DESPITE his sobering diagnosis of stage four colon cancer, Glen David Smith continues to wake up with a smile on his face and a light-hearted, happy-go-lucky attitude.
He attributes much of this to the Highway Hospice’s support group and his doting wife.
The 63-year-old said he was diagnosed in November last year, a memory he said was hard to forget as he spent his birthday in hospital.
“I collapsed after a show at the Playhouse. It was a Sunday. Luckily my wife was driving us home at the time. I remember throwing up and telling her to drive us to the nearest hospital,” he said.
He was undergoing chemo at Albert Luthuli Hospital, but has not been for the last three months.
“They said my platelet count was too low,” he said. “I just told them that if all they needed was small plates for chemo to happen, we could just go down to the kitchen and smash a few of the bigger ones. Ta-da – small plates!”
“I have a very funny sense of humour. I remember speaking to the doctor who operated on me. He said I had between 12 weeks to six months to live. Basically telling me that I was going home to die. I asked if I could take the 12 weeks as the number was bigger,” he chuckled. It has been a year since the diagnosis.
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He described the diagnosis as unexpected and that without the support group he would be at home, alone, and depressed. “Here, I am surrounded by people who have similar problems, but everyone is just so lovely and I have company,” he said.
“It is so much better than sitting at home, drowning yourself in a bottle. When you are alone this is a very difficult illness to face. It is very good to be involved with this organisation. For those who can, support the Tree of Light ceremony,” encouraged Glen.
Find your light
Every year in December the Highway Hospice hosts the special Tree of Light event. Each globe is purchased in memory of a loved one who is no longer with us.
The unique ceremony is one of the non-profit organisation’s most important appeals of the year.
It will take place at Jameson Park on Friday, 7 December from 6pm and Highway residents are invited to take part in the beautiful and touching ceremony.
There will be food stalls but people can bring along a picnic basket and blanket and an umbrella, just in case. Tents will also be set up for shelter.
The lighting of the tree will be at 7.45pm and more than 9 000 globes will light up the night. The tree will remain on throughout December.
“Corporates are invited to sponsor the star on the top of the tree for R10 000 as a shining symbol of your love, care and concern for our community. Your company name will have a special page at the front of our Book of Remembrance and will receive mention on all our social media as well as being mentioned on the night,” said the Highway Hospice’s Heather Walker.
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