Angels in denim and work boots

By Jennifer M. Latzke

When Gary and Glenna Williamson, Minneola, Kan., got the word from doctors that his periodic bouts with acid reflux were esophageal cancer, it brought the couple to a new level in their spiritual journey.

But, a community of their friends and neighbors reminded them that God works through His angels here among us.

A diagnosis

In August 2009, doctors diagnosed Gary with Stage 4B esophageal cancer.

“We went to Wichita for a couple of appointments and saw a surgeon and an oncologist,” Glenna said. “And, when we saw the oncologist he basically did the big sigh—the ‘I don’t know what to do’ kind of sigh.” Gary’s cancer was past the point where surgery would be effective. The only hope open to them was to head to a research hospital such as the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., for treatment.

“We were there from the middle of October until the week before Thanksgiving,” Glenna said. Five weeks of radiation and chemotherapy—all in the middle of sorghum harvest and winter wheat planting. It was the most critical time for the Williamsons’ farm.

“This is a dryland farm,” Gary said. “We’re in a wheat, sorghum, fallow rotation.” Taking time out from farming for treatment would be tricky scheduling at best. However, the rainy fall weather added just another level of stress. Farmers in the area were already delayed in their harvest and fieldwork, Gary said.

“We’d planted half of our wheat prior to our first visit to Mayo, and we knew we’d be home a few days regardless of what would happen,” Gary said. “My plans were to finish planting the wheat during that week, but the weather didn’t cooperate. I think the Friday before we went back up to Mayo I was able to get the drills started. Two or three other neighbors came in and helped drill.”

It was only the beginning of the outreach of his neighbors, however.

Word spreads

As word started filtering through the community about Gary’s cancer and the couple’s car trips back and forth to Mayo for treatments, neighbors started talking about how they could help.

“What amazed me was people I didn’t even know would come up to me at ball games or something and say they were praying for Gary,” Glenna said.

During those five weeks, though, the weather continued to delay sorghum harvest in the area. With Gary’s weakened health and the wet weather, the family didn’t know how they would harvest all 2,200 acres of sorghum.

But then a group of neighbors led by local farmer Luke Jaeger stepped up and said, don’t worry, we have you covered.

“Luke came to me and said our community needs to do something for someone and you’re it,” Gary said.

Organizing for a friend

Minneola is a small rural community where prayer and service to others is still a part of everyday lives, said Minneola Coop Manager Dave Strecker.

“There’s a lot of neighbors helping neighbors,” Jaeger added. “That’s just the way people in Minneola are.”

It was that community spirit that led a group of 20 to 30 neighboring farmers on the day before Thanksgiving, as well as part of Thanksgiving Day, to bring their combines, grain carts, and semis to the aid of the Wiliamsons. It was loosely organized, according to the farmers involved, but everyone was there for one reason—to help their friends.

“(Gary) had to fight his battle in Minnesota at Mayo,” said Bud Maxfield. “I for one didn’t want him down here worrying about his milo crop or getting his wheat planted. Sometimes it’s the little things you can do, but this turned out to be monumental.”

Several of the farmers involved in the harvest remarked about how the weather held during the time frame they were cutting, how the grain moisture was just at the right place and how with all the equipment in the field and on the road there were no accidents.

“It was amazing to me that field, that night, in all the nooks and crannies and terraces and everything combines going everywhere, grain carts—nobody crashed,” farmer Larry McBee said.

The crew of friends cut about 1,100 acres in one fell swoop, with several others taking on fields here and there on their own before and after Thanksgiving, all so that Gary and Glenna could focus on his recovery.

“Even with Gary’s crew, that would have been several days’ work,” Strecker said. The coop stayed open late to accept the grain, and Strecker and volunteers from as far away as Dodge City and Leoti fed lunch to the cutting crews, drove grain carts or semis and donated other supplies.

A year later

Even a year later, the farmers involved are affected by the experience.

“People just didn’t come out to help because (Gary and Glenna) are good people with a tremendous need, but people around here want to serve other people,” said Randy Shumate, another neighbor. He added that even more importantwas that his own children were able to see this outpouring of support of friends and neighbors in a time when Gary and Glenna and their family needed it most.

“(Gary) had the opportunity, unwillingly, to bring us all together that day,” Maxfield said.

That harvest also reminded the Williamsons that they weren’t alone.

“This was very difficult for me because I’m not a person to allow other people to do things for me,” Gary said. “I would prefer to be the one out doing it for someone else.” Part of his journey of faith, Gary explained, was learning to allow others to show their support and help the family.

“It’s a humbling experience to actually have to give up control of the things you’ve been able to control previously,” he said.

“It was overwhelming,” Glenna said. “All these people showed up. I don’t even know that I could have even known what to do to get it all lined up. So the fact Luke said, ‘we got it and it’s under control,’ that was a huge relief. It was done and taken care of and we could take the winter to recover.”

And, the greatest blessing of all came this past fall when Gary could take to the sorghum field in his own combine—the cancer is now inactive and there are no visible tumors. While he still has a long way to go to recover from the chemotherapy and radiation treatments, Gary is thankful for the little things he can accomplish around the farm.

“Work is a privilege and you don’t realize what a privilege it is until you can’t do it,” Gary said.

While their faith was challenged, it’s now stronger than ever. Gary and Glenna and their children Carrie, Calvin and Camryn know now that the Lord brought them through this rough patch with the help of their friends.

“Sometimes, angels drive combines for you,” Gary said.

Jennifer M. Latzke can be reached at 620-227-1807, or jlatzke@hpj.com. For more information contact hero@harvestheroes.com. For more photos and hero updates follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

This entry was posted on Friday, January 14th, 2011 at 5:11 am and is filed under Featured Story, Heroes, Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.