Cancer patient Glenn Smith fighting for a normal life

Tumors have attacked Glenn Smith's spine, legs, shoulders, ribs and skull, but you can't tell by looking at him.

In Bryan, where he was born and raised, 26-year-old Smith wouldn't stand out in a crowd of his peers. His burly 6-foot frame hides the fact that he's suffering from cancer.

He doesn't talk about his ailment. He'd rather discuss sports, speaking calmly and slowly, as if he's clenching his teeth.

Three years ago, Smith consulted a doctor after feeling a persistent pain in his hip. An MRI revealed a hole in his pelvic bone larger than a softball. Doctors diagnosed him with Stage 3 Multiple Myeloma, a rare cancer that eats away at the plasma cells in bone marrow.

"I haven't been without pain for three years," Smith said.

The aching varies from slight to extreme, sometimes driving him to tears. He's cautious, as the cancer and chemotherapy have left his bones brittle. He snapped his collarbone in a store last month simply by reaching up for an item.

"The pain was out of this world," he said. "It was awful."

On Saturday, a fundraiser to help Smith and his mother defray the cost of his medical expenses will be held at the Wellborn Community Center.

Angela Elliott said she isn't sure if her son will live for six months or 10 years. Smith has already outlived the American Cancer Society's median life expectancy of 29 months for those with Stage 3 Multiple Myeloma.

"It literally eats your bones," his mother said of the cancer.

It's uncommon for someone as young as Smith to have Multiple Myeloma, which according to the International Myeloma Foundation usually affects the elderly. Elliott researched the cancer and found it usually takes 20 years to develop to stage 3, making her think Smith harbored the disease as a youth.

Smith dreamed of being an Aggie before he moved out of Elliott's home to live with his father.

"His goal was to go to A&M, get into sports and make it big," Elliott said of her son's unrealized dream.

Despite his athleticism, Smith's mother had to push him to do sports because of his shyness.

"I had to get firm with him," she said. "I told him, 'You can't stop. You can't quit.'"

She now applies the same resilience to helping him overcome his disease.

"If I break, he's going to break," she said. "So I can't do that. I cry when I'm at home but when I walk out, this is my job. This is what I do."

In 2009, the family traveled to Minnesota for two months so Smith could receive a stem-cell transplant. He said it felt like a prison and left him anxious to get back to his job at Sam's Club.

Although doctors told him to take it easy, Smith returned and worked as much as possible.

"He wants to function," Elliott said. "He wants to have a normal life."

After working for Sam's Club for a decade, Smith had to take a leave of absence due to his health. Before leaving, however, Smith met and began dating his girlfriend of one year, Bryan resident Amanda Sims.

"He's a gentleman," Sims said. "I could tell right away when I met him."

Sims credits Smith's determination to his faith and ability to put problems in perspective, as they have friends who also have cancer.

"His strength and beliefs make me a lot stronger of a person," she said. "He sees others' attitudes and it helps him realize he's not the only one. He knows he has to get up to make himself feel better."

Although the chemotherapy and medicine wear on Smith's body, the couple find time to take Sims' dog, Ziegen, and ferret, Bandit, for walks.

"He just keeps going," Sims said. "He doesn't want to lay in bed all day. Even walking the mall helps him get around."

Smith's girlfriend fuels his mental and spiritual health, his mother said. She considers Sims a real-life angel.

Elliott has emptied her personal checking and saving accounts to help pay for her son's medical bills. Although she's managed to stay afloat, she worries about the day Smith's health insurance benefits from Sam's will no longer cover his needs.

"In his mind and heart, he's going to beat this and go back to work," Elliott said. "He's believing in a miracle, and that's what it's going to take."

Smith relies heavily on his faith to overcome the difficulties that come with his condition.

"It's tough, but you can't have a testimony without the test," he said. "I think I'll pass this one with flying colors."

HOW TO HELP

The Glenn Smith Cancer Benefit will be Saturday, June 11 from noon until 6 p.m. at the Wellborn Community Center in College Station. The event will feature a silent auction, raffles, live music and barbecue.