17 Comments
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Julie Gammack's avatar

wow

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Heather's avatar

This made me cry and it made me smile. He was a beautiful soul and wise beyond his years.

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Phoebe Wall Howard's avatar

Just an incredible human being. Thank you for reading and sharing, Heather. xo

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Roderick Michael Martin's avatar

Phoebe,

A great follow up story on Joseph. He's driving and racing a Mustang in heaven. I hope he meets your Dad and they talk about cars and more. Your writing makes me think and many times smile. Thank you and Joseph's family for sharing his final days.

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Randy Evans's avatar

Phoeb, you have a gift — and Joseph has delivered a potent message for everyone through you.

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Phoebe Wall Howard's avatar

Thank you for exceptionally kind words. Aways so grateful.

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Phoebe Wall Howard's avatar

Thank you for the heartfelt note and reference to my Papa. To know that my writing makes you think and many times smile -- is the greatest compliment.

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Miriam Imerman's avatar

Beautiful tribute, beautifully written.

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Phoebe Wall Howard's avatar

It was an honor to know the family could trust me to tell their story accurately and honestly during an especially painful time.

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Barry Fitzsimmons's avatar

Very touching and inspiring. Thank you Phoebe!

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Phoebe Wall Howard's avatar

#MissionAccomplished

Thank you for reading and commenting.

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Denise OBrien's avatar

A wonderful tribute. An exceptional human being.

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Phoebe Wall Howard's avatar

Thank you, Denise. This was a hard one to write.

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Denise OBrien's avatar

I cried all the way through it. I can’t imagine trying to write it! 😢

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Man's avatar

Dad bought himself a mustang knowing his wife can't tell him to get rid of it cause it's their dead son's car. Man's a genius.

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Toddi Norum's avatar

Phoebe, so much of my own story involves Ford cars, but I wanted to share how much this story moved me. My 12-year-old brother-in-law died in 1992 of Rhabdomyosarcoma, a cancer which affects bone as well as soft tissue, after a long battle at Dana Farber Cancer Center in Boston. I hoped that medical research would have made more progress against cancer in young people.

Thanks for writing Joseph's story. I'll think about him every time I get passed by a Mustang!

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Phoebe Wall Howard's avatar

I'm so sorry to know about your 12yo brother in law. . Hearing that you'll think of Joseph Tegerdine every time you get passed by a Mustang would make his whole family smile. I will share your words, Toddi. xoxo

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