Man Is Forced to Sell His Car to Pay For Wifes Treatment Is in Disbelief When He Finds Out What His Family Has Planned for Him

Having nice things can make you feel good, but at the end of the day, what truly matters is that we have people we love and care about in our lives.

Still, when someone is asked to sacrifice something in order to be with their loved ones in good health, it can be hard. That was the situation one man was put in two decades ago when his wife was diagnosed with cancer.

A Hard Goodbye

Years ago, Wesley Ryan learned his wife, Laura, had been diagnosed with ovarian cancer. The medical bills were piling up, and he knew in order to continue making ends meet, he would have to sell his beloved car: a 1993 Ford Mustang GT.

Wesley loved that car and even nicknamed it Christine, based on the 1958 Plymouth Fury from Stephen King’s book, Christine. However, Laura meant more to him, and Wesley wanted her to continue getting the care she needed. So he handed over the keys.

“I know how much it broke him in half seeing that car drive away from him,” his son, Jake, wrote on Facebook back in 2018, as per Today. “A day I’ll never forget.”

Kids Work to Make It Right

Jake and his sister, Jeni, knew they wanted to help their dad reunite with the car he’d loved so much when they were younger. So they started an online search and surprisingly, they were able to track down the old car online. It had been 17 years, but the VIN matched.

The siblings had saved up enough money over the years, knowing they would one day get their dad back his car. So when they found it, they, along with Jeni’s boyfriend Julian Valdez, put their money together and purchased it.

They surprised their dad in the parking lot of a Kohl’s near where they lived in San Antonio, Texas. Laura, cancer-free for 13 years at the time, joined them for the big reveal.

“Coming home surprising my pops was a feeling and moment I’ll never forget,” Jake wrote. “To see his face and emotion made it all worth it.”

A Priceless Reaction

Wesley was moved to tears and couldn’t find the words as he approached his beloved vehicle. Jake posted a video online with a rendition of Zac Brown’s “My Old Man” playing in the background.

“A day I’ll never forget. Well ... She’s back home, pops, and here to stay this time. Looking forward to building this car with you this time instead of being in a booster seat looking out the window,” the son wrote.

The video was so touching that Ford even found out about it. And, when the car company learned that “Christine” had experienced some wear and tear over the years, it decided to step in. It gave the car a new engine, transmission, paint job, interior, and even a few extra modern features. Then, Ford had the family come out to Michigan, where Wesley was presented with the finished product.

“It's still her, but she's got a new heart,” Wesley told NBC4 San Antonio. “I don't know, I'm at a loss for words. It's beautiful.”

Remembering What Matters Most

This story is so beautiful because it shows the sacrifice one man made for his family and how his family stepped up to repay him in the sweetest way possible. The day Wesley said farewell to his car, he had made peace with the fact that he would probably never see it again. So long as he had his family, he was good.

It’s a nice reminder that at the end of the day, material things are great and all, but they aren’t what truly matter. Family — even a chosen family — is what will bring you joy, comfort, and memories as the years carry on.

Still, this story is also a sweet reminder that sometimes it’s nice to do something for someone when they least expect it. Wesley and Laura obviously raised their children to be thoughtful and generous, and in the end, they wanted to show their dad how much his sacrifice meant to them.

While we can’t always lavish the people we love and care about with expensive gifts, we can tell them and show them how much they mean to us. Pick up the phone, send that text, or write a card to let them know you’re thinking about them.

After all, no one ever regrets showing up for those who matter to us while we still can.

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