A True Story · Montana, 1973
A True Story of Courage, Love And Survival
trUst I Know… Pops. In the Montana wilderness, one family faced the unimaginable. A father’s courage, a family’s faith, and the power of trust changed everything.
- Endorsed by Adam Vinatieri, Chuck Pagano & Phill Lewis
Built on Truth
The story behind the story
Montana Wilderness
16 miles deep into the Bob Marshall, near the Chinese Wall.
A Family's Bond
A four-year-old boy. A father's promise. An unbreakable love.
Courage Under Pressure
A surgical intervention performed on a camp table by lantern light.
The Power of trust
Two truths that saved a life — and shaped a legacy.
A Father Who Went Through His Narration
August 16, 1973, isn’t just a date for Tom McMahon. It is the reason he is alive. Too young and small at the time to grasp the stakes, he was oblivious to the profound sacrifices unfolding around him. Decades later, he is finally sharing the story he didn’t just witness, but lived.
This spirit of deep sacrifice and unity traces straight back to his roots. Growing up in Helena, Montana, Tom was shaped by a family defined by an open door and an even larger heart. His parents, Dr. Jack and Joanie McMahon, fostered an environment where a full table, an open welcome, and absolute integrity weren’t just ideals, but a way of life.
Those early years, the campsites and float trips, the backcountry outfitting business, the endless nights around a fire with the Fryhover family, developed a foundation so strong that no lightning could strike it twice for Tom.
- "My Word is My Bond."
- "The Power of trUst."
The author of trUst chose to leave one question open for his readers: which character in this true story is he? He signs his work simply as “Forever Grateful” — because that is, above all else, what he is
Tom McMahon Writing as “Forever Grateful”
Praise
Stories that inspire and uplift
“What an inspirational story about tragedy to triumph! The fight against time, and survival had me on the edge of my chair. trUst.”
Adam Vinatieri
NFL Hall of Famer & All-Time Leading
Scorer
“In a world where trUst and loyalty is everything, one father faces the ultimate challenge — saving his son’s life. A gripping emotional journey of friendship, sacrifice, and unwavering love.”
Chuck Pagano
Former Head Coach, Indianapolis
Colts
“trUst I Know… Pops is a breathtaking,
heart-cracking story of one family’s
journey through trauma and into the
light. Thrilling, tender, and ultimately
triumphant.”
Phill Lewis
Actor & Director
Some stories don't just tell you something. They change you.
Available now in hardcover, paperback, and eBook.