Lots of people helped with ride
This is a letter of profound appreciation to many persons.
Recently there was a birthday of Mike Shaw, “the man from Twelve Mile” (Pharos-Tribune, June 13).
Only by the grace of God and guardian angels on earth was he alive to celebrate his day. In December 2008, Mike had a very bad accident on his way to work; seven fractured ribs and multiple bruises.
Jan. 4, 2009, was a previously planned outing for brunch at South Bend’s The Studebaker Restaurant. Not feeling well but not wanting to spoil the event, Mike insisted on going. While getting out of the car, Mike collapsed into the arms of friends, Rick and Judy Crawley. They got him inside, and a staff person called the ambulance. According to emergency room staff at South Bend Memorial, he arrived in the nick of time. Four pints of blood later and three and a half liters of drained fluid, he was on his way to a rather slow recovery.
Mike has been a blood donor for many years and now is grateful to others.
These are a few others along the way: Grampa Shaw — the pony that ate tomatoes; Walter Mehaffie — hired him for his first job; his Uncle Gerald Beattie — who loved horses and would give you the shirt off his back; and Harold Streu — a neighbor and great mentor. These men are all looking down on him today and grinning while he is riding.
Then there is Earl Miller from Nappanee, who taught him about how best to shoe a horse and what happens when you do it badly. The friend who exercised his horse, a friend who loaned him the trailer so he could go, the guys at Logan Tire who rushed to put on the tires, his employer who allowed a personal leave, his Aunt Darlene and Uncle Steve Martin, who send him care packages of non-perishables.
When one of his brothers asked what he needed that he didn’t have, he said the desert is so hot in the day time you need air conditioning, but it is so cold at night you need heat so he had bought a sleeping bag. What does he miss the most? Lester’s (Logansport Whitehouse) breakfast. His cooking facility is not so great.
I am aware I have missed several. So to all of you, thank you so much for helping Mike make this once in a lifetime ride for an ordinary man. Remember to watch the Web site and the Dish and Direct TV networks.
From his mother and the entire family.
Dolores Musselman
Logansport
For more info
To find out more about Mike Shaw’s ride, visit www.bestofamericabyhorseback.com. The series, Best of America by Horseback, airs on the RFD-TV network, available on Dish (Channel 231) and DirecTV (channel 345).
