Meet Tom Smith

Tom Smith has always lived an active life. After working for the telephone company for more than 30 years, he is enjoying retirement living with his wife on a few acres near Green Ridge, Missouri. Tom stays busy tending to his horses, roping and woodworking when he’s not with family or going to church. But one day things changed. Tom had been having trouble swallowing and he just wasn't feeling right. He mentioned this to Dr. Henry Marquez, a cardiologist at Bothwell, during a routine check-up for Tom’s blood pressure. Dr. Marquez suggested he see Dr. Jeff Wadley, a general surgeon, about his swallowing problem. Dr. Wadley performed an endoscopy and the results weren’t good. He found a malignant tumor. Tom knew he’d fight hard to beat his cancer—but he didn’t know he could stay right here in Sedalia for the same chemotherapy and radiation treatments available in larger cities – or that Bothwell has full-time cancer specialists who use some of the most advanced medical technology available. I did not know the center existed until I walked through the doors the first time.” Bothwell’s dedicated cancer center offers a quiet, healing environment so patients can focus on getting well. Tom's doctors worked together to make things happen and get things done. After intensive radiation and chemotherapy treatments, Tom is cancer free. He had a scan that showed no cancer, a scan that showed no cancer—after a while we stopped looking because it appeared he’d been cured.”
– Dr. Matt Triplett When Tom found out, he was ecstatic. “I mean it was the best news I’ve had in my whole life. I knew then I had it licked.” Tom is back to doing what he loves – riding horses, roping and helping others. Roping, that’s me. Everybody who knows me knows that’s what I do. Not any good at it, but I have fun. That’s all that matters.”