10-4 Magazine October 2022

10-4 Magazine / October 2022 77 the wound. Three months later, doctors gave her a special machine to drain excess fluid from the area 24/7, because the wound wasn’t healing. The pump weighed two pounds and was carried like a shoulder strap purse. A home care nurse still came often to change the dressing and clean the machine. After it caused many problems, the pump was removed, then home care nurses came to attend to her wound every 24 hours, 7 days a week. Thirteen months after the final diagnoses of stage IV cancer, she passed away on February 3, 2022. But she was a warrior to the end! Before she passed, Ryan flew to Florida to buy a 2017 Peterbilt short hood with a 550 Cummins and a 13-speed. It was an old car hauler with a flat roof. He then sent one of his guys out to bring it home. Edee knew this was the truck he was going to build for her. Jim Sisemore pulled off the car hauler rack and took off the bunk and made it into a day cab. It was the start of what would become a special tribute to a very special mom. TSI took over the transformation, cleaning up the cab kit, and putting the roof cap back on. Ryan didn’t want a pink truck and decided on a light gray color that he saw on a ski boat to contrast and make the pink accents stand out. Painting the frame pink, they also added a pink boomerang stripe, that included a pink ribbon on the side of the hood. They call the truck “Pinky” or #12, which was for Edee’s birthday (June 12). Sadly, Edee passed away before she could see the finished truck. This is the truck that Ryan proudly drives now. He pulled a walking floor trailer with it for a little while, but due to the harsh off-road conditions, it was decided that it would be too hard, over the long term, on a show piece like this, so he bought a food grade tanker. Kyle and his team at TSI stepped up and got the trailer matched perfectly to the truck, which is a stunning combination when it is all together. Ryan plans to haul wine with the new tanker, and his pit bull June (named for his mom’s birthday month) rides with him everywhere. Edee must be proud of all her son has accomplished and what he has done to honor her after she stepped up and became both his mom and dad while he was growing up. She worked hard as a dental assistant to provide a good life for her son, and had and adventurous side, too, owning and riding her own Harley. This rolling tribute won’t just be out here in October, but all year long, for many years to come. Look for them around the Sacramento, CA area and, if you see them out on the road, give them a big thumbs up in honor of his mom! n