Trucker Talk: By John & Kim Jaikes Some people can have boat loads of tough times in their life, but they stay positive and keep on keeping on. Our friend Tina Stine is definitely one of those people. We met on Facebook and had the connection of trucking. Then, about five years ago, Tina drove to the 83 Diner in York, PA where John and I happened to be one afternoon so we could meet in person. We enjoyed a great dinner and laughed most of the time. While chatting with Tina, she told us, “It’s my dad’s fault that I love trucks and trucking.” When she was nine years old, she was the tallest kid and her dad had her moving straight trucks around the farm and running along the combine, loading grain during the harvest. She admits that after driving a 1966 Mack cabover she was hooked. Pulling a hopper bottom to the feed mill and back home only made her want to go farther, and she couldn’t wait to get older. Helping on the farm and driving for a local landscaping company was what she had to do until she was old enough to hit the big road. Once she did, she ran Pennsylvania to Colorado for years and absolutely loved it. After dinner we headed out to the trucks to take selfies and say our goodbyes, parting ways as new great friends. Her Facebook posts took a more serious tone after she was diagnosed with Stage 1 breast cancer July 2, 2021. She had minimal treatment then, just radiation, and was told everything should be okay. A year later, she got the devastating news it was now Stage 4 breast cancer that had metastasized to her bones, sinus, pelvis and front lobe. That’s when the war began. When they started radiation, she requested bionic parts, asking the nurses, “Isn’t that stuff on TV true?” Her sense of humor in this situation is what doctors say has kept her alive. Radiation to her forehead, hips and spine were the first round of treatment, and then they added strong chemo pills. Last year, the cancer was still spreading, and treatment was changed to chemo infusions that will last the rest of her life. The doctor told her that Stage 4 has no remission – only treatment. To that, she said, “At least I don’t have to shave.” As if this isn’t enough, on July 2, 2024, that morning she was running late when she left for her chemo treatment, leaving her phone at home, and basically wearing her summer pajama shorts and a tank top. Grabbing her backpack and slipping into her bedroom slippers, off she went. She got a call while at the hospital during treatment that the house she was renting was on fire, and she ended up losing everything but the clothes she was wearing and her backpack. In November of 2024 she started the next round of radiation. She loves to draw, and the pictures she has shared are beautiful! Having never taken any classes it is just a God-given talent. Tina uses this as part of her therapy. Seeing some of Randy Conley’s beautiful wood trucks on some of their mutual friend’s Facebook pages, she always commented, and it wasn’t long before he sent her a friend request. And now he has offered one of his amazing wood trucks to be auctioned off, with the proceeds going to help Tina with her everyday living expenses. I think it’s awful the lack of help available to people in her situation. Tina called me to ask if we might be able to help with an auction, and she put me in touch with Randy. Using recycled redwood that has been given to him for his “hobby” by many people over the years, the supply of wood he has been given will last his lifetime. Most of this is rough, but you would never know it when he’s finished. When I asked him if he’s a driver, he told me, “No, the only truck I ever drove was a logging truck they had at my high school.” Living in the middle of the 70 10-4 Magazine / June 2025 ALWAYS A WARRIOR
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