Jon Continues to Fight Colon Cancer
Donation protected
I would like to offer my immense thanks to everyone who has helped my family and me during my fight with cancer during the past four years. I have been truly and deeply touched by the generous outpouring of support
that I have received and continue to receive. This support has come to me from so many directions and in so many forms and I feel it has been such an impactful force, inspiring me to think positively and fight harder!
My fight continues. Recovery from my last surgery, (removal of the right side of my liver), was slow and difficult but most days I found myself feeling one step closer to "normal”. Following that surgery, I underwent
regular CT scans, monitoring a few small spots on my lung. During this time I enjoyed a year and a half free of treatments. This time allowed me to rebuild my strength and endurance and pick up the pieces of my life and
get back in the game. I returned to projects, ideas, and a life that had been put on hold. I feel lucky that I had this time to devote to spending with friends and family and more specifically with my wife Berta and daughter Luna. They have suffered with me immensely and sacrificed
greatly in this struggle and we all welcomed a return to a less stressful and more tranquil existence. Unfortunately a PET scan this past February indicated that once again the cancer had spread to various parts of my body and I began my third round of Chemo. Treatment options are now more limited and less
optimistic, but I refuse to give up the fight. I am doing my best to stay positive and beat this or at least fight it as hard and as long as I can.
I would like to urge everyone who knows or thinks that they might need a colonoscopy to call your doctor and make an appointment. Fifty is the recommended age for your first colonoscopy. I was diagnosed initially stage 3 at the age of 41 and within a year I was stage 4. If I had a
colonoscopy two or three years earlier, when I first noticed symptoms, I am sure I would have caught the cancer at an earlier stage when it would have been more treatable. The truth is that more and more people are
developing colorectal cancer at younger ages, with so many being only in their thirties. Waiting until fifty is fine for many and it is definitely convenient for the insurance companies, but for many this arbitrary number is a death sentence. Early detection is important! Don't delay! I promise that any fear, embarrassment, or reluctance one might have to undergoing a colonoscopy is irrelevant in comparison to what you may have to go
through if cancer is present and goes undetected.
Finally, I want to urge you all to enjoy what you have and those you have to share it with and thank you to everyone for all of your help!!!
Jon Ray Smith
that I have received and continue to receive. This support has come to me from so many directions and in so many forms and I feel it has been such an impactful force, inspiring me to think positively and fight harder!
My fight continues. Recovery from my last surgery, (removal of the right side of my liver), was slow and difficult but most days I found myself feeling one step closer to "normal”. Following that surgery, I underwent
regular CT scans, monitoring a few small spots on my lung. During this time I enjoyed a year and a half free of treatments. This time allowed me to rebuild my strength and endurance and pick up the pieces of my life and
get back in the game. I returned to projects, ideas, and a life that had been put on hold. I feel lucky that I had this time to devote to spending with friends and family and more specifically with my wife Berta and daughter Luna. They have suffered with me immensely and sacrificed
greatly in this struggle and we all welcomed a return to a less stressful and more tranquil existence. Unfortunately a PET scan this past February indicated that once again the cancer had spread to various parts of my body and I began my third round of Chemo. Treatment options are now more limited and less
optimistic, but I refuse to give up the fight. I am doing my best to stay positive and beat this or at least fight it as hard and as long as I can.
I would like to urge everyone who knows or thinks that they might need a colonoscopy to call your doctor and make an appointment. Fifty is the recommended age for your first colonoscopy. I was diagnosed initially stage 3 at the age of 41 and within a year I was stage 4. If I had a
colonoscopy two or three years earlier, when I first noticed symptoms, I am sure I would have caught the cancer at an earlier stage when it would have been more treatable. The truth is that more and more people are
developing colorectal cancer at younger ages, with so many being only in their thirties. Waiting until fifty is fine for many and it is definitely convenient for the insurance companies, but for many this arbitrary number is a death sentence. Early detection is important! Don't delay! I promise that any fear, embarrassment, or reluctance one might have to undergoing a colonoscopy is irrelevant in comparison to what you may have to go
through if cancer is present and goes undetected.
Finally, I want to urge you all to enjoy what you have and those you have to share it with and thank you to everyone for all of your help!!!
Jon Ray Smith
Organizer and beneficiary
Jennifer Hutchens
Organizer
Greensboro, NC
Jon Smith
Beneficiary
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