I have been saving my most important Hughes Troop Spotlight for the perfect moment. Well, I believe today is now the perfect moment to bring some much needed praise to one of the most important people in my life… Tracy Hughes
When you think about inspiration and a resiliency as it relates to making the most out of your life… many of you may have expressed your admiration about how I handle my unique circumstances. While your belief in me is always appreciated, it is simply just not 100% placed with the right person. I have many down moments, regrets, setbacks, etc…. I pull my strength, in large part, from each of you, but there is NO ONE I lean on more to give me guidance and direction than Tracy. Many of you who know Tracy and I personally, know that we met while working at Target when we were 17 years old. We began dating almost immediately, fell in love, and went on to have 12 years of the most wonderful marriage two people could imagine… largely due to the size of her amazing heart. During this time, God blessed us with 3 incredible boys, we built a top local mortgage company together, traveled the world, and experienced things together are impossible to describe with words. We built an bond and friendship, that while strained this last 9 months at times, is simply unbreakable.
To add to Tracy’s amazing strength of character, her Father (Dean) passed away after having brain surgery and battling cancer bravely for many years. Dean displayed tremendous courage and love throughout his entire battle and was the perfect example of how to fight with dignity and resolve. Life has cruelly brought this same disease back into her life once again to her best friend. I have tremendous guilt about this personally and I sometimes question why this has all happened… not because I am scared to fight this disease, but because Tracy and my boys do not deserve this. Yet she never allows challenges to come between us. She presses positively forward with her life, taking care of the kids, working full time, volunteering, and tending to my numerous needs without so much as one whisper of a regret. Every wonderful trait that was passed down from her Father and Mother are evident in everything she does for everyone around else around her.
Over the last 9 months our lives have forever been impacted and influenced by the adversity my “life” has created. We unfortunately separated around the 1st of the year, I made some incredibly poor choices that put her in awkward positions, and I was diagnosed with a brain cancer. The cancer I was diagnosed with is located in the personality side of my brain and likely a one of the reasons why some of my decision-making skills were suspect at best in the eyes of many. With the tumor removed and radiation complete, I feel like I am beginning to regain clarity and truly appreciate what friends like Tracy and all of you, offer me in my greatest time of need. Throughout all of this chaos… she has never turned her back on me.
Without any hesitation at all, I can honestly say she has been my #1 fan, supporter, and there by my side every step of the way. Tracy and Mikal Ashley Mele are actually the ones who began the whole Hughes Troop Movement and Facebook page/bracelets – while I was going through brain surgery and treatment. Now that is pretty darn awesome!
I want to sincerely apologize publically, hug, high-five, do-over, congratulate, express gratitude, be a better man, live forever, and be that same amazing person that she has been for me for the last 18 years of our life and friendship together. I want her to continue to find the happiness and wonderful life she so clearly deserves.
Hughes Troops… please take a moment and thank my rock, my friend, the person who talks me off the ledge in my darker moments, who inspires me to keep pushing forward no matter what challenges I face, the best Mom in the world, and my #1 Hughes Troop supporter… Tracy friggin Hughes!!!!!
I couldn’t do this without her.
Dear Tracy, They say behind each strong man there is a woman; Ronald & Nancy Reagan just came to mind. Though you are probably to young to remember much from that time period, at the end of his second term President reagan was very old and made mistakes that old people make. Nancy Reagan, kept the press at bay, and made sure her “Ronnie” was always portrayed in a postive manor for the press. What Dustin describes….you are his Nancy Reagan. You carry your self in the manor of a first lady at the White House. God bless and grant your family the miracle needed to heal Dustin.
Dustin,
This is redundant I’m sure, but Tracy is thee best thing to happen to u. Her strength and attitude are to be admired at the very least. I’ve admired your friendship despite your relationship “status”. There aren’t a lot of women who would still be there with a gracious heart in the circumstances set forth. Tracy is an amazing woman, friend, person & I have yet to meet anyone like her. Thank the Lord for putting her in ur life and having the heart to be who you need her to be. Whether that’s an awesome mother, best friend, business partner, or wife. I can see her heart and she loves u as u love her. It’s nice to read/hear the appreciation, believe me I have been there in my marriage. Nothing is a mistake and all of this is for a reason, I’m trying to say that I’m glad that ur are blessed with your soul mate. Now that u recognize, move forward with no regrets and tons of love! Much love to ur family!