Truck drivers come, and truck drivers go. This is a salute to my very good friend and best road dog ever, Mr. Gary Moffett and to his last mile as a Prime driver. Gary is an Army veteran and has driven for Prime for a total of eight years. Gary started having chest pains several months ago and like many of us who have passed the half century mark in life he chalked it up to age, stress, anxiety or fatigue. But that was not the case as he found out recently after dropping off his trainee driver in Texas. Gary returned home to Oklahoma for a much needed break to spend time with his wife Sharon of 33 years and his daughters Ashley and Amanda and his son Cody.
While home and walking to the house Gary felt a severe burning across his chest and into his shoulders and his arms began to hurt. At hospital the next day the doctors gave them the bad news which being just before the holidays couldn’t have came at a worse time. Gary had 3 completely blocked arteries and the fourth was 75% blocked. The family’s world stopped, shifted and has changed forever. After 3 weeks of tests Gary has been told that because he ignored the early warning signs his heart may have been damaged and what would have been a routine procedure has now become something else, something much more serious.
Life can change in a heartbeat, literally. Prime has instituted cutting edge programs in an effort to educate and train a new breed of drivers to live a healthier lifestyle and this has never seemed as important to me as it does now. If you are experiencing chest pains or anything that seems irregular in your health then stop and take time to see a doctor.
Gary has trained many drivers here and that is to say that he is “old school” and has turned out drivers, not “steering wheel holders.” Gary’s lifelong passion has been driving truck and his family. Gary is at home in the loving care of his family and will soon get the final results of his tests and be given the course and procedures for his surgery and recovery. By the grace of God he could return to Prime and if anyone can do it, Gary can.
As usual I like to leave my readers with something to think about. Gary and his recent experience are telling you to “not mess around with your health.” If you sense something is wrong then you must immediately seek an opinion from a Doctor-do not hesitate, your family and loved ones depend on your good health and ability to do your job safely and Prime has the contacts to get you started in the right direction.
Please keep good thoughts and prayers for Gary and his family and remember, “Just One More Mile” is the one mile that may be your last. Live now, live healthy and don’t take chances with your heart.
Comments and Prayers can be sent via text to 785-248-3635 to be forwarded to the Moffett family.
