Walk honors resident who lost life to cancer
HOT SPRINGS VILLAGE — This year’s Village Walk for Cancer Research will have its opening ceremony at 7:30 a.m. Saturday under the Balboa Pavilion.
To share the story of Johnny Garcia, who lost his life to the disease, Event Chair Melanie Pederson submitted the following:
“Johnny Garcia loved the outdoors and areas of the country that were untamed, like Magnolia Beach in South Texas. It was on that beach where he spotted a pretty girl driving a golf cart and he flagged her down. He must have made an impression, because she later had a dream that she married him. The couple became Christy and Johnny Garcia in November 1993.
“He lived large, working in the oil fields as a chain hand, commercial shrimping in the Gulf of Mexico, fishing in Alaska and hunting elk and deer in Wyoming and Arkansas. His job took them to Evanston, Wyo., in 2006, but by 2011, the time had come for Garcia to retire and he didn’t want it to happen in cold, snowy weather, so they packed up and moved to Hot Springs Village to be closer to family, and to be warm.
“Garcia loved being in the Village and being outdoors, so much that he had a recliner in the garage so he could see all his outdoor toys and watch the trees dance in the wind. He would be there every afternoon waiting on his wife to get home from work, as he held a beer in one hand and the dog in his lap. She would join him with a glass of wine and then he would say, ‘Tell me about your day.’
“He celebrated his 75th birthday, and his wife noticed he was losing weight. She tried her best to get him to see the doctor, but he insisted he was fine and that God was in charge. He finally went to her, saying his stomach had been hurting and he thought he should see a doctor.
“The doctor ordered an endoscopic exam, which ruled out ulcers but found a tumor. A CAT scan confirmed that the cancer had spread from his stomach into his gall bladder, liver and hip. There was nothing any medical professional could do except manage the pain.
“Garcia told the surgeon that he was right with the Lord and he was ready to go. They went to the hospital, where he was given morphine for pain management and had a drain tube inserted into his gallbladder to lessen the oncoming jaundice.
“He was admitted into hospice care the day after Christmas, and his wife stayed with him during the day, returning home at night to rest and care for the dog. On Jan. 2, one day before her birthday, Johnny Garcia breathed his last breath.
“Both of his parents had types of cancer, along with his older sister. Johnny and Christy Garcia both participated in cancer research fundraising while in Wyoming, serving as committee members for the Relay for Life in Evanston. She was the manager of the Uinta County Cancer Resource Services until moving to Hot Springs Village. She now works with the Village Walk Planning Committee, and supports raising funds to provide more research at UAMS.”
With so many stories of loss, cures are of paramount importance. All money raised by the Village Walk for Cancer Research stays in Arkansas, and is utilized at the Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute by scientists and researchers who continue their quest for new immunotherapies, targeted treatments and clinical trials that will not only treat, but one day end cancer.
All in the community are welcome to help support this cause by attending the annual event. Registration is $35, and includes a T-shirt. Cash can be used to purchase bake sale and other items.
Call Melanie Pederson at 501-915-8747, or send an email to chairman@walkforcancerresearch.org for more information.