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Cancer victim faces fire, loss of job

May 17, 2007|ROSS JOHNSON

After her husband, Garry, died, Sharon Snow was forced to leave her job at Dana Corp. to focus on surviving her own illness.

Unable to draw unemployment checks because she was disabled and unable to receive disability support because she was "not disabled enough," Snow got by with the help of her daughter Kayla, now 19, and son Jassen, 26.

Snow said Kayla, a 2006 Lincoln County High School graduate, began work at Ephraim McDowell Regional Medical Center, rather than attend college, to help her.

After a year of chemotherapy and cancer treatments, Snow says her breast cancer is in remission now.

Cancer is just one ordeal the Lincoln County woman has faced this year, though. On March 20, her two-story home was destroyed by fire.

"I almost can't explain how one day, you think you have everything you need; the next day, you don't have a pair of shoes," said Snow, who was away from home at the time of the fire.

She and her daughter were taking a vacation to celebrate Snow completing her cancer treatments.

Snow was ready to return to work after the treatments, only to learn her job had been outsourced to Costa Rica.

Yet throughout her many trials, Snow remained optimistic.

"I promised myself that Garry's death would be the worst of it," Snow said. "We will survive the rest."

Snow continues to support organizations like Relay For Life, a part of the American Cancer Society, and Concerned Bikers, a group of local motorcyclists organized by her brother-in-law Jimmie Snow who ride for children with cancer.

Snow emphasized the importance of helping whenever it is possible.

"Sometimes we live in our own little world, we say 'next year,' but there won't be a 'next year' for some people."

There is a fund established at Chase Bank in Danville for those interested in supporting Snow. Information may be found by calling the bank at (859) 238-4702 and inquiring about the Sharon T. Snow Fund.

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