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Barlow, a walking miracle, is ready for cancer walk

Johnnie Barlow of Butler Twp. is a concer survivor who is determined to complete the National Lung Cancer Partnership Free to Breathe 1 Mile Walk at Centerville High School on Nov. 6. Contributed photo

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By Beth Anspach, Contributing Writer 11:13 AM Thursday, October 28, 2010

Johnnie Barlow of Butler Twp. has always had a self-professed love of the open road.

A truck driver for more than 30 years, he first noticed he was not feeling well in 2002.

“I pulled my truck over on my usual delivery route,” Barlow said. “I was coughing and I noticed some blood and I knew right away it probably wasn’t good.”

Barlow, now 62 years old, had smoked for more than 40 years. But he had faith in God and believed that he would be healed. “I put my life in God’s hands and knew I’d be OK and I was, for a while,” he said.

In 2003, he finally went to the doctor and was diagnosed with lung cancer and in October of that year he had half of his left lung removed. “I didn’t need radiation or chemotherapy because they said the surgery was a success and they had removed all the cancer,” Barlow said. He was able to return to work in December of that year and found himself driving back down the highway, feeling a little less energetic than before.

Barlow continued to drive trucks until 2006, when he found himself suffering from flu-like symptoms and returned to the hospital. With each successive diagnosis, he did undergo chemo and radiation since the cancer was more advanced.

“The cancer was in the same area in the same lung,” Barlow said. “But this time it was wrapped around a pulmonary artery, so they sent me to Samaritan North Cancer Center for treatment.”

Barlow is grateful to his family, including two sons, a daughter-in-law, four grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren and the many medical professionals for their support in helping him along his journey, which he continues. He participates in many annual events to help the American Cancer Society and the National Lung Cancer Partnership.

On Nov. 6, Barlow will be walking in the National Lung Cancer Partnership Free to Breathe 1 Mile Walk at Centerville High School. And for Barlow, this is no easy task.

“I gave up smoking as soon as I got my first diagnosis,” Barlow said. “But I still get short-winded sometimes just walking from the kitchen to the living room.”

But Barlow, who has participated in three ACS Relay for Life events since being diagnosed, is determined to finish the one-mile walk on Nov. 6, even if he has to take frequent breaks. “It took 2 years for me to recover from my last surgery,” Barlow said. “But I keep getting stronger every day. I will finish the mile — even if I have to stop and sit and rest. I will finish.”

Barlow considers himself a walking miracle.

“Thirty years ago when the doctor gave a diagnosis with lung cancer, he was also giving you a death certificate because that was the only outcome,” Barlow said. “But with all the research now, you’d be surprised how many people live through many reoccurrences of the disease. And there are a lot of people who still think about it the old way. Lung cancer itself doesn’t have to be the gloom and doom outlook. I’m living proof of it.”

Contact this columnist at (937) 475-8212 or banspach@woh.rr.com.

HEREABOUTS beth anspach

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