FIXTITLE Bonnie Hargis.docx
WITH LOVE & ADMIRATION
A Tribute
To
One of our Own
Recently celebrating her 70th birthday, Bonnie Hargis has much to sing praises of. Her eyes have bared witness to many memories, each considered a blessing rather than any burdens. You can hear it in her laugh the cheerful, upbeat soul that will never age. It’s her vivacious spirit and charisma that instantly draws you in.
Bonnie was born in Weatherford, Texas December of 1944. She still resides in the same country town where she grew up and then raised a family of her own. Being around trucking at an early age provided Bonnie with a little peep-hole into life outside of her city limits. She married into the industry and became the wife of a professional truck driver. While she stayed at home, tending to her three children she never actually had the opportunity to travel herself. In time, she put herself through cosmetology school and worked at a local beauty shop. On December 15th, 1989 she earned her Instructor’s License, which opened the door for her to be a hair salon educator. She went on to teach for three years.
Later down the road, her oldest son, Jerry took to trucking and never looked back. When he initially began his career he spent 12 years behind the wheel. Then switched sides to a full-time recruiting position. Eventually, he found his way over into the sales and publishing business, giving him a total of over 25 successful years in the trucking industry.
Bonnie’s invitation to finally tour the roads had arrived. In 1999, she landed a job with the same company as her son, delivering magazines specifically designed for the truck driver audience. Her routes took her to truck stops nationwide, with as many as 25 to 30 locations a day. That same year she purchased her first delivery vehicle, a 1998 Dodge Ram van 3500. Her busy schedule kept her out a week at a time and home for only a few days. Bonnie covered all of Texas and continued throughout the central states up to Wyoming. She also went as far west as California.
The year of 2002 Bonnie bought a couple of more trucks, both 2001 models. In doing so, she was able to triple her coverage by bringing on two additional drivers. Business was going great and she was enjoying every minute spent cruising from state to state. Meeting new people in different environments put a huge smile across Bonnie’s face. Still does! It was during a regular routine visit with her physician when everything came to a screeching halt. “I was 57 at the time and it was more like a fluke discovery,” she explains. Her doctor immediately sent her for a mammogram only to find his results positive. Bonnie was diagnosed with breast cancer. The surgeon performed a lumpectomy, in which he also removed 16 lymph nodes. After a biopsy; 9 shown as cancerous. Six weeks after surgery, she began her long process of chemo treatments over the following year. Throughout her battle with cancer, Bonnie never succumbed to the negative aspects that came with the sickening disease. She remained strong and even continued to run her routes. It was right after her third chemo session, she noticed the side-effects started to take place. “I remember, I was in the restroom at a truck stop looking at myself in the mirror. A chunk of my hair had fell out and it was still in-between my fingers… I just patted it back in place and sprayed it. Then kept right on about my day, working.” Bonnie made each day a new day, with a positive attitude and unshakeable strength. Once her body was able, she no longer needed chemotherapy, but her oncologist still recommended radiation. She endured 30 rounds. In the beginning she did two a day. One in the morning and the other in the evening. When she was traveling for work, she would make it in for only one treatment a day. When her prognosis was stable, Bonnie’s doctor placed her on medication in the form of a pill. She was back to living her life as normal as before. This time more aware of her health.
It wasn’t until four years later when Bonnie noticed a constant pain in her back. Her physician ran tests, an x-ray and then a bone scan. Upon discussion, the diagnosis was metastatic disease. In which, the cancer had spread to other parts of her body. Particularly to the middle region of her back. Her results shown to have compound fractures in her back where cancer had developed in the bones and bone marrow. Bonnie underwent another surgery to repair each damaged disc. She recovered well and never slowed down. Her mind-set never allowed her body to stay down for long. That’s the fighter mentality in her.
Unfortunately, March of this year the cancer metastasized to her brain in the area of her cerebellum. Bonnie opted for treatment through cyberknife radiosurgery. It’s a non-invasive alternative to treat tumors in locations delicate, such as the brain. This type of procedure enables physicians the ability to target the cancer and deliver radiation doses to the precise location where the nerve enters the brain. The operation was a success. However, she did return this past October for another round of radiation for lesions that appeared on her ribs. Her doctor also noted the size of the bones in her back where the cancer is located, had dropped to less than 50% in size. With that, Bonnie underwent surgery to repair her spine again.
To meet our beloved Bonnie, one would not imagine what her body has endured. To carry on a conversation with her, can quickly brighten your entire day. Her 70 year old body holds no comparison to her frame of mind. Today she still works a full schedule, all hours of the clock on any day throughout the week. Under strict doctor’s orders, she came off of the road in 1998, but continued to run her other two trucks. Her duties shifted to book keeping, calling truck locations to monitor inventory and also handling audits for multiple drivers. In 2013, Bonnie joined her son Jerry at National Truckin’ Magazine and is now in charge of all the distribution. Over her many years on the road, Bonnie racked up over 1 million miles with a combined total from three of her trucks. The majority of this time she spent fighting for life. Those that she came in contact with never knew of her struggle with cancer. She didn’t want to be known as a victim. Only recently has she came forward with her battle, to be a role model to any others that can relate. She faces each day as a survivor and in our family, she’s our very own hero. We admire her fearlessness and bravery in every beaming smile that she shares! Not only do we get the pleasure of celebrating Bonnie’s birthday this month, but we are beyond thankful and cherish every day that we get with her. She is loved by many with a large, extended family of 8 great-grandchildren, 4 grandchildren and her 3 kids; Jerry, Jimmy Joe and Jonie.
Happy birthday, Bonnie! We love you!!