Newspaper Page Text
WEDNESDAY, MAY 14, 2008
THE BANKS COUNTY NEWS
PAGE 3A
Jeremy Hancock: Cancer Survivor of the Week
My name is Jeremy Hancock,
and I am a 23-year-old fire
fighter whose life was drasti
cally changed at age 18 when I
was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s
Lymphoma. I was at a great
point in my life when I was
diagnosed with cancer. I had
just graduated from high school,
went to Mexico, and I felt like I
was on top of the world.
Then, one day, I felt a lump
under my arm. At the time, I
did not think much of it, but after a
few days I had a feeling that I needed
to get it checked. The next day, I had
my dad look at it and we decided that
I should see my family doctor. At first,
the doctor thought I had caught some
thing from when I was in Mexico, but
after a blood test, they decided to do
an ultrasound. The ultrasound showed
that I had some sort of mass under my
arm, and my family doctor thought I
should see an oncologist.
When we went to visit the oncologist,
they decided it would be best to do a
biopsy to see exactly what was in the
mass. After I had gone through a series
of tests, they performed the biopsy. As
soon as the biopsy was finished, the
doctor went to the waiting room to talk
with my family. He was certain it was
Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, but he needed
to send it off to the lab to double check.
I was unaware of the conversation that
took place in the waiting room because
my family wanted to wait until the lab
results concluded what the doctor had
said. I thought it was unusual that as
soon at I got home, all of
my friends started dropping
by and checking on me.
So, that night, I got up
the courage to ask my fam
ily about it. I remember the
sick feeling I had in my
stomach before I got the
courage up to ask my dad,
“What is wrong with me?
Do I have cancer? Am I
going to die?” My dad told
me that I going to be okay
and for me not to worry. With the sup
port of my family and my wife, I took
on a different approach to the cancer,
and I knew I could beat it.
The next week, my family and I
returned to the oncologist’s office to
see what stage my cancer was in.
Hodgkin’s Lymphoma has 4 Stages,
with Stage 1 being the least severe and
Stage 4 being the most severe. Before
deciding what stage my cancer was in,
I had to go through a bone marrow test.
This was by far the most painful expe
rience I have ever been through. After
the test, the doctor concluded that my
cancer was in Stage 2 because it was in
two lymph nodes but not in my bones.
The doctor told me that if I was going
to have cancer this was one of the best
because of its high remission rates,
which I was glad to hear, but I knew it
was still going to be tough.
The doctor told me to get rid of my
cancer I would have to undergo six
months of chemotherapy that alter
nated every other week. I remember
when I went for my first chemotherapy
treatment I was really nervous and I
did not know what to expect. I was
taken to a room with a lounge chair for
me and some chairs for my dad, Paula,
Ashley, and Kelley.
When the nurse came in, she gave
me a long list of side effects that I
would probably have after the treat
ment, and she told me the most impor
tant thing to do in between treatments
was to rest. I felt like I sort of knew
what to expect after the treatment
when the nurse had finished telling me
everything, but I was wrong. Nothing
could have prepared me for how bad
I felt after the treatments. For about a
week after the treatments, I was very
tired, my bones ached, and I did not
eat much.
Over the next few weeks, it was
hard getting used to the medicine and
my lack of energy. I got very frustrat
ed because I did not have the energy
to do everything I was used to doing. I
had to think about everything I wanted
to do and decide what I wanted to
do the most and save my energy. As
many of you know, my wife and I love
to drag race, and though it was hard,
I continued to race throughout my
treatments. Drag racing was the only
activity that I could do that would
completely take my mind off how bad
I was feeling and the stress from bat
tling the cancer.
Through the months, I lost my hair
and many times I was so drained that
I did not even want to leave the house.
However, I remember that on New
Year’s Eve 2003, I went for my last
chemotherapy treatment. Even though
I felt horrible, I managed to save up
enough energy, or it may have been
adrenaline from being so happy, that
I was able to surprise my friends for
New Year’s by making an appearance
at their get-together.
I have been in remission for five
years now, and I only have to go to the
oncologist once a year. If it had not
been for my family and friends, I do
not know how I would have made it
through my cancer. My mother-in-law
was always there for me and took me
to every chemotherapy treatment. She
always brought me back to Nanny’s
where there was always some good
food waiting for me. My dad was there
to lift me up and made me feel better.
I know that my grandmother prayed
for me all day everyday. Finally, my
wife was always there taking care of
me and letting me know that I was not
going through it alone. I want to thank
everyone who helped me get through
my cancer.
There is not a day that I do not wake
up and thank God for healing me. The
next time you see someone with can
cer give them hope, tell them to keep
fighting, and be strong. You will never
know how much those simple words
will mean to that person. I would like
to encourage everyone to come and
support the Relay for Life on May 16
at the old Banks County High School
football field and be a part of helping
the fight against cancer.
My campsite at the relay is Team
Jeremy - Racing for a Cure.
HANCOCK
Entrepreneur... continued from page 1A
day assessment by a review team
composed of GDEcD staff and rep
resentatives from the Department of
Community Affairs, Georgia Tech,
Small Business Development Center,
White County Economic Development
and Greater Hall Chamber of
Commerce.
Qualified entrepreneurs and small
business owners in Banks County are
now eligible for customized market
data, such as demographic and busi
ness information, to help them become
more competitive.
The county is also eligible for an
Entrepreneur-Friendly Implementation
Fund (EFIF) grant to implement pro
grams that support their entrepreneurs
and small businesses and have a region
al impact. The grant must be matched
50 percent in dollars or in-kind value
by the community.
“The Merriam-Webster dictionary
definition of entrepreneur is ‘one who
organizes, manages, and assumes the
risks of a business or enterprise,’” said
Jerry Boling, chair of the entrepreneur
friendly committee. “Each of these
words is important. Entrepreneurship
occurs in a business context, meaning
the objective is to sell a product or ser
vice and make a profit. Entrepreneurs
have the motivation that comes from
pursuing ones’ own ideas rather than
somebody else’s.”
Heidi Green, chairman of the
Georgia Entrepreneur and Small
Business Coordinating Network and
GDEcD’s deputy commissioner for
Global Commerce: “Small businesses
are the linchpin in all of Georgia’s com
munities. By supporting entrepreneurs
and small businesses, we help Georgia
grow. We congratulate Banks County
for making small businesses part of its
strategic plan for growth.”
Banks County is the 102nd communi
ty in the state to be named Entrepreneur
Friendly by the Georgia Department
of Economic Development (GDEcD).
Previously designated Northeast
Georgia counties include Hall, Franklin,
Hart and Habersham. Nearby counties
in the process of designation include
Towns and Union. Dawson County
received its designation last month.
Survivors sought for Relay for Life
Cancer survivors are being sought to
participate in the Banks County Relay
for Life.
“In honor of your battle against can
cer, a special invitation is extended to
you,” said organizers. “Your strength
and courage are a personal testimony
of the progress we’re making in our
fight.”
Survivors are asked to join in the
celebration by walking in the Survivor
Lap. The Survivor Lap is the ceremo
nial first lap of Relay for Life. For those
who are unable to walk, a golf cart will
be available.
Before the ceremonies, survivors are
invited to meet at the survivors’ tent for
food, drink and festivities beginning
at 5:30 p.m. on Friday, May 16, at the
old Banks County High School football
field.
“Look for the survivors’ area to park,”
organizers state.
The survivors’ lap begins at 6:30 p.m.
Special T-shirts will be given to each
survivor.
Survivors are asked to call Charlotte
Maxwell 706-335-6948 or Joan
Cochran 706-335-6250 so that they can
get T-shirt sizes, names and addresses.
Pink, purple bows to highlight Relay for Life
Residents are asked to display Relay proof bows for $10 each. Contact Wanda
for Life bows. Pink indicates breast can- Logan, 706-677-3207, or Charlotte
cer and purple is for any other kind of Maxwell, 706-335-6948.
cancer. Glory Baptist WMU has weather- All proceeds go to Relay for Life.
Relay... continued from page 1A
flag will be given by the Cub Scout
Bear Den #1. Singing of the National
Anthem will be by Mandi Slaton.
Survivors will also be speaking.
Next up will be the survivor lap, care
giver lap and team laps. The walk will
begin after the team lap is concluded.
At this time, the Little Princess and
Master Relay event will be held. Boys
and girls representing each team will
be going around the track and collect
ing donations for their team. The boy
and girl with the most money by the
luminary ceremony will be recognized
as Little Princess and Master Relay for
Banks County.
At 7:30 p.m. The Presley Trio will
sing, and at 8:30 p.m., One Choice will
sing. At 9:15 p.m., Amazing Grace by
One Choice will perform. This will be
followed by the playing of “Taps” by
trumpeter, Andy Paulk, and the lumi-
nary ceremony. The ceremony honors
those who are fighting cancer now and
those who have lost loved ones to can
cer.
Luminaries can be purchased for $5
each and are placed around the track
and stands. They are lit at sundown.
After the ceremony, entertainment
will include: The Browns at 10 p.m.;
The Mazwells at 11 p.m.; and Rusty
Cheek’s band at midnight.
From midnight Friday to 6 a.m.
Saturday, different events will be fea
tured, including walking backwards,
skipping, walking with buddies, singing
while walking, only kids, women or
men on the track. There will also be
games and contests on the stage. Each
team will have different activities and
food concessions at their tent sites.
The theme of the relay this year is
“Celebrate Life.”
Ballots... continued from page 1A
an election without providing a reason.
Absentee ballots will be mailed 45
days prior to federal, state, and county
elections and 21 days prior to elections
featuring only municipal candidates.
Voters must submit a separate absen
tee ballot application for each elec
tion, unless they are physically dis-
abled, of advanced age, or exempted by
the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens
Absentee Voting Act.
Voters participating by absentee bal
lot by mail are not required to provide
photo identification. Absentee ballots
must be received by the county registrar
by election day.
W & W METAL ROOFING
“We Got You Covered”
Residential • Commercial • Agricultural
• Ship Anywhere In The USA
• We Stock Your Metal Needs
• Visit Our Showroom
www.wwmetalroofing.com
706-654-5836
30 Year
Paint "4
Hwy. 60 / Candler Hwy. • Pendergrass, Ga.
Warranty
Sales
Service
Installation
ROOF DOCTOR
Roofing & Repair
99
- Metal
- Shingles
- Flat Roofs
- Flashing
- Maintenance
- Inspections
HOMER CARVER
OFFICE 706-677-1986
CELL 678-617-4503
FAX 706-677-1369
BR
I’m Lovin’ It™
YOU'LL LOVE IT.
• Competitive Wages • Paid Vacation
Comprehensive Medical/Dental/Vision & Life Ins.
• Short-Term/Long-Term Disability
• & Much More!
ASSISTANT RESTAURANT MANAGERS
The challenge. The experience. The rewards. When you join the Management
team of an independently owned McDonald’s Franchise, you’ll love it all.
Requirements: Four years experience in a management/supervisory capacity in a
restaurant, hospitality or retail environment or two years of college.
Positions available in Franklin Springs, Hartwell & Elberton, GA.
ON-SITE INTERVIEWS
May 20 - 2 p.m. - 5 p.m. - Franklin Springs City Hall
If unable to attend go to www.mcgeorgia.com/10789 and submit application.
Guest Speaker:
Dr. Jim Donovan
Unity Christian
Church
Will Celebrate
Homecoming
May 18, 2008
"No Place Like Home"
The Choral Ensemble from Jackson County Comprehensive High School will present a
concert at 9:45 a.m. followed at 11:00 by guest speaker Dr. Jim Donovan - Senior
Minister at Southwest Christian Church in East Point, GA.
Dinner on the grounds will follow the service.
Call the church office for details - 706-652-3183
Today we celebrate our planet.
Today we commemorate its nature.
Today we renew our commitment to nurturing both.
The NEW Waste Management.
Our planet is truly miraculous. It not only gives us beauty, but it
also provides for us. So it’s worth celebrating. And nurturing.
That’s why the NEW Waste Management is commemorating our
planet’s wondrous nature as a committed supporter of Earth
Day.
We take care of our Earth every day with advanced recycling
programs that employ the latest methods for sorting plastics
and glass. We’ve pioneered effective technologies that turn
waste products into clean energy.
Our efforts to care for our planet are making a difference. Your
efforts can too. Celebrate Earth Day with us by recycling
plastics and cans, planting trees and promoting environmental
awareness.
An uncompromising commitment to nurture our Earth. It’s
another way we’re making a difference. One community at a
time. www.wm.com
From everyday collection to environmental protection, look to
the NEW Waste Management.