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To My Friends and Fellow Board Members:
carkim
Posts: 1,166 ✭✭
To My Friends and Fellow Board Members:
I would like to extend my thanks and sincere gratitude for the overwhelming gesture that all of you have shown my family and me.
I must say that I have been humbled to the greatest extent of the word. As a person who has seen many successes in my life, I almost felt invincible. I played college basketball at a small NAIA school in Cleveland where I was only the second player in school history to score 1000 points and grab over 1000 rebounds, and was chosen for the All-American tour team twice, accepting the invitation after my senior season. The basketball tour started in North Dakota and we travel throughout the USA, and then flew to Aruba, to play in some World Peace Tour games that were held in that country. While in Aruba, the locals dubbed me Senor Carlos, because my game mirrored that of Charles Barkley (Sir Charles). Pro scouts were on hand for many of our games and I was asked to play in Venezuela immediately following the tour. I accepted and worked out with the “Coca-Cola” sponsored team for a couple of months. Unfortunately, things didn’t work out and I was released. Although I never thought that I could make it to the NBA, CBA, or USBL, I had hoped to play professionally but I guess it was never meant to be. I played Pro-Am ball when I returned to Cleveland for a couple of years, but that was about it.
After I finished College, I moved to Chicago, and then moved back home six years ago. I found my high school sweet heart, and we quickly married and started a family. I finally settled down and got back into card collecting. I joined PSA and started sending in some 1974, 1971, 1968, and 1965 Topps baseball cards to be graded, not just the stars, but the commons as well. Dealers, at the time, thought I was crazy. Actually so did I!!! Soon thereafter the registry was born, and I looked like a genius.
)
Everything was rolling along smoothly, until the beginning of this year. In late December of 2002 I was told that I have Cancer. The crazy thing was that it was totally unexpected and I had no idea. I had went to the doctor for an unrelated issue and lo and behold Cancer. My local doctor referred me to the Cleveland Clinic where a specialist confirmed his findings. In early January of this year, three weeks after I was diagnosed, my father passed away in his sleep of a heart attack. My two children (Ages 4 & 5) found him in his bed the next morning. To say the least this was just too much to digest.
When my chemotherapy began, it was a nightmare. I missed three months of work and that’s when things started to spiral down financially. We depleted our savings and took out loans to get us by until I got back to work. That is why I wanted to sell my 1972 Topps Football set. Medical bills coupled with loan payments have set us back.
Right now, I feel a lot better then I did two months ago. The sad part is that I am out of my haze that the chemo put me under and I am coherent enough to see the hole that we are in.
All of that brings me to this… Your donations have been incredible and I think I will be able to keep the set. I have some 1972 Football doubles that I was using for trades that I am going to put on eBay. I have cleaned out my closet and will peddle those items as well. But the good news is that I WILL NOT SELL MY SET. Someone on this thread suggested that I pull my set out and look at it. Glad I did. As I was looking through my doubles I noticed that I forgot to update two cards from a PSA 7 to a PSA 8.
Once things get back to normal, I hope to search for more upgrades to OUR set.
Finally, and most importantly, my wife is keeping track of the total amount that we have received and when I get back on my feet again, I will make monthly donations to:
Mycosis Fungoides Foundation
PO Box 374
Birmingham, MI 48102-0374
In the name of PSA SET REGISTRY BOARD MEMBERS, until your donation amount has been reached, and then I will continue to make those donations until that amount has been doubled. So not only will you be helping one person that you know, but hopefully thousands that you may not know.
God Bless You All And Thank You,
The Aponte’s
I would like to extend my thanks and sincere gratitude for the overwhelming gesture that all of you have shown my family and me.
I must say that I have been humbled to the greatest extent of the word. As a person who has seen many successes in my life, I almost felt invincible. I played college basketball at a small NAIA school in Cleveland where I was only the second player in school history to score 1000 points and grab over 1000 rebounds, and was chosen for the All-American tour team twice, accepting the invitation after my senior season. The basketball tour started in North Dakota and we travel throughout the USA, and then flew to Aruba, to play in some World Peace Tour games that were held in that country. While in Aruba, the locals dubbed me Senor Carlos, because my game mirrored that of Charles Barkley (Sir Charles). Pro scouts were on hand for many of our games and I was asked to play in Venezuela immediately following the tour. I accepted and worked out with the “Coca-Cola” sponsored team for a couple of months. Unfortunately, things didn’t work out and I was released. Although I never thought that I could make it to the NBA, CBA, or USBL, I had hoped to play professionally but I guess it was never meant to be. I played Pro-Am ball when I returned to Cleveland for a couple of years, but that was about it.
After I finished College, I moved to Chicago, and then moved back home six years ago. I found my high school sweet heart, and we quickly married and started a family. I finally settled down and got back into card collecting. I joined PSA and started sending in some 1974, 1971, 1968, and 1965 Topps baseball cards to be graded, not just the stars, but the commons as well. Dealers, at the time, thought I was crazy. Actually so did I!!! Soon thereafter the registry was born, and I looked like a genius.
)Everything was rolling along smoothly, until the beginning of this year. In late December of 2002 I was told that I have Cancer. The crazy thing was that it was totally unexpected and I had no idea. I had went to the doctor for an unrelated issue and lo and behold Cancer. My local doctor referred me to the Cleveland Clinic where a specialist confirmed his findings. In early January of this year, three weeks after I was diagnosed, my father passed away in his sleep of a heart attack. My two children (Ages 4 & 5) found him in his bed the next morning. To say the least this was just too much to digest.
When my chemotherapy began, it was a nightmare. I missed three months of work and that’s when things started to spiral down financially. We depleted our savings and took out loans to get us by until I got back to work. That is why I wanted to sell my 1972 Topps Football set. Medical bills coupled with loan payments have set us back.
Right now, I feel a lot better then I did two months ago. The sad part is that I am out of my haze that the chemo put me under and I am coherent enough to see the hole that we are in.
All of that brings me to this… Your donations have been incredible and I think I will be able to keep the set. I have some 1972 Football doubles that I was using for trades that I am going to put on eBay. I have cleaned out my closet and will peddle those items as well. But the good news is that I WILL NOT SELL MY SET. Someone on this thread suggested that I pull my set out and look at it. Glad I did. As I was looking through my doubles I noticed that I forgot to update two cards from a PSA 7 to a PSA 8.
Once things get back to normal, I hope to search for more upgrades to OUR set.
Finally, and most importantly, my wife is keeping track of the total amount that we have received and when I get back on my feet again, I will make monthly donations to:
Mycosis Fungoides Foundation
PO Box 374
Birmingham, MI 48102-0374
In the name of PSA SET REGISTRY BOARD MEMBERS, until your donation amount has been reached, and then I will continue to make those donations until that amount has been doubled. So not only will you be helping one person that you know, but hopefully thousands that you may not know.
God Bless You All And Thank You,
The Aponte’s
0
Comments
I just wanted to respond, on this board, as to how things have been going. First of all I would again like to thank all of you for your help and well wishes.
Every day life is back to normal, and we are back on track. This past year was trying and we appreciate all your support.
In late July, the day before I posted on the boards that I wanted to sell my 1972 Topps Football set. I just found out that my mother had a walnut size tumor that the doctor believed to be cancerous. With the year that our family has been having we expected the worse. When the test results came back, our fears were confirmed. Upon initially hearing the news, we knew that it was time to get our house in order.
I must thankfully say that after a couple of months of intents radiation and chemotherapy, mom is doing much better and the tumor is shrinking. She is again watching our two children while my wife and I are at work.
As for myself, the battle still continues. My last doctor’s visit was filled with mixed results. The hematology report was spectacular and all blood levels are within normal ranges. However, due to the increase in drug chemotherapy my triglycerides have risen from 188 to 253 (normal range being 35-150). These results were expected, but I just can’t eat one more Fat Free Turkey Sandwich on Whole Wheat Bread for lunch, or Cheerios for breakfast. Seriously thou, it is a life change and I plan on doing everything I can to beat this disease.
That reminds me, this past week we sent out our first donation to:
Mycosis Fungoides Foundation
PO Box 374
Birmingham, MI
48102-0374
And we plan to continue to do so until your donations to our family have been met, and doubled.
Lastly, I would like to say that keeping my set was the best thing that I could have done. I look at it everyday with pride. I took all my graded 1972 doubles and worked out a few trades to help upgrade my set. I will be selling the rest on eBay, along with some other stuff that I have found, in a couple of weeks.
Special Regards,
Carlos
PS. War …Cleveland National 2004
Hopefully, I'll make the trip to Cleveland next year and we can hook up. All the best....jay
Website: http://www.qualitycards.com
Keep fighting and keep an eye on Mom.
My Auctions
Thanks for the update with good news. Stay strong and help your mom keep up her fight.
Rob
Good to hear from you....see you at the IX next summer.
John
Vintage Baseball Cards
Sales and Ebay Consignment Service
email
Lloyd_Taylor_Vintage_Cards -- on Ebay
god speed
fred
collecting RAW Topps baseball cards 1952 Highs to 1972. looking for collector grade (somewhere between psa 4-7 condition). let me know what you have, I'll take it, I want to finish sets, I must have something you can use for trade.
looking for Topps 71-72 hi's-62-53-54-55-59, I have these sets started
You can count me in for the 04 Nats in cleveland. Looking forward to meeting you and other board members.
dave
FINISHED 12/8/2008!!!
I think next years National will have the largest turn-out of PSA board members to date. I can't wait.
Keep on fighting the good fight.
Bob
Thats GREAT to hear. By the way i am coming after you on the 72 Cowboys set!!!!
Best of luck and i look forward to meeting you in Cleveland next summer.
Bill
Braves
Glad to hear that things are moving in the right direction. I hope that you can join us at the National next year.
Regards,
Alan
Carlos,
I echo the sentiments already expressed here.It is good to hear an update and a positive one at that!!!! We will keep your family(including your mother) in our prayers.I will also be attending the national next year and hope to get the chance to meet you.Please keep us posted.
Vic
You are in my prayers. Best wishes to a healthy return!!
aconte
EO
Glad I could help in a small way. My very best.
Jim
Keith
I raise my glass of diet Skim Milk in your honor, your the man!
Thanks for the update, glad all is getting better.
RobBob
Always looking for 1957 Topps BB in PSA 9!
I thought about you TODAY at work and
was planning on getting on the forum
and post a "how is Carkim?" message....
GLAD TO HEAR GOOD NEWS and your
Good, Positive, Uplifting Attitude!
THAT is what is going to get you through this.
My wife and I will continue to pray for you
and your family.
and as for National... I will be there in 04 too.
I have wanted to make it the past 3 years,
but This time, I am planning ahead!
(plus in Cleveland you can also visit the
ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME!)
~jeff
You, sir, are a class act. I wish the best for you and your
family, especially your Mom.
warmest wishes,
Chuck