I am writing on behalf of my husband David Cheney, who not only is a wonderful husband and father to our four sons, but who is also a Cancer Survivor. David has worked for 27 years as a Captain on the Gladstone Fire Department. He has also been a baseball coach, a football dad, a Boy Scout Leader and a proud USMC dad.

In January of 2008 David began to have health problems which prompted a fast trip to the emergency room. Unfortunately the scans performed indicated something wrong. After several more tests, we learned that David had Stage 4 Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma. This was a very grime time for our family and friends.

David started chemotherapy immediately. David’s treatments were every three weeks for a total of six treatments. We were on a rollercoaster with David having good days and bad days. Unfortunately, David had to stop working in part because of side effects from the chemotherapy: fatigue, nausea, and a weakened immune system.

In August 2008 we were elated when we were told that David is in remission. While we know that his cancer may come back and that we may some fighting ahead of us, we are happy about the news. The first goal is to get into remission. We are winning!!

We then began to realize how hard the financial pressures of an illness like cancer can affect a family. A dear friend, an angel to us, suggested that we go on line and look at the Jennifer Ireland Foundation. Just reading the foundation’s mission statement gave us hope. The help and support provided to us by the foundation and its board members is wonderful and came just at the right time when we needed help the most.

We have so many people to thank who have helped us through this journey. We especially would like to thank our friends, family, our physicians and nurses at North Kansas City Hospital and the Kansas City Cancer Center, our “angel”, and the Jennifer Ireland Foundation.

The foundation is like a big bother that helps you up when you fell like you are falling apart. I thank you for being at our side when we needed help the most. You are helping cancer patients “one family at a time”.

We wish to thank God for the Jennifer Ireland Foundation, friends, and family that are still standing at our side. God’s blessing to each of you.

The Cheney Family
“Courage doesn’t always roar,
Sometimes courage is the quiet voice
At the end of the day saying, I WILL try again tomorrow!”
(unknown)