Patient Testimonial - "This Isn't Going to Beat Me"

Blair Smith, 61 of Westfield, IA, did not believe he had cancer when Dr. Matthew Obinna Nwaneri, Medical Oncologist at the June E. Nylen Cancer Center, told him earlier this year.

“I didn’t feel sick,” he says. “I did not have any symptoms. I went to the doctor because I hurt my shoulder, and bam, then I had cancer.”

Stage 4 low-grade lymphoma to be exact. It was discovered when Blair, a driver who has worked for Wells Enterprises in Le Mars for 29 years and has barely missed any work all those years, hurt his shoulder and went in for a MRI in April 2021. He received a call a few days later that showed the tearing in his rotator cuff they were expecting, but they also saw a suspicious area that they recommended he get checked out. Blair had a consultation with Dr. Nwaneri at the Nylen Cancer Center, followed by a CT scan, a biopsy on his lymph nodes by Dr. Joseph Morris of Tri-State Specialists, followed by a bone marrow biopsy, and then had a PET scan for staging purposes.

“Dr. Nwaneri knew something was going on and kept digging until it was clearly determined that I had lymphoma,” said Blair. “From that point on, I had to trust what the doctors and nurses were telling me. And I had to believe in what they could do to help me.”

He adds, “I’m not a giver-upper, but chemo was tough. I was determined it wasn’t going to beat me. I only missed 4 days of work through it. Every day I wake up, thank God for the day, and go do the best I can.”

Blair had his last chemotherapy treatment recently on November 3. Because lymphoma is treatable but not curable, he has future scans, tests, and potential maintenance, but he wanted to do something special for the staff that helped him through his treatment. Blair carves wood with a chainsaw as a hobby and presented a carved bear to the chemo nurses on his last day of treatment.

“The staff treated me like a king. They would truly listen to me and make me feel like I was the most important person. But they do this for every patient, not just me. It takes special people to do what they do every day. I didn’t know how else I could show them my appreciation.”

Blair says he will deal with whatever is ahead for him, but what he has experienced already is “life-changing.” He lost some of his strength through his chemo treatments and looks to gain that back as well as “enjoy life a little more” with his family especially his wife Robin, daughter Mylee, and 13-year old grandson Taven. Blair adds he is looking forward to vacationing more with Robin (they are planning their next trip now) and “driving nowhere” in his Corvette convertible.

Blair advises new patients to heed the advice of what his Patient Advocate told him, “Don’t go google, it does you no good except scare you more. Trust the team at the June E. Nylen Cancer Center and their expertise. They will take care of you.”

Blair Smith recently presented this carved bear to the chemo nurses on his last day of treatment.

A close-up of Blair's work. He said he did this one in about 10 minutes. The nurses and staff were amazed! You can find more of his work on his Facebook page, B&R Chainsaw Sculptures.