To Graduate, or Not to Graduate

Throughout the time that Lane attended WyoTech, we had to live apart and on a tight budget. Our love continued to strengthen and grow, but the world wasn’t done testing us yet. In April, 2015, Lane’s school shut down without warning the week prior to his final classes. Although I was thrilled to have Lane return home, it was upsetting to have sacrificed so much for seemingly nothing. Apparently, they’d been sued for fraudulent claims of guaranteed jobs upon graduation, and the school went bankrupt as a result. Fortunately, he had received his technician certificate from the core program he’d graduated from. But unfortunately, he did not receive his Harley Davidson certificate without those final classes. 

I fought tooth and nail for the next eight months, trying to either get his certificate issued, or a refund for his fees. We never did get that Harley certificate, but Lane was offered a job at the local Harley shop anyway. After months of phone calls, letters, and involving government officials, we finally received reimbursement for the incomplete program. It wasn’t a pleasant process, but there was never any question in my mind that I would fight for him. 

Family Illness

Later in 2015, my dad got very sick very suddenly. His kidney function had dropped to 4% and we very nearly lost him. This hit me hard. My dad has always been one of the strongest men I’ve ever known. He had been an officer in the Marine Corps and a well-respected teacher at the local high school. He would do absolutely anything for my mom or myself without hesitation. We always joked that he was Tim “the Toolman” Taylor because he’d (try to) fix everything himself.

So, to see him in this manner, shuffling like a man on his death bed, being unusually emotional, and saying things that didn’t make sense, it just broke my heart. My dad went from never getting sick or being one to nap, to sleeping most of the day away and needing help with everything. I took time off work to help my mom care for him and nurse him back to health.

I remained as strong as I could while at my parents’ house or at the doctor offices. But when I got home each night, Lane was my saving grace. Holding me in his arms, I didn’t need him to say or fix anything. He wouldn’t have been able to even if he’d tried. But just being able to let it all out and know that I had support meant the world to me. Having Lane by my side choosing to love me is what got me through it.

It took time and patience, but we were able to get my dad the help he needed and as time went on, he managed to pull through and return to his old self. My dad was back! “Not as mean, not as lean, but still a Marine.” He goes on daily walks and is on a strict diet, but he can still haul my parents’ travel trailer for their many camping adventures. He is still there any time that I need him, sends me daily (horrible, but funny) dad jokes, and treats me to dinner at In-N-Out from time to time (something that I always treasure because I get to spend time with him).

But his illness certainly had gotten thoughts swirling in my head. What if my dad hadn’t survived and never got to meet my future kids?

To be continued… (You can find “Choose to Love, part a” here.)