Not knowing what’s around the next twist or turn while exploring America’s country roads brings enjoyment for motorcyclists. Unexpected twists and turns in life can be rewarding, but also scary. Richard Deckling, line support staff associate in Weld at the Honda Marysville Auto Plant (MAP), was confronted with a sudden twist in 2016 when he was diagnosed with a form of multiple myeloma, a rare plasma cancer that grows in bone marrow.
“My wife took me to the hospital when she noticed I had no energy after going upstairs, and it turned out that I had a minor heart attack,” said Deckling. “After a few tests, they diagnosed me with a form of multiple myeloma, which caused the heart attack and fatigue. I woke up that morning feeling fine, and by day’s end, I was told that I had cancer.”
Within a matter of weeks, he underwent an excruciating procedure that required four months of chemotherapy to kill the cancer, followed by a bone morrow transplant to reintroduce new stem cells back into his body. Deckling was determined to triumph over his form of multiple myeloma, and his wife purposefully hung his Triumph riding jacket in the hospital room as a reminder that together they would triumph over cancer and that, despite unexpected twists, life brings joy.
“It was easily the worst experience of my life,” he said. “But now, I get to celebrate two birthdays, my original birthday and my transplant birthday.”
On his fifth birthday of the bone morrow transplant, Deckling decided to do something special for himself.
“I started at Honda in 1984 in the Weld Department at the Marysville Motorcycle Plant,” Deckling said. “I loved motorcycles and bought a 1984 Honda Interceptor new from a local Honda dealer.”
Even though he had other motorcycles, this ’84 Interceptor had a special “mark.”
“Honda would bring professional riders onsite, and one day, Honda racing world champion Freddie Spencer visited the plant,” he said. “When we were outside, he agreed to take a quick photo with me and my bike, then, completely unexpected, he signed the fairing.”
Spencer, left, and Deckling with his ’84 Interceptor.
As life moved on, Deckling sold the motorcycle in 1992. Now, celebrating his fifth transplant birthday, he sought to repurchase his original bike after hearing word from an old motorcycle friend who had worked on his ’84 Interceptor that it was for sale locally.
Nearly 30 years had passed since he sold his Interceptor, but with help from his friend, Deckling triumphed once again and reconnected with his cherished bike.
“It was like seeing an old friend,” he said. “An added bonus was that the Freddie Spencer autograph was still perfect.”
Now back with the original owner, Deckling only takes out the Interceptor for short rides in ideal weather. So, if by chance you are driving a country road in western Ohio on a beautiful day, you might just pass Deckling and his Interceptor on the next twist or turn.
