Loren J Smith

Please help to support Loren J Smith’s battle with stage 4 prostate cancer.
 
 Let me tell you a story, if I may. Everyone has numerous encounters with people on a daily basis, and most of these day-to-day interactions are quickly forgotten. On occasion, you meet someone that changes your world for the better. For me, one of those such individuals is Loren Smith.  
 
About 10 years ago, I asked my neighbor, Jim Gunter, for a recommendation of someone to replace our ceiling fans. And that was the beginning of my relationship with Loren, a local contractor and generally all-around handy man. Since that initial introduction, Loren has helped with multiple projects for my home, from renovating the master bathroom to redoing the screened in porch. Actually, I think it is accurate to say that Loren has helped almost everyone in my community. In fact, it is probably not a stretch to say that Loren has done work for a large group of people on this small island-- Topsail off the Eastern Coast of North Carolina.
 
Loren isn’t simply a handy-man. There’s never been a day that I passed him working on a job and he didn’t take time to stop what he was doing and chat. And through these interactions, he became much more than a fix-it guy, but also a good friend.
 
Loren is the epitome of a hard-working American.  He completed college as an accountant and realized he didn’t enjoy this profession.  He fell into construction when a college professor asked him for help to fix his Florida home that had been damaged by a hurricane. Through this experience, Loren discovered where his true passion lies.
 
 For all intents and purposes, Loren appears to be healthy. Similar to many hard-working Americans, Loren cannot afford health insurance and did not participate in preventative medical care. Loren has been diagnosed with aggressive stage 4 prostate cancer.  Loren now has to face unsurmountable medical bills (including regular CT scans costing $6000 each). As an independent contractor, he faces the loss of work and income because of his illness.  
 
What many might not know about Loren is that he has a loving partner, Martha, 6 children, and 14 grandchildren. One of his major goals for the next 2 years is to take a trip to Michigan to see his kids and grandkids.
 
I realize that I can’t cure cancer.  But I remain hopeful that in some small way people who know him, and maybe even people who don’t, can come together to help this most deserving man who has helped so many of us. Together we can lessen the financial burden on him and his family.