By Randy Evans – Cancer. Just the word sends shivers down the spine. It is a cruel and heartless disease. Both those who survive, and those who do not, are its victim. Every American has been touched in some way by this villain.
Tony Snow was one of those people. His story is one of courage and character. Cancer could not take either away, but, it did take his life. On Saturday, July 12, 2008, the former White House press secretary died after a long and difficult fight with colon cancer.
The cruel part of cancer is the devastation that it leaves behind long after it has inflicted its injury. At age seventeen, Tony Snow lost his mother to cancer. Anyone who has lost a parent or grandparent to cancer knows well the fear it leaves behind for the generations to come.
Like many people with a family history of cancer, Tony Snow was vigilant in watching for warning signs that might touch his life as it had his mother. He had regular check-ups and tests, yet, he was not paralyzed by fear.
In the 1980s and 1990s, Tony Snow emerged as one of the most articulate conservative media personalities in America. Having worked his way up from an editor’s position at a Detroit newspaper, in 1996 Tony Snow appeared as an anchor on the new start up FOX News. His magnetic and energetic personality attracted viewers. His infectious optimism made him popular and entertaining. Unfortunately, he never got to fully enjoy either the financial or professional rewards from such success.
Cancer never comes at a convenient time. In 2005, just as Tony Snow was reaching the pinnacle of his career, he was diagnosed with colon cancer, the same cancer that had taken his mother’s life.
While the survival rates for colon cancer have improved dramatically in recent years, it is still a deadly killer. Based on the most recent statistics, it remains the third most common form of cancer. With approximately 655,000 deaths worldwide per year, it remains a leading cause of cancer-related deaths.
Undaunted, Tony Snow faced cancer bravely and optimistically. He opted for aggressive treatment which included the removal of his colon and six months of chemotherapy. After eight weeks of treatment, things looked promising. No victim is ever free from the physical and emotional scars left behind by cancer, but, he was given a clean bill of health and subsequently accepted the position of White House press secretary. It was his dream job.
Cancer has little regard for dreams. Just seventeen months later, Tony Snow had his second bout with cancer. As a result, Tony Snow would have little opportunity to fully enjoy life or reap the financial rewards of having succeeded at his profession. Cancer drains financial resources, wears down families, and weakens even the most confident spirits. Yet, even as his battle grew tougher, Tony Snow was ever the optimist. His emails were priceless – always upbeat, always positive, and always looking to the future – even to the end.
Because Tony Snow touched so many people in such a positive and uplifting way, there were many folks who wanted to help. In response, the Tony Snow Family Trust was set up to help Tony Snow achieve his ultimate dream of securing his children’s future including their college education. (Information about the Trust can be found at www.healthtransformation.net.)
There is no way to thank the many folks from every state in the country who have pitched in to help his family. Americans loved Tony Snow, and they have shown it by helping Tony Snow’s wife, Jill, and Tony’s kids (Kendall, Robbie, and Kristi).
But the battle against cancer goes on. There is reason for hope. With every passing day, the possibility of eliminating cancer as a cause of death improves. Some have even said that with the appropriate resources for research, education, and early prevention, this goal could be achieved by as early as the year 2015 – less than a decade away.
The American Cancer Society estimates that over one-half million people in the United States will die of some form of cancer. While the news of well known cancer victims like Tony Snow serves as a harsh reminder of the reality of cancer, it is truly the individual life stories that make cancer so real.
The time has come when Americans should accept NO excuses from their public officials for not committing the resources, developing the policies, and making the decisions necessary to win this battle. Every day, many, many Americans fight individual battles with cancer. The least we can do is provide them the resources they need to face the villain, and win the fight.