OldIHC

Matt's Truck

All of us here know that our trucks are so much more than simple inanimate objects… They are a source of pride and joy; they can be a source of family history; they can most assuredly be a source of aggravation at times – but we love them dearly regardless.  They are so much more then JUST trucks.

“Matt’s Truck” started out as a letter to John over at “Restoring Cornelia“.  John and Susan, web and graphic designers when they aren’t working on their own truck, were so touched by the letter that they responded by creating a poster for Matt, a very special young man.  The letter was from Mark – a proud father – about his son Matt and his “new” truck: an R-Series International dump truck.

Here is what Mark said:

I’ve been driving Petes, KW, Macks etc. I just bought my handicapped kid an old 1960 IH single axle dump truck, I found laying in a field. Even if my kid Matthew is 26 yrs old, he only has the mind of about a 7 yr old.

You would think this kid hit the lottery “his own real dump truck” What your gonna see as junk… it’s pure Gold in this kids eyes, even though he knows he can’t drive it.

But, soon as I get the $700 left owed on it, then I’ll just pray I get it restored before Matt passes on. He has many other health issues. He’s a truck boy since the day he was born! NASCAR second LOL. And I’m a proud Dad sending you this pic to post. Hope none make fun of it, but I wont let the kid see anything bad. What a blessing for his mother and I, to see the smiles and joy, we’ve been seeing ever since we showed it to him out in that field!

Thank you for letting us share this wonderful time in our lives.

God Bless,

Mark

Matt

We’ve since corresponded with Mark and his wife Sue, learning much about their family and what makes sharing this old truck a priceless experience for them. Sue’s fondest wish is that Mark and Matt can work on the truck together – although it won’t be easy. Mark has his own health problems too, and the family has little budget left to put toward a truck.

Click to go to purchase site

The poster John and Susan developed depicts Matt’s truck fully restored, and we hope that it might help the family visualize that dream now, bring a smile, and brighten Matt’s room – even if the restoration in reality takes more time than the family has left together, as we’ve been told that Matt may pass away soon. When the family insisted on paying, John and Susan asked instead if they might create Matt’s own first personalized print as a gift – then offer a version of the “Moving Mountains” poster for sale any who wanted to accelerate Matt’s truck dream.

As of June 12, 2011, we have raised $1,670.19 thanks to your GENEROUS and kind donations.  We are very thankful, and cannot even begin to tell you how thankful and blessed the family feels thanks to your kindness.  Matt has his ups and downs, but overall you have made him, according to Sue, the happiest boy on earth by making this dream come true for him.  Seeing this happen has made Mark and Sue count each and every day with him as a special event.

As an update from Sue herself, here’s what she’s had to say recently (along with sending me the latest photos to post for all of you:

Hello again everyone from Sue (Mom) I apologize for not getting a new pic for everyone yet, but I promise to I will do every thing I can to take some for you all tomorrow and send them to John, or any of you whom would like me to send them too, please send me an email request, and it will be a pleasure and honor to send to each one personally.

We had a small setback with Matt’s health again, but he’s up and running. I cannot allow him outside in this extreme heat we are having here in NJ as he has a habit of melting faster than a snowman in extreme heat, and I could never handle getting him up and into the house alone if he goes down as I know he would.   I hope you all will be pretty surprised to see how far He and his Dad have gotten with such little time they get. The carberater is out being rebuilt, along with other things (sorry im not real sure exactly what others) but I will try and set my husband down long  enough for a better explanation, and details. They must have taken the nose part off also, because I don’t recall seeing a face on the poor truck anymore.

Please be patient with Us, and know your always in our hearts, and not a day goes by without a thankful thought, or talk about John, Susan, and all of you amazing kind generous people out there. The fellas have already been invited to drive this truck in a parade this year if it’s finished. I highly doubt that will happen but, just the request was so wonderful. It made the fellas so proud. I just set back and make sure neither of them over do it, or I just try and  fix them back up when they arent feeling well…and send them back out there lol. It’s an ugly job, but somebody has to do it, and that’s what us wives, and Moms usually are pretty good for.

Thank you once again. This is just so wonderful, and I pray for that one day I have pictures of them driving a pretty truck, Matthew’s miracle Truck!

God Bless, and keep each of you safe! well wishes, and prayers, From All of Us, to All of you!

Mark,Sue, & Mr Matthew

Matt's Truck Being Restored

Needless to say, even though we have now happily surpassed the original goal of $700, which is what they needed to pay off the truck and get it home, I would like to keep this going to help them with their work.  I hope you will all consider helping them further as well.

Matt and His Truck (June, 2011)

You can help by purchasing Matt’s poster and see $1 go directly to the family.  If you mention that you are a member of this forum, John and Susan will also donate $1 from every poster purchased toward OldIHC.

Or, we’ve also set up a donate button in the right margin whereby you can donate directly in any amount you wish. Anything at all would be appreciated. And who knows? Mountains may be moved.

If you are interested in the poster, please click on the poster itself – you will be taken to the “Classic Truck Posters” site where you will be able to purchase it.

Please be sure to mention that you are a member of OldIHC!

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