and everything came into play versus how your life is now?
00:22:40.400 --> 00:22:41.279
Talk a little bit about your life.
00:22:41.440 --> 00:22:48.079
Well, I mean, I think anybody that knows me knows, and I know you know, um, but I'm a worker.
00:22:48.240 --> 00:22:50.000
That's just how I was raised.
00:22:50.240 --> 00:22:52.160
I don't understand laziness.
00:22:52.400 --> 00:22:54.240
Um, I don't believe in it.
00:22:54.480 --> 00:22:58.559
Um, there's times to rest, but there's times where you gotta work.
00:22:58.799 --> 00:23:04.720
And you know, I was taught that as a young age, and and for me, you know, it was getting up every day.
00:23:04.799 --> 00:23:19.839
Obviously, I'd go teach, uh, depending on what season it was, you know, um, you know, turning baseball would be the most recent, you know, because I think I stepped away from coaching before this all started, football.
00:23:20.079 --> 00:23:40.079
Um, but it, you know, you go to practice, you know, you're dealing with, you know, you game schedule, you practice schedule, you play multiple games a week, kid, you know, you Millie would have a game or a practice or something, so you try to manage jetting from uh your practice into her game, uh, you know, trying to get there and catch a couple innings.
00:23:40.319 --> 00:23:44.000
Usually the weekends you're going to the ball field somewhere.
00:23:44.160 --> 00:23:48.319
Um, you know, and it's just non-stop.
00:23:48.480 --> 00:23:53.839
Yeah, and you know, I I just go so hard with everything I do.
00:23:53.920 --> 00:23:57.119
Like there's no, let's not dial it back.
00:23:57.200 --> 00:23:59.119
Like, you know, you and I are kind of the same.
00:23:59.279 --> 00:24:01.359
You know, when we do it, we do it right.
00:24:01.680 --> 00:24:05.039
And so for me, it was just I was always so busy, you know.
00:24:05.119 --> 00:24:08.319
And there's some things I look back on, like, did I need to be in the gym that much?
00:24:08.559 --> 00:24:08.880
No.
00:24:09.279 --> 00:24:10.799
As a selfish move.
00:24:11.039 --> 00:24:23.039
But to me, I looked at it as a way to show my kids and my family, like, look, I'm not, I'm not a obviously I'm not a uh well-in-shaped guy, but you know, my dad, you know, I want my kids to say my dad goes there and works out.
00:24:23.279 --> 00:24:24.640
Yeah, and it's good mentality for you too.
00:24:24.880 --> 00:24:26.160
Yeah, it's good mental release.
00:24:26.400 --> 00:24:34.960
I don't ask for for my kids and even my players, like, if I'm not willing to do what I'm asking you to do, then I don't think that's right.
00:24:35.039 --> 00:24:36.160
You know, I'm a liar.
00:24:36.400 --> 00:24:38.000
So that was part of it for me too.
00:24:38.079 --> 00:24:39.200
I challenge myself.
00:24:39.359 --> 00:24:41.039
But you know, it was just always something.
00:24:41.119 --> 00:24:50.079
Uh, you know, every night, even now, you know, it is it's so crazy with taking time off, and you know, I can't help do anything.
00:24:50.160 --> 00:24:51.599
But that's pretty much what it was.
00:24:51.759 --> 00:24:57.920
It's just like, you know, we're going 100 miles an hour like a lot of people are, you know, and I and we got two kids, darn.
00:24:58.079 --> 00:25:00.720
I know people that's got three and four people.
00:25:00.960 --> 00:25:03.200
Three and four, not pick four kids.
00:25:03.920 --> 00:25:08.319
And they'd be playing on multiple teams and might have one in college, and uh, it's crazy.
00:25:08.400 --> 00:25:10.480
I I tell you what, I don't know how they do it.
00:25:10.559 --> 00:25:11.920
I mean, it takes a village.
00:25:12.079 --> 00:25:13.519
That's the only answer.
00:25:13.759 --> 00:25:18.480
And so we're beneficiaries of a village right now.
00:25:19.039 --> 00:25:22.079
So yeah, we live our life a lot alike.
00:25:22.160 --> 00:25:24.640
I mean, I'm not in the gym working out, that's that's for dang sure.
00:25:24.880 --> 00:25:32.640
Those days left when I left college because I guess I did work out through through when I was coaching and stuff, but when I decided to get out of coaching, those days were gone.
00:25:32.799 --> 00:25:34.319
I didn't enjoy it, never enjoyed it.
00:25:34.400 --> 00:25:36.720
Not a day in my life did I enjoy working out.
00:25:37.039 --> 00:25:38.960
But um, but we were always the same.
00:25:39.039 --> 00:25:42.480
We're 100 miles an hour, we're on the go, we're trying to invest in our kids.
00:25:42.640 --> 00:25:50.079
And for a long time we tried to invest in everybody else's kids as as much as we possibly could, even if it took away, took us away from our families.
00:25:50.160 --> 00:25:52.480
And that's that's something me and you truly believe in.
00:25:52.640 --> 00:25:58.559
And, you know, just watching this whole process from my side, I asked that question because I've watched it all.
00:25:58.640 --> 00:26:05.920
I've seen you have to take steps back, I've seen you have to miss school when you were one of those who just didn't take days off.
00:26:06.079 --> 00:26:10.160
I mean, the only time you would take off was when we were traveling to see Vaughn play or something.
00:26:10.319 --> 00:26:15.279
You know, we'd go watch Miami or go watch whoever together when Vaughn's coaching.
00:26:15.440 --> 00:26:18.480
But I mean, it's one of those things where those were the days you took off.
00:26:18.559 --> 00:26:20.319
You didn't take off just to take off.
00:26:20.640 --> 00:26:23.599
And that's been a huge change for you, I know.
00:26:23.759 --> 00:26:34.960
Uh, and I think that's kind of you know what has happened with you with the whole job situation is is they're willing to work with you, but you are one of those people that don't want to take advantage of anybody.
00:26:35.119 --> 00:26:35.519
Correct.
00:26:35.759 --> 00:26:41.759
And deep down inside of you, you felt like you were taking advantage of them because you couldn't be at work when you're supposed to be at work.
00:26:42.000 --> 00:26:49.200
And I know you well enough to know that's what's going through your head, even though in their mind, no, this guy's given us everything he can possibly give us.
00:26:49.359 --> 00:26:50.720
Now it's our turn to give back.
00:26:50.799 --> 00:26:50.960
Yeah.
00:26:51.119 --> 00:26:57.440
But I know in your in your mind, I know how you are, you're a lot like me, you feel like that you weren't doing your part, even though you had done your part.
00:26:57.759 --> 00:27:08.000
Well, I I'd like to add to that too, because you know, the past two and a half years, I've had a lot of time to sit in a recliner and just ponder life's mysteries.
00:27:08.240 --> 00:27:11.599
And so I always, you know, I'll do a lot of self-reflection and stuff like that.
00:27:11.680 --> 00:27:14.319
And I just always kind of wonder because I know I have anxiety.
00:27:14.480 --> 00:27:16.079
I know stuff would just wear me down.
00:27:16.160 --> 00:27:20.240
I carry people's emotions, I I want to be able to carry other people's problems.
00:27:20.400 --> 00:27:25.440
I don't know if it's just being the oldest child or whatever, you know, but that's just kind of how I feel.
00:27:25.599 --> 00:27:35.839
But you know, my biggest thing, which, you know, a lot of people can say their biggest strength is also their weakness, but I've I've come to come to determine and I've diagnosed myself with I have a fear of disappointment.
00:27:36.319 --> 00:27:46.079
And I think that's a lot of times what goes in my mind first is you know, I'm disappointing somebody because I can't do my job or I can't do my responsibility.
00:27:46.400 --> 00:27:56.640
And even if I am doing it, I always want to make sure that individual, you know, especially a head coach, like, you know, I'm I was one of those guys, like, I want to make sure this head coach wants me around.
00:27:56.799 --> 00:27:58.240
And so I'd work my tail off.
00:27:58.319 --> 00:27:58.799
Yep.
00:27:59.119 --> 00:28:07.839
And so to me, you know, like I say, it can be a strength, but there's times where I have to understand it's a weakness that I I I'm not disappointing people.
00:28:07.920 --> 00:28:08.480
I know that.
00:28:08.640 --> 00:28:23.599
But that's hard for, you know, I don't consider myself a fully blown alpha male, but I'm confident and I'm gonna, you know, speak my mind and speak speak what I feel like is the truth and stuff like that.
00:28:23.839 --> 00:28:28.400
But you know, I I can't get I know people are not disappointed, I know that.
00:28:29.119 --> 00:28:33.519
And you know, that's just a hard thing for a man to get over.
00:28:33.759 --> 00:28:34.160
Oh, I agree.
00:28:34.400 --> 00:28:34.640
Yep.
00:28:34.799 --> 00:28:37.200
You know, I I've I've said this numerous times on the podcast.
00:28:37.359 --> 00:28:39.519
My my biggest fear is failure, period.
00:28:39.759 --> 00:28:46.960
Like, I've been so close to losing everything I've got financially because of my dream of running this barbecue business.
00:28:47.359 --> 00:28:48.160
It is constant.
00:28:48.319 --> 00:28:55.279
Like, there's days we wake up, we don't know how we're gonna feed our kids, put food on our table because I gotta make sure everybody that's working for me is taken care of first.
00:28:55.680 --> 00:29:01.200
And that's one of my biggest fears, and I know you're when you're a lot alike, and and that's true, disappointment sucks.
00:29:01.440 --> 00:29:07.519
You know, when you have to look somebody, when you when you know you're you're getting paid to do a job and you can't do that job, I get exactly where you're coming from.
00:29:07.599 --> 00:29:09.359
Like, I see that, I feel that with you.
00:29:09.440 --> 00:29:11.039
So I know how that is.
00:29:11.200 --> 00:29:12.880
And you know, it's kind of like today, man.
00:29:12.960 --> 00:29:21.759
I woke up this morning and the first thing I thought about was Eeyore, just because I got a couple sick, I got a couple people sick that I needed today.
00:29:21.839 --> 00:29:25.839
I got so much stuff on my plate that needs to be done.
00:29:26.000 --> 00:29:28.799
And I just had an Eeyore moment before I got in the shower this morning.
00:29:28.880 --> 00:29:31.039
Just like poor, poor pitiful man.
00:29:31.279 --> 00:29:32.400
Yeah, thanks for noticeing.
00:29:32.799 --> 00:29:34.079
I mean, just kind of thing like that.
00:29:34.160 --> 00:29:38.799
And man, while I was taking my shower, uh, I've been listening to somebody called John Lynn.
00:29:38.880 --> 00:29:42.240
He's just a singer, he sings a lot of gospel music and Christian music.
00:29:42.319 --> 00:29:50.160
And I was listening to him, and I started thinking about man, I get to do a podcast with one of my good friends who's a pastor in the area this morning early.
00:29:50.319 --> 00:29:53.839
I got a chance to do a podcast with him that that just blessed my heart.
00:29:54.000 --> 00:30:14.240
And I'm like, I get a chance to do what I love, which is cook barbecue, serve barbecue, run the restaurant, run the food trucks, and I get a chance to come spend time with one of my best friends and talk about something that's important to him and something that's important to me, and something that we're gonna try to get some people educated on so that we can get y'all some help.
00:30:14.400 --> 00:30:17.200
And from that moment forward, I'm kind of like, you know what?
00:30:17.279 --> 00:30:21.200
It don't matter what this day throws at me, it can always be way worse.
00:30:21.519 --> 00:30:21.680
Right.
00:30:22.319 --> 00:30:25.759
And, you know, I'm just thankful to be here and have the opportunity to talk to you guys.
00:30:25.839 --> 00:30:28.480
But Katie, this next question is kind of gonna fall to you.
00:30:28.799 --> 00:30:31.119
Take Scott, the microphone microphone away from Scott.
00:30:31.200 --> 00:30:32.720
Everybody's tired of hearing him talk anyway.
00:30:32.880 --> 00:30:46.079
So question number eight is gonna be, Katie, what kind of effect has it had on everyday family life with assisting Scott, working your job slash jobs, and then helping raise your kids?
00:30:46.160 --> 00:30:49.759
And the job you didn't tell anybody about is you're like a late-night babysitter.
00:30:50.000 --> 00:30:54.799
You just go to people's house, spend the night, take care of the baby while they get to sleep.
00:30:54.960 --> 00:30:56.880
Where was this when my kids were growing up?
00:30:57.279 --> 00:30:59.599
I mean, I didn't know you were you would have done that kind of stuff.
00:30:59.680 --> 00:31:01.039
I'd have been calling you years ago.
00:31:01.279 --> 00:31:03.759
It's that job has been a blessing for me.
00:31:03.920 --> 00:31:07.039
I get to love on little babies and then leave them.
00:31:07.599 --> 00:31:08.240
True that.
00:31:08.400 --> 00:31:20.240
Um, but that that honestly has been a blessing of a job for our family since I can step away at night when I think, you know, everybody should be safe and at home and in bed and not needing me.
00:31:20.400 --> 00:31:22.640
And then I'm home by the time everybody's waking up.
00:31:22.720 --> 00:31:27.519
So anyway, little little side blurb about my new job.
00:31:27.680 --> 00:31:36.240
But um I would say overall, there isn't an aspect of our life that hasn't changed since this has started.
00:31:36.720 --> 00:31:46.799
Um initially it was just little things here and there, but you know, more recently it's it's been a total change for everybody and everything.
00:31:47.440 --> 00:31:57.519
Um there's honestly, I know we've talked about our parents and our family and our village, but there's no way we could have made it through the last couple of years without them.
00:31:58.400 --> 00:32:07.200
And there's no words or adequate sayings to say exactly how much they mean to us and how blessed we are to have them.
00:32:07.920 --> 00:32:20.400
Um, you know, raising the kids, they they have a huge hand in that, and their teachers and coaches all know what's going on and have been huge for us as well.
00:32:21.200 --> 00:32:28.319
And um without them, without everybody, I definitely can't do this alone.
00:32:28.640 --> 00:32:33.119
Scott wants to be able to do it, and he can't, and that's very difficult.
00:32:33.680 --> 00:32:43.359
Um you know, he he misses things that before he would have never missed, and that's hard for everybody.
00:32:43.440 --> 00:32:48.319
And I think our kids, our kids know that he would be there if he could for sure.
00:32:48.559 --> 00:32:55.279
Um, but anyway, we're just very thankful to have everybody that helps us pretty much every single day.
00:32:55.680 --> 00:33:03.920
Yeah, and that, you know, and that's one of the things about you know, me being an ex-educator and being in the school system and understanding teachers and understanding coaches.
00:33:04.000 --> 00:33:08.400
And sometimes, you know, people think teachers, some teachers are heartless because they're hard on you.
00:33:08.559 --> 00:33:08.960
They are.
00:33:09.039 --> 00:33:13.039
They they push you in the classroom, they want what's best for you all the time.
00:33:13.200 --> 00:33:15.599
They want you to be the best student you can possibly be.
00:33:15.759 --> 00:33:19.680
But at the end of the day, they care about you and they care about your kids.
00:33:19.839 --> 00:33:20.559
It's that simple.
00:33:20.799 --> 00:33:34.160
They might not know you as a parent, but if you communicate with them, hey, this is going on, they're gonna do whatever it takes to make sure your kid has an atmosphere at school to where they feel comfortable, to where they can be successful and they can flourish.
00:33:34.400 --> 00:33:39.920
And for anybody that that that doesn't believe that, they've never worked in that field before.
00:33:40.000 --> 00:33:43.839
If you think a teacher's there to give your kid a hard time, that's not the purpose of that.
00:33:43.920 --> 00:33:46.880
Their purpose is to make you make your kid the best they could possibly be.
00:33:47.039 --> 00:33:52.240
And whatever they have to do to do that, they're willing to do that with all the teachers I've ever worked with, and I've worked with a lot.
00:33:52.400 --> 00:33:54.319
So, and then how have your kids responded?
00:33:54.400 --> 00:33:59.839
Uh, do they understand the diagnosis or are they still kind of, you know, trying to figure this whole thing out too?
00:34:00.319 --> 00:34:03.759
I am definitely biased, but I think our kids are amazing.
00:34:03.920 --> 00:34:09.599
Um, they have handled all of this just great.
00:34:09.920 --> 00:34:14.719
Um, you know, like I said, he misses things he definitely would never miss before.
00:34:14.800 --> 00:34:16.079
And they they never complain.
00:34:16.159 --> 00:34:19.920
They don't complain when plans change, when plans have to get canceled.
00:34:20.239 --> 00:34:25.519
They don't complain that someone else has to take them somewhere because mom and dad have to go somewhere else.
00:34:25.920 --> 00:34:36.400
Um, they help however they can, whether it's cutting the grass or doing the laundry or just however they can help pick up what we can't handle.
00:34:36.880 --> 00:34:39.679
Um so they're amazing.
00:34:39.920 --> 00:34:42.719
I don't know that they understand the actual diagnosis.
00:34:42.960 --> 00:34:48.079
Um, I don't know that we've ever explained word for word what's going on.
00:34:48.239 --> 00:34:53.920
They just kind of know they're they can read when he's having a good day and when he's having a bad day.
00:34:54.159 --> 00:35:03.599
Um and they honestly just know how to act accordingly and to help and to just sit sometimes.
00:35:04.320 --> 00:35:15.519
Um you know, they've been living through all of this just alongside us, and they have adapted amazingly.
00:35:15.760 --> 00:35:16.400
Yeah.
00:35:16.719 --> 00:35:18.079
And this is gonna be for Scott.
00:35:18.239 --> 00:35:20.079
Scott, how have you been able to?
00:35:20.239 --> 00:35:23.760
And I know the answer to this because I've I've seen the change in you the past couple of years.
00:35:23.920 --> 00:35:26.000
Your your faith's grown a whole lot stronger.
00:35:26.079 --> 00:35:34.159
Yes, your your trust in the Lord's grown a whole lot stronger, which has been a testament for to all of us, all your friend group noticed that, all the unit efforts noticed that.
00:35:34.400 --> 00:35:40.800
And how have you been able to stay positive through this process when every day I know is just a it's a hundred percent roller coaster?
00:35:40.880 --> 00:35:41.840
It's just insane.
00:35:42.159 --> 00:35:43.039
Yeah, I mean, it is.
00:35:43.119 --> 00:35:43.679
It's crazy.
00:35:43.760 --> 00:35:48.559
I know I told you about my day today where you know this morning I wanted to get some sun.
00:35:48.639 --> 00:35:51.440
I took my little jazzy out for a spin.
00:35:51.599 --> 00:36:03.039
I, you know, I took it on the road and went up to my brother's house and road it up his driveway and all that stuff just to get out, man, just to feel freedom, you know, smell fresh air.
00:36:03.199 --> 00:36:06.960
And but um I got stuck, you know, coming back.
00:36:07.039 --> 00:36:08.239
I got stuck on our sidewalk.
00:36:08.559 --> 00:36:10.159
You see Scott in the jazzy, don't get worried.
00:36:10.239 --> 00:36:10.880
He's good to get it.
00:36:11.119 --> 00:36:15.119
I don't have you know, I'll call, I'll call the I'll call my Uber, my dad.
00:36:15.199 --> 00:36:16.639
He'll come, he'll come get me.
00:36:16.880 --> 00:36:21.599
Um But I mean, for me, state the question again.
00:36:21.679 --> 00:36:22.079
I'm sorry.
00:36:22.239 --> 00:36:24.400
I just want to know how you're staying positive through this process, man.
00:36:24.559 --> 00:36:24.960
Yeah, sorry.
00:36:25.039 --> 00:36:26.960
So and sometimes folks, I do forget stuff.
00:36:27.039 --> 00:36:28.719
Uh like He's been that way forever.
00:36:28.960 --> 00:36:31.840
Well, that's not that's not a new that's not a new symptom.
00:36:32.079 --> 00:36:36.320
Sometimes I get the this we call it a brain fog, but how to stay positive.
00:36:36.400 --> 00:36:39.119
Well, number one, you know, I use my family, you know.
00:36:39.199 --> 00:36:49.440
I think that's number one, as far as like what's your motivation to kind of, you know, see this through, battle, you know, because you gotta be an example to your kids.
00:36:50.159 --> 00:37:07.199
And, you know, I've I've my faith has grown in this to where, you know, I used to probably always be so negative on myself and hard on myself, to where now I just, you know, always want stuff to be done and done quickly.
00:37:07.280 --> 00:37:17.440
And I want I don't want to sit around and waste time, but it's taught me patience, which has allowed me to dive into, you know, my you know, deeper faith.
00:37:17.519 --> 00:37:26.159
I mean, not that I haven't always believed that Jesus Christ was my Lord and Savior, but I think like you and everybody else, we ain't always really demonstrated the best times.
00:37:26.320 --> 00:37:32.159
We've had periods of life where, you know, we ain't too good, but you know, I wasn't too bad.
00:37:32.480 --> 00:37:47.039
But, you know, I think for me, I have to rely on the fact that of all these kids I've coached for 26 years, of all the times I said adversity is gonna come smack you in the face one day.
00:37:47.519 --> 00:37:50.559
And when you when it does, how are you gonna handle it?
00:37:51.280 --> 00:37:58.000
So I've always talked about pushing through, grinding through stuff, finishing, you know, be confident.
00:37:58.159 --> 00:38:01.039
So if I can't do that, I'm a hypocrite.
00:38:01.119 --> 00:38:13.840
Yeah, and now please understand young people, because and even even even husbands, like don't think that my mental health was always thriving.
00:38:15.039 --> 00:38:19.199
It was not, especially that first year when we have no answers.
00:38:19.360 --> 00:38:19.599
Yeah.
00:38:19.840 --> 00:38:28.559
So I probably took a few rock bottoms, you know, in the middle of the WrestleMania ring, you know, during that time.
00:38:28.719 --> 00:38:28.880
Yeah.
00:38:29.119 --> 00:38:33.760
Not to say that I haven't had some since, but you know, that that's to me is a thing.
00:38:33.840 --> 00:38:46.400
And I'm not gonna say, you know, I I get up every day and I want to just, you know, somehow get better or win the day, as you would wanna want to say.
00:38:46.480 --> 00:38:51.519
Uh and some days that doesn't totally happen, but a lot of times I do, I thrive.
00:38:51.679 --> 00:39:00.079
I I I recall my kids that I've coached, and I don't want to lie to them because I that that would be a fear disappointment for me.
00:39:00.639 --> 00:39:02.880
Um, you know, I think I look at two other things too.
00:39:03.039 --> 00:39:10.480
Number one, I look at my uncle Mike, who passed away from ALS, and back in '93, and you know, I would go over there as a kid.
00:39:10.800 --> 00:39:16.639
I'd be scared to death because you know, he'd be hooked up at that point to, you know, a computer.
00:39:16.880 --> 00:39:19.519
Back then it wasn't like today where it kind of sounds like a voice.
00:39:19.599 --> 00:39:23.519
You know, it was like it sounded like a computer, you know, like very digitized.
00:39:23.679 --> 00:39:28.000
And, you know, every time I saw him, he just had a smile on his face.
00:39:28.320 --> 00:39:31.519
You know, and to me that that encourages me.
00:39:31.599 --> 00:39:34.159
That's one of those things, like, like he had ALS.
00:39:34.320 --> 00:39:44.559
So like, you know, there's no cure, especially, you know, however many years ago, you're talking what, 10, 20, 30, something years ago.
00:39:45.119 --> 00:39:50.000
And so, but I never saw him in a bad mood.
00:39:50.239 --> 00:39:56.880
You know, and so even though I was as a younger kid scared to kind of be around him, you know, because you don't understand.
00:39:57.360 --> 00:39:58.559
But I did see that.
00:39:58.639 --> 00:40:00.159
And so kids watch.
00:40:00.400 --> 00:40:17.760
You know, I even got, you know, my uncle Jeff, who's been, you know, he's been uh um I don't know, is it he's got a physical wheelchair bound, physical disability from a you know, a car wreck back in, I think before I was born.
00:40:17.920 --> 00:40:19.599
So is that the calibash guy?
00:40:19.840 --> 00:40:20.880
Yeah, okay, yeah, yeah.
00:40:21.039 --> 00:40:21.440
Yeah, yeah.
00:40:21.519 --> 00:40:23.440
And so I mean, you know, I'm 44.
00:40:23.679 --> 00:40:27.280
So uh for all my life, that's all I've ever known was him.
00:40:27.440 --> 00:40:28.159
But you know what?
00:40:28.239 --> 00:40:31.840
He he's done his own lawn care business, he's gotten out and work, he still runs it.
00:40:31.920 --> 00:40:38.800
So, like, you know, that that to me tells me plain enough, like I can tell you what now, right now guaranteed, I ain't sitting in a chair the rest of my life.
00:40:38.960 --> 00:40:41.119
Yeah, somebody gonna get hurt.
00:40:41.599 --> 00:40:44.800
And but that's just kind of how I stay positive.
00:40:44.880 --> 00:40:46.800
You know, I look at things, I go the Bible, man.
00:40:46.880 --> 00:40:52.400
I mean, I, you know, and I'm not no Bible expert, but you know, I think it's really coincidental.
00:40:52.559 --> 00:41:06.960
I don't know if you saw, I don't know if you say coincidental, but to me, it's like too much to say that, you know, I don't know if God is there, but like I got this Cliff Notes Bible that kind of dummies it down for me.
00:41:07.199 --> 00:41:08.079
I know what you mean.
00:41:08.239 --> 00:41:16.079
And I got the athlete's Bible, which you get at FCA camps and stuff during the summer, which is already kind of filtered down to where I can understand it.
00:41:16.159 --> 00:41:20.960
You know, I don't all these these, thou's and thou's to that confuses me.
00:41:21.199 --> 00:41:35.840
But you know, essentially I can read this page and a half passage, and it gives me a Cliff Notes version of what I'm getting ready to read in the Bible, and it just so happened that the first passages I read, I'm still reading it because I'm still not where I should be with that.
00:41:35.920 --> 00:41:48.639
But it's about Job and how Job, and I'm probably gonna miss, I'm not gonna go into great detail, but essentially he has a lot of things taken away from him from by God, and he suffers and yeah, probably one of the roughest lives of anybody in the Bible, no doubt.
00:41:49.199 --> 00:41:50.639
If it could go wrong, it went wrong.
00:41:50.800 --> 00:41:53.920
Yeah, so I mean it's one of those things, like I don't play the victim.
00:41:54.079 --> 00:41:56.079
I I'm not a victim of anything.
00:41:56.320 --> 00:42:00.480
Um, this is this is my journey, and by God, I I'm a competitor.
00:42:00.559 --> 00:42:01.039
Yeah, yeah.
00:42:01.199 --> 00:42:02.320
And I'm gonna go at it.
00:42:02.480 --> 00:42:05.440
You know, and there's some mornings I wake up, man, I'm tired.
00:42:05.679 --> 00:42:10.320
You know, I'm on this large, you know, O'Connor County does these staggered starts now.
00:42:10.480 --> 00:42:14.719
So elementary starts at 8, middle starts at 8:30, high school starts at 8:50.
00:42:14.800 --> 00:42:16.480
So everything's staggered.
00:42:16.639 --> 00:42:20.400
So this year, Hadley's in middle school for the past, you know, however many years.
00:42:20.480 --> 00:42:23.840
She's been an elementary kid, so my wife just took her to school every day when she went.
00:42:24.000 --> 00:42:26.320
Well, now my wife has to start at 8.
00:42:26.480 --> 00:42:28.800
So that means I gotta take her to school every morning.
00:42:28.960 --> 00:42:41.119
And, you know, I used to complain about it, but now I just I embrace it because it's an extra 30 minutes I get to spend with her in the morning, taking her to school, enjoying that time down the road.
00:42:41.280 --> 00:42:43.360
And, you know, I I wake up tired.
00:42:43.519 --> 00:42:50.239
I got so much things, so many things to to happen, so much stuff I got to get done, all this stuff I've had planned.
00:42:50.480 --> 00:42:53.199
But then I start thinking about everything else and the people around me.
00:42:53.280 --> 00:42:57.920
And I think about you some mornings, and I'm like, you know, it don't matter.
00:42:58.000 --> 00:42:59.760
This dude's got to wake up every day.
00:43:00.000 --> 00:43:03.440
He's got to be ready to fight, he's got to be ready to win the day.
00:43:03.599 --> 00:43:12.719
And that's just one of the things that I've seen out of you for the past couple of months, because I've been paying a whole lot more attention now that we know the severity of everything.
00:43:12.960 --> 00:43:22.000
And it's just one of those things that it's an inspiration to see somebody that knows that it don't matter what kind of day you're having, by the end of the day, you may be fighting.
00:43:22.159 --> 00:43:23.440
You may be fighting by the end of the day.
00:43:23.519 --> 00:43:27.760
You can wake up feeling good, but by the time you go to bed, you may be in a you may be in a in a battle.
00:43:27.920 --> 00:43:42.639
And that's just one of those things that that's really that's really, you know, something that that I think is very helpful to other people is to see the way you're trying to live your life, even though you're going through a tough, a tough stage right now.
00:43:42.880 --> 00:43:51.760
Um, if you had to pick a song, a quote, a movie line, anything like that to describe your situation, what would that be and why?
00:43:52.159 --> 00:43:55.039
Well, I mean, I love that question.
00:43:55.199 --> 00:43:59.760
That's probably the one I was really looking the most forward to answering uh for you.
00:44:00.079 --> 00:44:03.280
You because I'm one of those guys and I think it's just being a coach.
00:44:03.599 --> 00:44:06.880
You just you find you try to find that quote.
00:44:07.039 --> 00:44:07.599
Yep, you do.
00:44:07.840 --> 00:44:14.320
Or that saying that just might trigger a little fire under your team for a big game or something like that.
00:44:14.480 --> 00:44:19.360
So I'm constantly saving stuff on Facebook and going back to it and looking at it.
00:44:19.440 --> 00:44:26.639
And I kind of went through today because I again I'm not one of those people that's like, hey, this is the quote of all quotes.
00:44:26.800 --> 00:44:29.840
This is the song of all songs.
00:44:30.000 --> 00:44:31.679
This it can vary.
00:44:31.920 --> 00:44:45.039
But I went back through a lot of my screenshots, and they can be of just Bible verses, they can be of what have you, of uh a quote from somebody else, or you know, but it's Habakkuk.
00:44:45.119 --> 00:44:46.239
I probably said that wrong.
00:44:46.320 --> 00:44:47.840
Yeah, uh, two, three.
00:44:48.079 --> 00:44:52.880
It says, God says, My timing may feel slow, but I have not forgotten you.
00:44:53.119 --> 00:44:56.800
I am preparing answers to your prayers.
00:44:57.440 --> 00:45:04.079
So, you know, that to me is something that is so important for me now is patience.
00:45:04.239 --> 00:45:06.480
Like I feel like I'm being taught patience.
00:45:06.639 --> 00:45:13.440
I don't feel like I'm being done used in the coaching uh brotherhood, sisterhood.
00:45:13.679 --> 00:45:17.199
Um, I don't yet know what those plans may be.
00:45:17.440 --> 00:45:19.840
Um, but you know, I'm not done.
00:45:20.000 --> 00:45:21.360
Like I'm scheming all the time.
00:45:21.440 --> 00:45:22.400
I'm a schemer.
00:45:22.719 --> 00:45:24.880
So I'm trying to figure out how to get something done.
00:45:24.960 --> 00:45:35.360
And then I guess really with you know a daily uh a daily thing I use is I compete every day.
00:45:35.679 --> 00:45:48.559
You know, you you you gonna compete whether you're getting up and you got a blue-collar job and you go into the mill, you gonna compete if you're on your own business and you got to get out in the world and take care of your clients.
00:45:48.719 --> 00:45:54.559
You gonna compete if you're that doctor or nurse, you're gonna compete if you're that teacher, administrator.
00:45:54.800 --> 00:46:02.320
So every job, like you gotta compete, you know, even when you don't feel like it is your best day.
00:46:02.800 --> 00:46:15.599
Um, you know, as far as you get with like movie quotes and stuff, I mean, gosh money, I the library of movies I have watched over the last two and a half years, I I think a better question is what what have been my favorite movies?
00:46:16.079 --> 00:46:22.480
Because I don't I I might can remember the quote when I'm watching the movie, but um, you know, for me it depends on my mood.
00:46:22.639 --> 00:46:27.039
Like if I'm ticked off and I'm mad, I'll watch like John Wick.
00:46:27.440 --> 00:46:35.360
And just that or the equalizer with Denzel Washington, just watching somebody just honestly just take a beating because they need it.
00:46:35.599 --> 00:46:38.800
And it just, you know, I can't do that, you know.
00:46:38.880 --> 00:46:43.199
So it's just like I don't know, that's a way to be like, yeah, man, get him, get him.
00:46:43.519 --> 00:46:52.880
You know, it's just a way to be like get rid of that anger that I might be feeling, or regret or frustration, you know, songs.
00:46:52.960 --> 00:46:55.519
I mean, I have I'm such I love music so much.
00:46:55.760 --> 00:47:09.760
Um, you know, there's so many artists out there, but there's a great song that I've really kind of taken to um recently uh by Tedesky Trucks band, uh, which I don't know if you've ever listened to them.
00:47:10.000 --> 00:47:12.800
Uh extremely, extremely good.
00:47:12.880 --> 00:47:15.440
But this song right here is one of my favorites.
00:47:15.519 --> 00:47:17.440
Uh it's called Bound for Glory.
00:47:17.920 --> 00:47:20.800
Um, you know, it's just a beautiful song.
00:47:20.960 --> 00:47:24.480
I mean, they're not a Christian band as far as like they label themselves as that.
00:47:24.559 --> 00:47:27.519
They're they're your kind of folk, you know.
00:47:28.079 --> 00:47:41.920
Western Scott, you know, um Derek Trucks in the band, who's related to all the you know, the Alman Brothers, stuff like that, or had dealing, you know, gigs with them growing up as a young kid, so he can absolutely wail on a guitar.
00:47:42.079 --> 00:47:47.760
So man, I'll pull that stuff up on YouTube and I'll just watch a concert and have myself a good time in my recliner.
00:47:47.920 --> 00:47:51.199
But that that song means a lot to me, you know.
00:47:51.599 --> 00:47:54.400
Um, you know, and it just depends on the mood, man.
00:47:54.559 --> 00:48:05.199
Like I could I might need something a little heavier like Metallica, or you know, I might need to hit my favorite group, Christian group, third day up, you know, do that kind of stuff.
00:48:05.280 --> 00:48:11.920
Of course, Zach Brown band and the Eagles, of course, are been a primary uh fixture in my life for a long time.
00:48:12.000 --> 00:48:18.480
Uh, so their music's very, you know, it's very relaxing to me because it just I know every word.
00:48:18.639 --> 00:48:18.960
Yeah.
00:48:19.119 --> 00:48:20.719
So something something familiar.
00:48:20.880 --> 00:48:21.440
I get it.
00:48:21.679 --> 00:48:23.360
And then this one's gonna go to Katie.
00:48:23.760 --> 00:48:25.920
Katie, what are the treatment options available?
00:48:26.079 --> 00:48:32.320
Some of the stuff y'all tried in the past, some of the stuff you're trying now, and then what some other future future may hold.
00:48:32.400 --> 00:48:34.880
And do we know if there's a cure or not?
00:48:36.400 --> 00:48:49.119
So for this condition, there isn't necessarily a cure, but the goal is to get the symptoms in remission and allowing him to, you know, live a normal life.
00:48:49.360 --> 00:48:56.159
Um, so to get the symptoms controlled, it's all done pretty much by shutting down his body's immune system.
00:48:56.400 --> 00:49:00.320
Um, so initially he responded very well to high dose steroids.
00:49:00.480 --> 00:49:05.360
He would take a few days of steroids and be able to live life normally.
00:49:05.679 --> 00:49:15.039
Um, and over the summer, I would say that the steroids kind of quit working in that way for him, which has led to a lot of bad days.
00:49:15.519 --> 00:49:22.000
Um he has also been getting infusions off and on to help with immunosuppression.
00:49:22.320 --> 00:49:24.320
Uh he goes to an infusion center.
00:49:24.400 --> 00:49:25.519
Shout out to Vital Care.
00:49:25.599 --> 00:49:26.159
We love them.
00:49:26.320 --> 00:49:33.840
They're very great with Scott and they, you know, want him to do the best and get better for sure.
00:49:34.000 --> 00:49:34.400
We love them.
00:49:34.480 --> 00:49:36.159
But anyway, everybody loves me.
00:49:37.280 --> 00:49:44.880
Um so kind of last ditch treatment, I would say, is a chemotherapy.
00:49:44.960 --> 00:49:47.679
And so that's what he has recently started a few weeks ago.
00:49:47.760 --> 00:49:53.840
It's a chemo pill that he takes daily, and it's gonna be a six-month treatment plan.
00:49:54.000 --> 00:50:00.159
So we're just you know, prayerfully hoping that this works and gets his symptoms in remission.
00:50:00.639 --> 00:50:07.199
Um, and you know, the goal is to get to get to that remission status and then just control symptoms going forward.
00:50:07.360 --> 00:50:14.960
So it's gonna take a few more months to see if the chemo is um able to do that.
00:50:15.119 --> 00:50:20.800
And I'm sure there's gonna be days that are a lot harder because the chemo is called cytoxin.
00:50:20.880 --> 00:50:24.079
And you know, they they keep preparing us that it's called that for a reason.
00:50:24.159 --> 00:50:25.199
It's pretty toxic.
00:50:25.840 --> 00:50:39.679
Um but after all of this that's been said, I think his positive outlook and just wanting to get better and compete every day, win every day, like he's gonna take those bad days and stride, just knowing that the end goal is to feel better.
00:50:40.320 --> 00:50:47.440
Um after the six months of chemo, then we'll move on to the next kind of step-down medication.
00:50:47.679 --> 00:50:49.599
But that is the goal for now.
00:50:50.559 --> 00:50:54.400
Yeah, and you can and and I know he's done some treatment so far.
00:50:54.639 --> 00:51:02.159
I know we had a lot of success with some, I guess, holistic type medicine with a chiropractor in was it in Asheville or somewhere?
00:51:02.559 --> 00:51:04.719
I know we had a lot of success with that.
00:51:04.960 --> 00:51:09.760
Uh, but I think that's kind of left now too, to where that's not working like it was.
00:51:09.920 --> 00:51:14.000
And so how is your body responding to the treatments that you're getting?
00:51:14.159 --> 00:51:16.480
And can you tell a difference in some of those treatments?
00:51:16.719 --> 00:51:17.840
Uh yeah, I can.
00:51:18.000 --> 00:51:21.440
I mean, I I know people have been asking how how do you feel on the chemo?
00:51:21.519 --> 00:51:25.360
Well, I think I still have some time before I'm really supposed to feel an effect.
00:51:25.440 --> 00:51:33.840
Now, you know, I've had days where um over the past couple weeks where uh my taste buds could be off.
00:51:33.920 --> 00:51:37.039
Like I think a couple weeks ago I had a high craving for fruit.
00:51:37.280 --> 00:51:40.159
Like I just couldn't get enough pineapples, strawberries, blueberries.
00:51:40.320 --> 00:51:41.119
I mean, it was weird.
00:51:41.199 --> 00:51:41.360
Yeah.
00:51:41.440 --> 00:51:44.880
And I did and I like fruits, but like it was like kind of feminine how you felt.
00:51:45.199 --> 00:51:45.519
I guess.
00:51:45.599 --> 00:51:46.559
I guess I felt yeah.
00:51:46.800 --> 00:51:50.159
But I was like, man, I need those fruits.
00:51:50.320 --> 00:51:52.320
Like it was just all I could stomach.
00:51:52.480 --> 00:51:56.559
Like right now, I have zero interest in anything fried.
00:51:56.719 --> 00:51:57.039
Really?
00:51:57.280 --> 00:51:58.559
I have no interest in anything fried.
00:51:58.800 --> 00:52:00.320
I don't think I have a diet if it's not fried.
00:52:00.800 --> 00:52:04.480
Um, you know, I I might get away with a couple French fries here and there.
00:52:04.719 --> 00:52:10.880
But like if you wanted me to go get, you know, fried chicken or chicken tenders from like Guthrie's or Chick-fil-A, like I can't do it.
00:52:10.960 --> 00:52:12.480
Like I can't stomach it right now.
00:52:12.719 --> 00:52:14.559
You know, it just doesn't sound good.
00:52:14.800 --> 00:52:17.440
Even though and then people who really know me know this is bad.
00:52:17.519 --> 00:52:19.119
There's days when I don't want a Coca-Cola.
00:52:19.360 --> 00:52:19.760
Really?
00:52:19.920 --> 00:52:20.559
And that's big.
00:52:23.199 --> 00:52:24.800
I actually just had Jersey Mics today for lunch.
00:52:25.039 --> 00:52:25.920
That does not surprise me.
00:52:26.239 --> 00:52:29.679
Um that used to be one of our rituals, weekly rituals when we were at North Greenville.
00:52:29.920 --> 00:52:37.760
Yeah, I had to, I had to sit and think about what I wanted because I was having some reflux going on because right now we're out of one of our medications.
00:52:37.920 --> 00:52:43.360
It's an acid that causes me to my stomach to you know cough up stuff.
00:52:43.440 --> 00:52:44.960
And so I didn't really want anything.
00:52:45.039 --> 00:52:52.159
But then when I settled down and took some medication, I was like, okay, I think I can eat and kind of went plain with just jersey mics.
00:52:52.320 --> 00:52:59.039
You know, a lot of stuff's plain, baked potatoes, you know, um uh mashed potatoes, stuff like that.
00:52:59.119 --> 00:53:00.800
I mean you don't get moes much anymore.
00:53:00.880 --> 00:53:01.199
Mexican?
00:53:01.360 --> 00:53:02.719
No, that moes and greer sucks.
00:53:03.119 --> 00:53:04.320
It used to be one of your go-to's.
00:53:04.559 --> 00:53:05.360
It is, it is.
00:53:05.519 --> 00:53:08.880
I think they close now, but we don't go there anymore.
00:53:09.039 --> 00:53:11.840
So if you're listening to this, you have to go to the Mo's on Pelham Road.
00:53:11.920 --> 00:53:12.800
It's way better.
00:53:12.960 --> 00:53:13.519
Way better.
00:53:13.760 --> 00:53:15.599
Pelham Road in Greenville, South Carolina.
00:53:15.760 --> 00:53:21.039
Yeah, and so that's you know, we we don't make that trip often, but you know, if I want Moe's, that's where you go.
00:53:21.119 --> 00:53:24.400
I quit going to the one in Rear probably a couple years ago.
00:53:24.639 --> 00:53:25.039
Gotcha.
00:53:25.280 --> 00:53:28.320
Um, but yeah.
00:53:29.360 --> 00:53:46.159
Um, but the treatment with um the chiropractor, you know, when I went up to Asheville, it was kind of a you know, a shot in the dark that we got advice from some friends of ours, uh, the Mings and Terry, and you know Terry.
00:53:47.760 --> 00:53:54.079
He had been using them, you know, he you know, with his cancer, and he would go to several and I was like, hey man, won't you try this guy?
00:53:54.159 --> 00:53:56.960
Of course, I'm like, man, what is a chiropractor gonna do to this?
00:53:57.119 --> 00:54:00.880
Yeah, but of course, you know, we we would try anything.
00:54:01.039 --> 00:54:04.960
You know, it really wasn't whatever you throw at us, we'll probably consider.
00:54:05.920 --> 00:54:11.519
And so really we went up there with, I mean, I don't know what expectation I had.
00:54:11.840 --> 00:54:24.639
Um, but I go in there and you know, I'm you know, I get in there and I'm hurting, you know, and I'm sitting there and he's talking about all this, and like, you know, I just, you know, worried about how's this really gonna work.
00:54:24.880 --> 00:54:30.639
He actually takes x-rays of me, does all these scans, and actually came up with a game plan.
00:54:30.719 --> 00:54:42.320
And he was probably the first person, you know, doctor or not, that I went and visited in an office that had a had a positive outlook.
00:54:42.639 --> 00:54:50.960
And so for me, that really convinced me that all right, you you feel like there's a pathway?
00:54:51.280 --> 00:54:53.679
Well, you're the first one, so I'm I'm all in.
00:54:53.760 --> 00:54:54.239
What's up?
00:54:54.320 --> 00:54:55.599
You know, what we gonna do?
00:54:55.920 --> 00:55:01.119
And so I've been going to him for I don't know, it's probably been 13, 14 months.
00:55:01.440 --> 00:55:08.079
And I'm gonna tell you, man, there's been days where I'll go in there, especially early on, and I couldn't walk.
00:55:08.400 --> 00:55:11.360
And I think that was the first day I went, I couldn't.
00:55:11.840 --> 00:55:13.199
Dude, I walked out of there.
00:55:13.280 --> 00:55:13.519
Yeah.
00:55:13.760 --> 00:55:15.760
And so to me, I was sold.
00:55:16.159 --> 00:55:22.000
And uh, you know, whatever your opinion is on chiropractic care, uh, you know, whatever.
00:55:22.239 --> 00:55:25.679
But for me, it made such a huge difference in my life.
00:55:25.840 --> 00:55:34.000
You know, yeah, it is an Ashefield, but when you felt as bad and feel as bad as I do, it it really doesn't matter.
00:55:34.159 --> 00:55:34.480
Yeah.
00:55:34.639 --> 00:55:49.760
Um, and I I have started going to another chiropractor in Greer uh with some back decompression and some, what is it, sound was it sound wave, soft wave, which have therapy, which has done also a lot of good for me.
00:55:49.920 --> 00:55:55.280
I haven't been able to go just because of fatigue and feeling bad, but so that's where I go mostly.
00:55:55.440 --> 00:55:57.599
Um, it does give me relief.
00:55:58.239 --> 00:56:02.400
Um it can allow me to go maybe, you know, a little bit.
00:56:02.719 --> 00:56:11.360
Um, but I I will continue to go and I totally support, you know, both the things I'm getting done.
00:56:11.440 --> 00:56:11.760
Yeah.
00:56:11.840 --> 00:56:19.840
Uh, because it does, I mean, my my C4 and C5 was so compact and crushed from just a life of going hard.
00:56:19.920 --> 00:56:20.239
Yeah.
00:56:20.480 --> 00:56:31.360
And so we're trying to create space uh to also kind of loosen that up and see if that's also adding any additional pain or any type of additional problems.
00:56:31.519 --> 00:56:31.679
Yeah.
00:56:31.840 --> 00:56:35.599
And I'm sure when they're dealing with that, I mean they're trying to create better blood flow, period.
00:56:35.679 --> 00:56:43.760
They're trying to adjust your body to take pressure off of certain points, and that's what you need is better blood blood flow by the definition of what Katie shared earlier.
00:56:43.920 --> 00:56:46.079
Is we've got to get blood flow to those nerve endings.
00:56:46.400 --> 00:56:46.639
Yes.
00:56:46.800 --> 00:56:49.199
And if that's working for you, man, I'm I'm excited about it.
00:56:49.440 --> 00:56:54.960
But just moving forward for anyone experiencing hardship or a similar situation.
00:56:55.119 --> 00:56:57.519
I know there's not many people that are going through what you're going through.
00:56:57.679 --> 00:56:59.440
No, it's very rare.
00:56:59.599 --> 00:57:01.679
Uh, it's not something that's common at all.
00:57:01.840 --> 00:57:17.440
Uh, but there's people that are going through other things too, whether it's cancer or whether it's, you know, all types of different things where you wake up in the morning and you're staring fear, you're staring the unknown, you're staring this stuff in the face constantly.
00:57:17.840 --> 00:57:34.480
So for anyone experiencing any kind of hardship or a similar situation as you and Katie and your family right now, what advice would you like to share with them about how to look at that or how to overcome that or how to keep a positive attitude while you're while you're experiencing that?
00:57:34.800 --> 00:57:43.599
Well, uh, I I hope that, you know, the people out there who have, you know, whatever disease it is, it could be something that's incurable.
00:57:43.679 --> 00:57:53.199
It could be something like you're like me, where you know it's not really a cure, but you can still get to a point where you can maintain, you know, a satisfactory life or productive life.
00:57:53.440 --> 00:58:00.000
And, you know, for me, the most important thing is you cannot do it on your own.
00:58:00.480 --> 00:58:04.480
If that's gonna be your approach, you're gonna fail.
00:58:04.960 --> 00:58:15.519
And I I know there's people out there who don't have great families or great, you know, they might have a great family, maybe they got great friends, you know, or vice versa.
00:58:15.679 --> 00:58:20.559
You know, but you you've got to find that little piece, you gotta find that goal.
00:58:20.719 --> 00:58:30.079
Like, okay, like, you know, number one, my goal is to love to be able to travel with, you know, y'all up to NC State to watch them play in November.
00:58:30.159 --> 00:58:31.440
Like, that's a goal of mine.
00:58:31.599 --> 00:58:32.960
Like, uh do I make it?
00:58:33.039 --> 00:58:33.440
I don't know.
00:58:33.760 --> 00:58:35.920
We're gonna figure we're gonna figure out that's a goal, you know.
00:58:36.159 --> 00:58:37.360
Piggy back in if I have to.
00:58:37.519 --> 00:58:38.800
I ain't got nothing to do with piggyback.
00:58:39.280 --> 00:58:40.960
Oh, we got oh, I forgot we got the jazzy.
00:58:41.679 --> 00:58:43.119
I'll just get a ride on the jazzy then.
00:58:43.280 --> 00:58:48.559
Yeah, it's yeah, but then you know it's just one of the things like my goal is to take my kids back to Disney World.
00:58:48.719 --> 00:59:00.960
You know, not for just a couple days, but like my family deserves, not me, my family deserves that type of vacation to where we're there and we're chill.
00:59:01.119 --> 00:59:02.159
We're gonna go have a good time.
00:59:02.639 --> 00:59:04.239
I don't care if I ride a ride.
00:59:04.559 --> 00:59:05.519
I don't need that.
00:59:05.679 --> 00:59:08.000
I've ridden them before many times.
00:59:08.400 --> 00:59:10.559
But my kids love it, my wife loves it.
00:59:10.719 --> 00:59:12.400
It's been a it was a great memory for us.
00:59:12.559 --> 00:59:14.800
It's kind of like our first family vacation.
00:59:15.280 --> 00:59:16.719
So, like, that's a goal for me.
00:59:16.880 --> 00:59:21.840
Now, if I have to ride my, you know, tail around in a jazzy, I don't care.
00:59:22.000 --> 00:59:24.960
Yeah, so it's not about me.
00:59:25.119 --> 00:59:34.159
It's about what point can I start giving back to my family and providing for them because for the past two and a half years for the most part, they've been taking care of me.
00:59:34.320 --> 00:59:34.800
Oh, yeah.
00:59:34.880 --> 00:59:38.159
And but but I mean you and they understand they understand the situation.
00:59:38.559 --> 00:59:38.800
Oh, yeah.
00:59:39.119 --> 00:59:47.440
Well, you know, it's not like it's a burden, it's not like it's they they completely understand the situation you're in, and they know that you sacrificed for them for a long time too.
00:59:47.840 --> 00:59:49.920
And so uh it's kind of like full circle.
00:59:50.239 --> 00:59:52.960
I would I would say the beach, but man, I can't even get on the beach.
00:59:53.199 --> 00:59:54.320
I don't want to get on the beach.
00:59:55.440 --> 00:59:57.519
If it wasn't for the sand and the salt, I'd be okay with it.
00:59:57.920 --> 01:00:02.000
I could take Katie to the beach for a month and she'd be like, drop her off.
01:00:02.320 --> 01:00:02.800
I could, yeah.
01:00:02.960 --> 01:00:05.039
Yeah, then we'd be the smartest people in the house.
01:00:05.280 --> 01:00:06.000
You would, yeah.
01:00:06.159 --> 01:00:07.039
Then we would be at that point.
01:00:07.360 --> 01:00:07.920
That's exactly right.
01:00:08.079 --> 01:00:08.880
That's exactly right.
01:00:09.039 --> 01:00:10.159
All right, question 14.
01:00:10.320 --> 01:00:22.480
And this one's gonna be a little more intense and probably the most in-depth question we've asked, but for better or for worse in sickness and in health, no one thought that you guys would ever be here.
01:00:22.719 --> 01:00:36.480
But how much does this vowel mean to you now through the whole two and a half years that you've processed this entire situation, this diagnosis, this battle, this search for answers.
01:00:36.800 --> 01:00:45.119
How true is that statement now that you're staring something like non-systemic vasculitic neuropathy down the down the barrel right now?
01:00:46.159 --> 01:00:49.440
Well, I mean, this, you know, you're looking at her.
01:00:49.920 --> 01:00:52.320
Um to me says a lot.
01:00:52.400 --> 01:01:26.239
I mean, I know, like you mentioned earlier, we you and I both went through a divorce early, and you know, I don't have anything negative to say about anything like that or previous relationships, but you know, I think I made a comment to my dad the other day, you know, about something and a relationship or whatever, and we really was a joke about something, and then it was something like, you know, well, maybe, you know, with getting with me marrying Katie and finding Katie, Katie, you know, at Eastside and you know, her marrying a guy who had already been married once at such a young age, you know, to me, God blessed me.
01:01:26.639 --> 01:01:36.559
God knew that at this point that Katie was going to be a central figure and play such a huge important role in this.
01:01:36.960 --> 01:01:37.679
Yeah, let's be honest.
01:01:37.760 --> 01:01:39.679
If Katie wasn't here, we wouldn't even know what this thing meant.
01:01:39.840 --> 01:01:40.000
No.
01:01:40.320 --> 01:01:42.559
That's why she's answered, we wouldn't have a clue about this.
01:01:42.880 --> 01:01:44.639
That's why she's answered all the smart questions.
01:01:44.880 --> 01:01:47.280
We'd just be like, Well, I ain't feeling good today.
01:01:47.519 --> 01:01:48.800
That's what it'd be like pretty much.
01:01:49.440 --> 01:01:52.079
Yeah, I mean, there wouldn't be no no brains to it for sure.
01:01:52.480 --> 01:02:00.960
I mean, it's one of those things, and I so yeah, for me, you know, I mean that that just shows true commitment.
01:02:01.039 --> 01:02:08.639
Yeah, you know, and and and you mean what you say, you know, and obviously if the roles were reversed, I would do whatever I could.
01:02:08.719 --> 01:02:11.519
Now, she don't want me going to these doctors' appointments and taking notes.
01:02:11.920 --> 01:02:12.639
No, definitely not.
01:02:12.800 --> 01:02:16.880
And listening, but I would go and sit there and wait while her mama took notes.
01:02:17.039 --> 01:02:19.440
Yeah, somebody would have to somebody else would have to sit there and take notes.
01:02:19.760 --> 01:02:22.559
So I would do what I could to best serve her.
01:02:22.639 --> 01:02:23.039
Yep.
01:02:23.280 --> 01:02:27.119
And, you know, I think that's what's so great about her.
01:02:27.280 --> 01:02:32.320
You know, um, I can't speak highly enough of her, what she's doing.
01:02:32.480 --> 01:02:38.800
I mean, I'm uh she, you know, she needs a break and she she grabs them when she can.
01:02:38.960 --> 01:02:49.039
But as far as her, she'll pick up shifts and work extra shifts to try, you know, just kind of keep it coming in and you know, stay busy and keep her mind off stuff.
01:02:49.119 --> 01:02:50.400
But I know she gets overwhelmed.
01:02:50.639 --> 01:02:51.199
I mean, I'm sure.
01:02:51.519 --> 01:02:52.239
She's a young buck, man.
01:02:52.320 --> 01:02:53.280
She's young and strong.
01:02:53.519 --> 01:02:54.400
Yeah, she's 40.
01:02:54.639 --> 01:02:55.599
She can fit 40.
01:02:55.760 --> 01:02:56.320
She's 40.
01:02:56.480 --> 01:02:57.199
She's 40, really?
01:02:57.599 --> 01:02:58.400
About to be 41.
01:02:59.840 --> 01:03:00.320
I ain't young.
01:03:00.639 --> 01:03:11.519
You definitely ain't seen the days of walking uphill in the snow, barefoot both ways to school.
01:03:11.599 --> 01:03:12.719
You ain't seen them days yet.
01:03:12.800 --> 01:03:15.199
But uh, I actually had cars back when you were going to school.
01:03:15.360 --> 01:03:15.840
That's right.
01:03:16.159 --> 01:03:21.119
Yep, you know, you know, we you know, we didn't get, you know, a little brown paper sack for lunch.
01:03:21.519 --> 01:03:24.239
We got passed by the rich kids riding horses when we were going to school.
01:03:24.400 --> 01:03:25.119
You know what I mean?
01:03:25.280 --> 01:03:27.039
So that's kind of how it worked for us.
01:03:27.280 --> 01:03:32.000
But yeah, I know, I know this has been a and and and the thing is, I mean, y'all have been married a while.
01:03:32.079 --> 01:03:32.880
There's no doubt about that.
01:03:33.039 --> 01:03:33.360
A little bit.
01:03:33.599 --> 01:03:37.119
Y'all have um uh built a life together, something to be proud of.
01:03:37.280 --> 01:03:49.360
You got two great kids that are well behaved and they do well in school and they're good citizens, which is, you know, the number one thing you're looking for with your kids is to be good citizens to the community and their friends and those kind of things.
01:03:49.440 --> 01:03:50.480
And and you're young.
01:03:50.559 --> 01:03:51.920
I mean, you're but we're still young.
01:03:52.320 --> 01:03:54.960
This is what I was telling Laurie, you know, a couple of weeks ago.
01:03:55.039 --> 01:04:26.320
You know, I've I've had a lot, I've been dealing with a lot of, I don't even know the best way to put it, but just like, I don't know if it's question my faith or if it's struggling with my faith or how you put it, but you know, everything now, like my dad, my grandfather passing away, my dad passing away, and then you start looking at Laurie's mom passed away, and all these people that you truly care about, all these people that you've looked up to your whole life, people that you've relied on, you know, that they they disappear, they they they die, they pass away.
01:04:26.719 --> 01:04:33.519
But then you start looking at like now we're at a point where you know you see people our age that that just can't do it, so they commit suicide.
01:04:33.840 --> 01:04:40.079
People that we know personally, or some something like you, you get hit with something that you just didn't never see this coming.
01:04:40.239 --> 01:04:44.159
You didn't know a week ahead of time that you were gonna get hit with these symptoms, it just happened.
01:04:44.239 --> 01:05:00.239
Yeah, and you get to that age now where all of our friends and we're seeing this constantly, people going through divorces, people going through midlife crises, people, people going through all these different things, and you think back and we're like, man, we're not that we're old, but we're not that old.
01:05:00.320 --> 01:05:04.960
Yeah, and we're experiencing that stuff on a daily basis, and man, it's a lot for people to deal with.
01:05:05.440 --> 01:05:06.639
It's a lot for people to deal with.
01:05:06.800 --> 01:05:17.920
I I am thankful and I I do want to, you know, add that you know, during those times where I had dark moments now, dark moments to where I thought about opening that door down that wrong path.
01:05:18.079 --> 01:05:18.639
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
01:05:18.880 --> 01:05:22.159
You know, I I never even once considered that.
01:05:22.320 --> 01:05:23.679
It was like, nah.
01:05:24.239 --> 01:05:25.599
But I have empathy.
01:05:25.679 --> 01:05:27.920
I think that's the right word, not sympathy.
01:05:28.000 --> 01:05:33.280
I think empathy is the right word for people who have lost family members to suicide.
01:05:33.360 --> 01:05:43.119
Not that I didn't feel for them or grieve for them, stuff like that, but I I I guess you just don't really fully understand like what could drive you to make that choice.
01:05:43.280 --> 01:05:43.440
Yeah.
01:05:43.599 --> 01:05:47.840
Well, I could see what could drive you to make that choice.
01:05:48.079 --> 01:05:50.239
So the empathy for me is there.
01:05:50.559 --> 01:05:55.519
Um, you know, but to me, it is it's all about your support system.
01:05:55.840 --> 01:05:59.599
You know, like I know I got the I know I got my my close knit, I'm talking about.
01:06:00.239 --> 01:06:05.679
Height, you know, I guess you would call it, you know, you're you're in your foxhole.
01:06:05.760 --> 01:06:06.000
Yeah, yeah.
01:06:06.079 --> 01:06:18.800
You know, I know who my my coaching brothers are, I know who my my college brothers are, you know, the and I know, you know, who who the guys are, you know, and that to me is so vital.
01:06:18.960 --> 01:06:28.000
So if you know somebody who's going through something, like even just a text, you know, like, hey, don't have to respond, or hey, how you doing?
01:06:28.159 --> 01:06:31.519
Or I have several that call and check in on me every once in a while.
01:06:31.679 --> 01:06:46.079
And, you know, there's days where I sit here and this phone is on do not disturb, and I don't touch it all day because I'll be so fatigued and out of it, like physically reaching to my right here to pick up this jug of water might take me five minutes to convince myself to do it.
01:06:46.719 --> 01:06:48.400
And getting up and going to the restroom.
01:06:49.039 --> 01:06:59.039
It might take me 10-15 minutes just to get from this chair to no more than 10 feet from where I'm at because the fatigue and everything is so heavy.
01:07:00.320 --> 01:07:01.199
I know that wears on you.
01:07:01.280 --> 01:07:01.679
I know it does.
01:07:01.760 --> 01:07:02.480
I know it's been tough.
01:07:02.559 --> 01:07:05.599
I know mentally it's been tough, and physically we know it's tough.
01:07:05.840 --> 01:07:08.239
Uh because you're used to doing whatever you want to when you want to do it.
01:07:08.320 --> 01:07:10.400
I mean, you you've been on the go forever for sure.
01:07:10.559 --> 01:07:14.480
So um last thing, and I guess Katie can probably talk about this a little bit.
01:07:14.880 --> 01:07:16.719
Just kind of give Scott a break for a second.
01:07:16.880 --> 01:07:21.679
But Katie, tell us how to come get how to come get that smoke community.
01:07:22.239 --> 01:07:27.599
Our listeners and y'all's friends and our friends and can can kind of help.
01:07:27.679 --> 01:07:29.119
I know you got a MIL train.
01:07:29.360 --> 01:07:34.639
I thought it was a GoFundMe, but I did look back and it's I can't remember the name of it, but it's a different kind of setup.
01:07:35.599 --> 01:07:38.480
It's a it's a crowd fundraising site like GoFundMe.
01:07:38.639 --> 01:07:39.760
It's called Give a Hand.
01:07:40.320 --> 01:07:45.519
And what we're gonna do is guys, all this stuff, when we drop this episode, it'll be dropped probably first thing in the morning.
01:07:45.599 --> 01:07:49.039
I'm gonna do some editing tonight, and I gotta add music and all that kind of good stuff.
01:07:49.280 --> 01:07:54.880
But once we get this thing dropped, on that drop, we'll have all the links to all this stuff.
01:07:55.119 --> 01:08:01.440
And we want to try to pour as much love and support into Scott and Katie, Millie, and Sawyer as much as we possibly can.
01:08:01.840 --> 01:08:03.280
So all that's gonna be there for you.
01:08:03.519 --> 01:08:05.760
But just kind of listen to Katie as she tells you a little bit about it.
01:08:06.960 --> 01:08:18.239
So Scott's sister Molly was gracious to set all of this up for us um prior to her creating the Mail Train and the site, the Give a Hand um website.
01:08:18.560 --> 01:08:26.000
We had not really shared anything publicly on social media beyond just telling friends and you know family what was going on.
01:08:26.159 --> 01:08:30.079
So that kind of opened up the can of worms, I guess you can say.
01:08:30.239 --> 01:08:38.720
And um this is gonna be helpful to kind of explain to everybody what the last two and a half years have truly been like.
01:08:39.359 --> 01:08:50.399
Um but we're thankful for every single person who has donated, who has given us anything whatsoever, brought us a meal, sent a gift card.
01:08:50.800 --> 01:08:53.840
Um, the prayers, we've felt that from all over.
01:08:53.920 --> 01:09:05.760
Um, we were just told this this weekend that we had someone go to a church in Ireland and light a candle for Scott and pray for him.
01:09:05.840 --> 01:09:07.600
And that that was pretty incredible.
01:09:08.319 --> 01:09:12.720
Um but we do feel the prayers, so we appreciate anyone's prayer.
01:09:13.039 --> 01:09:17.760
And um if you feel led to give, we of course appreciate that.
01:09:17.840 --> 01:09:21.520
And as he said, we don't take advantage of that, we don't take that lightly.
01:09:21.920 --> 01:09:34.000
Um, and so any any help is appreciated, and we may be coming up with a t-shirt to kind of let people support Scott with.
01:09:34.159 --> 01:09:41.279
So um he has a great idea for that, and I know that's just another way people would love to support him, and I'll let him share on that.
01:09:41.920 --> 01:09:50.720
Yeah, I I I do want to touch also on the prayer because I I don't know how prayer works of any, you know, like it gets sent upstairs to the big man.
01:09:50.800 --> 01:09:51.600
What's he do with it?
01:09:51.760 --> 01:09:56.159
Does he put it in like a safety locks box for you or pulls it out when you need it?
01:09:56.239 --> 01:10:06.479
Or and I feel like those times were, you know, we we didn't really cover a lot about how, you know, when I'm when I've been slammed with a flare, like I feel like I've been hit between two trains.
01:10:06.720 --> 01:10:07.119
Yeah.
01:10:07.279 --> 01:10:11.600
You know, but I feel like that's when that prayer comes into play.
01:10:11.840 --> 01:10:31.359
I that's kind of like you think about, you know, the one that on the immortal Hulk Hogan when he's in that ring and they got the good old sleeper hold on him, and they raising his hand two or three times, and on that last one, he he kind of brings it up and he starts fighting to his feet, and he does the typical finger point and all that.
01:10:31.439 --> 01:10:33.520
You know, that's how I feel on those days.
01:10:33.600 --> 01:10:34.479
That's how I relate to it.
01:10:34.560 --> 01:10:35.760
Like, here they are, they're coming.
01:10:35.840 --> 01:10:39.119
You know, that's that's that's how I view it as I use them.
01:10:39.359 --> 01:10:43.119
It may not be right, but that's how I perceive them.
01:10:43.359 --> 01:10:48.159
Um, but you know, other than that, you know, like, and we do want to do a shirt and all this stuff.
01:10:48.239 --> 01:10:51.840
I like again, even the shirt, when Katie told me about it first, I was like, nah.
01:10:52.159 --> 01:10:56.800
Because I still in that mindset of like, man, no, like I'm I'm I'm fairly private.
01:10:56.960 --> 01:11:00.800
This is probably this is way out of my comfort zone, which is okay.
01:11:00.960 --> 01:11:02.159
I've learned that too.
01:11:02.399 --> 01:11:10.560
But you know, I want to do a shirt that those of you who would be willing to purchase them would actually really want to like wear.
01:11:10.800 --> 01:11:15.760
You know, like I think there's a ribbon and a color for this, but I ain't really a ribbon fan.
01:11:16.000 --> 01:11:17.039
Red and purple, man.
01:11:17.199 --> 01:11:18.720
No, red and purple.
01:11:18.880 --> 01:11:20.159
I know, no.
01:11:20.399 --> 01:11:24.800
So I I want something that somebody buys, they'd be like, you know what, I can wear this, it don't matter.
01:11:25.039 --> 01:11:28.399
Okay, I got a lot of people who I know or like to go to the gym, work out.
01:11:28.479 --> 01:11:30.239
I want you to have a shirt that you're like, you know what?
01:11:30.319 --> 01:11:33.680
I'm gonna buy this shirt and I'm gonna cut the sleeves off of it and I'm gonna work out in it.
01:11:34.239 --> 01:11:34.800
I'm okay with that.
01:11:34.880 --> 01:11:36.720
That's an honor to I'll just keep the sleeves on it.
01:11:36.800 --> 01:11:37.359
That's an honor to me.
01:11:37.680 --> 01:11:38.399
Cook barbecue in it.
01:11:39.039 --> 01:11:40.239
Well, that'd be an honor to me.
01:11:40.319 --> 01:11:46.800
If if I know you wore that shirt to the to the gym, and I'm, you know, we're gonna have a good saying on it and some kind of cool logo.
01:11:46.960 --> 01:11:54.159
And um, you know, I don't know when, like, I don't expect it to be like next week or anything, but eventually we're gonna do that.
01:11:54.399 --> 01:12:00.319
Um, you know, because I know other people, you know, would would be like, oh, that's a cool shirt.
01:12:00.399 --> 01:12:01.600
I just think it's gotta be cool.
01:12:01.760 --> 01:12:03.840
Because if I'm gonna wear it, it's gonna look good.
01:12:04.079 --> 01:12:06.399
Yeah, you need something to make you look good, that's for sure.
01:12:06.640 --> 01:12:16.079
So, you know, I like say I I've bought plenty of those, you know, shirts or whatever, and it's just kind of got the point where like I'd just soon give you$25 than have a shirt.
01:12:16.239 --> 01:12:23.119
But if I can get you, you know, if you want to buy a shirt or a hoodie or whatever, you know, options we have, hey, look, this is pretty cool.
01:12:23.199 --> 01:12:25.600
I'll wear this to work, I'll wear this to work out.
01:12:26.079 --> 01:12:28.319
You know, it's a cool looking shirt, you know.
01:12:28.560 --> 01:12:32.479
Not that other people's shirts aren't cool, but let's be honest, some of them aren't.
01:12:32.720 --> 01:12:34.000
Well, I well, yeah.
01:12:34.319 --> 01:12:35.359
Good for a good cause.
01:12:35.520 --> 01:12:37.039
Yeah, for a good cause for a great cause.
01:12:37.119 --> 01:12:39.760
And again, I'd just soon give you money sometimes and get a t-shirt.
01:12:39.840 --> 01:12:40.720
But for a great cause.
01:12:40.800 --> 01:12:42.000
We're not we're not we're not putting that down.
01:12:42.079 --> 01:12:42.880
We're saying a great cause.
01:12:43.119 --> 01:12:44.079
Yes, absolutely.
01:12:44.560 --> 01:12:45.119
But it's not cool.
01:12:45.359 --> 01:12:46.640
Typically, they just go in a drawer.
01:12:46.720 --> 01:12:48.800
Yep, they're gonna get to find their way to goodwill.
01:12:48.880 --> 01:12:52.720
So, you know, I I just want to do something different because I'm different.
01:12:52.880 --> 01:12:55.439
Um, I'm rare as this disease.
01:12:55.520 --> 01:12:56.239
I am very rare.
01:12:56.399 --> 01:13:00.000
I think I think the number is only like one in five million people in the United States.
01:13:00.239 --> 01:13:02.159
Yeah, you'd be the one or five million people.
01:13:02.399 --> 01:13:03.039
You'd be the one.
01:13:03.199 --> 01:13:03.760
I am the one.
01:13:03.920 --> 01:13:04.479
You are the one.
01:13:04.720 --> 01:13:05.039
I am.
01:13:05.199 --> 01:13:06.159
I'm I am the one.
01:13:06.239 --> 01:13:08.079
But and I've got some big ideas, you know.
01:13:08.159 --> 01:13:13.920
I I've got an idea that we're gonna try to to pull off, and I'm gonna talk to Scott and Katie about after we get off the air here.
01:13:14.000 --> 01:13:16.880
And um, I just gotta figure out how many cars we can park on.
01:13:16.960 --> 01:13:17.840
What is this road called?
01:13:18.000 --> 01:13:19.199
This is South McClaney.
01:13:19.359 --> 01:13:28.239
How many roads we can get on South McElhaney between how many cars between Scott's driveway, yard, daddy's driveway, uh Pops' driveway and yard, and his brother's driveway and yard.
01:13:28.319 --> 01:13:40.720
So got some pretty big ideas plan that we're gonna talk about and just try to just try to do some things to to to not just to encourage Scott, not just to raise money for Scott, but just Scott's been there for me.
01:13:40.800 --> 01:13:43.279
My I mean he's been there for me through through my divorce.
01:13:43.359 --> 01:13:46.960
He was there for me uh when he saw our business struggling.
01:13:47.119 --> 01:13:49.520
He's always been somebody I can throw ideas off of.
01:13:49.600 --> 01:13:54.399
He's not he's he's he's a lot like my wife in a sense, to where he's not like my wife.
01:13:54.479 --> 01:13:57.920
He he acts like my wife, I guess, is what I better say.
01:13:58.159 --> 01:14:04.560
He's a lot like my wife when when I tell her something, she's not gonna just say, Oh yeah, that's great.
01:14:04.800 --> 01:14:09.359
She's gonna tell me, even if she disagrees, she's gonna tell me exactly how she feels.
01:14:09.439 --> 01:14:11.039
And that's how Scott is a lot of times.
01:14:11.119 --> 01:14:17.039
I mean, I can tell him how I feel, but if he don't agree with it, he's gonna tell me his feeling on it, his thoughts on it.
01:14:17.199 --> 01:14:23.119
Even though he understands my side of it, he understands my feelings on it, he's not always gonna agree, and that's exactly how my wife is.
01:14:23.279 --> 01:14:30.720
She just, she's always honest with me, no matter if, even if I just, even if I just want her to say, yes, that's great, I don't ever get that.
01:14:30.880 --> 01:14:36.800
And I respect that because, you know, maybe she don't she don't want to lie to me or lead me in the wrong direction, so I get that.
01:14:36.960 --> 01:15:04.640
But we're gonna do something that we can find a way to bring recognition to this disease, and also to show Scott the appreciation that we feel for him for what he's done for us in the past, and then also just to give his family support and let them know that they're not in this by themselves, that they're in this with with people with them, an army behind them that are gonna help them no matter what, no matter what has to happen.
01:15:04.800 --> 01:15:13.039
And um, so I've got I've got a pretty big idea, but we're gonna talk about it here after we get off the air, and then I'm gonna head back and watch Law so he's got a soccer game tonight.
01:15:13.199 --> 01:15:17.359
So um I want to just say thank you to Scott and Katie for their time.
01:15:17.600 --> 01:15:21.119
I appreciate you guys being open to telling your story.
01:15:21.359 --> 01:15:22.960
I appreciate the honesty.
01:15:23.199 --> 01:15:25.119
I appreciate the tears.
01:15:25.359 --> 01:15:46.079
I appreciate all that type of stuff because this this podcast for me, and I said this earlier, started off as a way for me to basically share my business, and I have yet to do that because so much other stuff is way more important than what I do for a living.
01:15:46.319 --> 01:15:55.600
And this morning with the podcast I got to record, this afternoon with the podcast I got to record, with talking with Scott about the coach's corner was just fun.
01:15:55.760 --> 01:16:03.359
I mean, I was just fun, and I'm able to do stuff with this podcast that I never even envisioned to be possible.
01:16:03.600 --> 01:16:15.920
I thought I was gonna be talking about butts and brisket every day, but it's turned into something where I've getting to share other people's stories, I'm getting to share other people's situations that are important to me and stuff that I care about.
01:16:16.000 --> 01:16:30.960
I mean, I've got to share about my grandfather, my dad, I've got to share about my mom, I've got to share about all these people, and we don't talk barbecue very often, and I'm okay with that because I feel like we're doing something and we're doing it the right way, and that's kind of what I am here.
01:16:31.119 --> 01:16:39.840
And this morning, like I said, I had a chance to meet with uh Pastor Tony Medlin, and he has become a vital part of my life.
01:16:40.000 --> 01:16:41.119
Like you have no idea.
01:16:41.199 --> 01:16:47.840
Somebody I didn't know three or four months ago is now one of my I he don't even know he's a mentor of mine.
01:16:48.159 --> 01:17:00.880
I mean, I told him that this morning, he was kind of surprised, but he's just he has his own little podcast, The Power of One, and it's he's a he's a life coach, he's a pastor, he's a chaplain with um a home help, home health, I think is the name of it.
01:17:01.119 --> 01:17:04.239
Um and he's just he's the real deal, man.
01:17:04.319 --> 01:17:12.479
And and the impact he has on me, just my faith, the way I the way I'm trying to live my life, it's been unbelievable.
01:17:12.560 --> 01:17:15.920
And before he left this morning, I was telling him about Scott and I was telling him about Katie.
01:17:16.159 --> 01:17:20.720
And he's like, Jeff, could I just pray with you and just pray for Scott?
01:17:20.800 --> 01:17:26.960
And Katie said, because if you care that much about them, then I know they're good people.
01:17:27.119 --> 01:17:30.640
And I want to make sure that that I I do my part, is what he said.
01:17:30.800 --> 01:17:35.359
And he said that you guys are gonna be on his prayer list, and I'm telling you, man, he he's a he's a great guy.
01:17:35.439 --> 01:17:39.439
He does a lot for me, and I love and appreciate him more than he he would ever know.
01:17:39.600 --> 01:17:43.680
Uh so before we get off of here, if you guys don't mind, I'd love to pray with you guys.
01:17:43.840 --> 01:17:54.079
I'm probably the last person that needs to be praying with anybody, but at the end of the day, you know, I want to I want to end with a prayer here and then we'll close this thing out and um and we'll go from there.
01:17:54.159 --> 01:17:56.640
But dearly Father, I just want to thank you for this day.
01:17:56.720 --> 01:18:00.399
I want to thank you for all these blessings that that you've given us.
01:18:00.720 --> 01:18:03.760
I want to thank you for the friendship I have with Scott and Katie.
01:18:04.079 --> 01:18:07.119
Um, Lord, I know that right now is a tough time for everybody.
01:18:07.279 --> 01:18:15.680
It's a tough time for Scott, it's a tough time for Scott's family, Katie and her family, and everybody's just trying to figure this thing out.
01:18:15.920 --> 01:18:16.960
But Lord, I know.
01:18:17.119 --> 01:18:18.720
I don't know the future.
01:18:19.119 --> 01:18:26.000
I have no idea what tomorrow's gonna hold, but thank God I know who you are and I know that you hold that future.
01:18:26.159 --> 01:18:34.560
And I'm just asking you to be with Scott, to bless Scott, to have your will done in Scott's life, whatever that may be.
01:18:34.720 --> 01:18:38.720
I'm just asking you to do what you want to do with Scott.
01:18:38.960 --> 01:18:43.359
Because Scott has always been loyal to me, he's always been a great friend.
01:18:43.520 --> 01:18:50.319
And I just ask that you bless him, you bless his family, you heal him if that's what you're if that's what you want to do.
01:18:50.479 --> 01:19:01.439
And I ask that you use his story to touch other people and show them that life's not always gonna be easy, but the way you handle it is gonna define who you are.
01:19:01.600 --> 01:19:05.600
And I'm just very thankful for that opportunity, God, and we thank you for everything you've done.
01:19:05.760 --> 01:19:06.960
In the name of prayer.
01:19:07.119 --> 01:19:07.760
Amen.
01:19:08.720 --> 01:19:14.640
Man, sitting here talking with Scott and Katie today just reminds you of what really matters in this life.
01:19:14.960 --> 01:19:24.560
We talk a lot about smoke, we talk about barbecue, we talk about grit on this show, but true grit, it's what you see in living rooms and hospital business.
01:19:24.720 --> 01:19:34.960
It's what it looks like when a man has to step away from the sidelines of coaching and educating, but keeps right on leading by example for his wife and his kids on your building.
01:19:35.279 --> 01:19:37.600
Scott, brother, I've known you since college.
01:19:38.000 --> 01:19:40.399
I've never been more proud to call you my friend.
01:19:40.560 --> 01:19:47.920
To you, Katie, and the whole family, thank you for sitting down, opening up, and showing us all what resilience really looks like.
01:19:48.319 --> 01:19:55.039
When the path gets tough, to everyone listening, Scott and Katie's story hit home for you today.
01:19:55.199 --> 01:19:58.159
Reach out to someone who's fighting the quiet life.
01:19:58.479 --> 01:20:04.159
Check on your people, give grace, hold your family tight, and keep pushing.
01:20:05.600 --> 01:20:08.640
I appreciate you tuning in to this episode.
01:20:09.279 --> 01:20:10.000
Come get that.
