Tony
Hodgkin's Lymphoma;
Lung Adenocarcinoma, Stage IV
For Tony, asking for help is humbling, as he is a member of a large close knit family and very used to being the one that other family members call on for help. Still, despite Tony's physical limitations (he has a tube in each lung for the daily drainage of fluid that builds up, is currently on chemotherapy and will be for the rest of his life, and has shortness of breath that comes from a PFT 50% lung capacity which requires an oxygen tank), he supervised the building of his son Kyle's 16x36 foot deck.
Although he could not saw planks and hammer nails, Tony sat under a tent in the hot sun with an oxygen tank supervising, Tony taught his son how to build the world's most accurately measured and infinitely stable deck. The key to staying mentally strong for Tony is finding or redefining a purpose, which he describes as "adding value" to the lives of his children, family and co-workers. He demonstrates this value as a Friend for Life volunteer through sharing his story to help other's facing cancer.
If you are a cancer survivor and would like to become a trained volunteer with Friend for Life, please read more information about becoming a volunteer or contact us.