Monday, October 20, 2008 11:55 AM EDT
By Jim Shelton, Register Staff
BRANFORD — Thanksgiving came early for Glenn Smith Jr. on Sunday, but most of the trimmings were on the floor.
Surrounded by family and friends, the Clinton police officer and Iraq war veteran watched as his loved ones shaved their heads in solidarity of Smith’s fight against throat cancer. They also enjoyed a turkey dinner, a nod to the fact that Smith starts chemotherapy and radiation treatments soon and won’t be able to swallow without discomfort by Thanksgiving.
“Personally, I’m humbled and kind of embarrassed by all this attention,” Smith, 39, said Sunday afternoon, as dozens of people filled his parents’ house on Hazel Drive. “When times are tough, you get to know who truly has your back. I’m just stunned.”
That’s saying something, considering what Smith has been through already.
A year ago Saturday, he and his buddies were flying home from a tour of duty in Iraq, while serving with the Army National Guard. In the months that followed, Smith’s best friend was diagnosed with cancer, then Smith himself developed thyroid cancer. Smith’s friend, Steven Gaudio, died of the disease, but Smith recovered.
Then came round two. Smith was diagnosed with human papillomavirus, which is more commonly associated with cervical cancer in women. Smith’s wife, Kellie, had noticed that he was suddenly snoring at night and urged him to see his doctor.
“That, and what happened with my buddy, just made me want to check it out,” he explained. “The cancer is back where my tonsils are, about the size of a golf ball.”
His first chemotherapy and radiation treatments will begin in one week. He said as scary as cancer is, it isn’t as daunting as being in a war halfway around the world.
“It was tougher being away from my family,” he said. “With this, I’ll have my family around me through the treatment.”
But first came an October Thanksgiving. When Rita Smith realized that her son wouldn’t be able to have his favorite meal this year because of cancer treatments, she moved up the date her clan would have its Turkey Day. And when family and friends realized Smith might lose his hair during treatment, many of them decided to go ahead and shave their heads.
Smith’s dad, Glenn Smith Sr., was at the head of the list — despite the fact that he was quite fond of his longish, graying hair.
“All right, we have three chairs and no waiting,” Glenn Sr. announced, as he presided over hair-cutting festivities in the family basement. Upstairs, people already had availed themselves of a buffet-style turkey dinner.
Glenn Sr. and his son sat down and waited to be shorn. “Be strong,” Glenn Sr. said. “Be strong.”
When it was over, father and son exchanged head rubs and posed for photos.
Around the room, there were fellow veterans from Iraq, colleagues from the Clinton Police Department, neighbors and other family members, all cheering.
“This is how all families should be,” neighbor Dave Haddad said. “They bend over backward to help you.”
Bill Sedgwick of Torrington, who served in Iraq with Smith, noted, “Iraq didn’t kill him and this won’t either. Everybody’s behind him.”
Out on the back porch, Kellie Smith took a moment to reflect on all the twists and turns she and her husband have experienced of late.
“To be honest, you become numb at some point,” she said. “But you understand you have to be strong and pray. We’ll get through this.”
Jim Shelton can be reached at 789-5664 or jshelton@nhregister.com.
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