Five years later almost to the day. My wife was diagnosed with leukemia. She was very sick, and had to have a bone marrow transplant. Again, I called my new supervisor at the time and told him what was going on. I was told the same thing that was said 5 years ago… “Family first, go home and take care of your wife.” My supervisor stepped in to help cover my workload. Again, I was never made to feel that my job was on the line. If I needed time for my family, he would say “Go, I’ll take care of your accounts.” Her treatment was tough. It lasted for almost a year, but once again she beat the cancer.

The only ones who knew about my situation was human resources and my supervisor. After my wife was healed, life went on as normal.  My wife went to back to work. I went on working my territory. Life was good.

Two years later we had a regional meeting in Las Vegas.  Most of the senior staff was there including Steve Anderson, the president and CEO of Forney. I had only seen Steve a couple times during my time with the company. We had only talked once several years earlier. On one of the nights, we all had dinner in one of the hotel’s restaurants. I am not a late-night person, so I headed up to my room right after dinner. As I was walking through the lobby, I heard my name being called several times. When I turned, I noticed it was Steve Anderson calling me. I was a little nervous. The President of the company was calling for me? I turned and walked toward him. He stopped me. He said, “Troy how is your wife?” I told him that she was fine, and that her cancer was gone. Steve looked at me and said, “I’m so glad, I just wanted to let you know my wife and I have been praying for her.” This took me by surprise. I did not realize that Steve Anderson would even know what was going on in my life. I just was a sales rep working in Missouri.

My wife has been cancer free for 11 years now. I have had the privilege to work for an organization that puts family first. I know that is passed down from the highest position in the company.