Dean and Nancy Smith sit in the backyard of their Galt home with their children, from left, Brandon, Nicole and Jeremy. Both Dean and Nancy are battling cancer. (Dan Evans/News-Sentinel)

Galt family battles cancer, together

GALT— Balloons reading "Welcome home" and "Get well soon!" float at the top of the ceiling and family photos fill the walls. A loving Labrador retriever waits at the front door, and light curtains cover the windows.

At first glance, the Smith family home looks like an ordinary suburban house. However, a sign reading "No soliciting, No exceptions," indicates something isn't quite the same anymore.

Nancy Smith, 39, has lived in Galt since she was eight-years-old. She's made many friends, and says she can't even buy milk without running into someone she knows.

This has come back and been quite the blessing especially since both she and her husband, Dean Smith, are battling cancer.

"I have lots of friends in this town," Nancy Smith said. "More than I can count."

On Nov. 13, 2007, Nancy Smith was diagnosed with colon cancer. Her doctors at the Sutter Cancer Center informed her she was the second-youngest person to have to undergo colon cancer treatment.

In April, while Nancy Smith was receiving treatment, her husband was told he had Melanoma skin cancer. Then, Dean Smith's sister was diagnosed with breast cancer and needed a complete mastectomy.

"We are all fighting this cancer circle," Nancy Smith said.

After completing treatment, Nancy was informed she had a cyst in her left ovary.

Then, the day of the surgery, Nancy heard even more devastating news: The colon cancer that was supposedly gone had spread to her ovaries.

The news left doctors shocked, Nancy Smith said. They had never seen that happen, but knew immediately she would require more treatment.

"I was going through hell, but now I'm going to go through it again, just twice as bad," Nancy Smith said.

Suddenly, friends and family she hadn't heard from in awhile were coming out of the woodwork with support and love.

"You don't realize how many people you know," Nancy Smith said. "First I thought (it was like) I was dying."

Nancy Smith knows this round of chemotherapy is going to be tough, but this time she is going to be tougher.

"I'm not going to die; I've got my boxing gloves on," Nancy Smith said.

She said with her last treatments, she lost all physical abilities and felt so removed from the world it was as if she could see herself from an outsider's perspective.

And the pain isn't over. This treatment is expected to be harder and more excruciating than before.

With the first round, Nancy Smith was able to keep her thick, waist-long hair.

This time it is going to fall out, but she's OK with that because she has met women through the Cancer Center who lost one or both breasts.

"At least I know my hair with grow back — what the hell am I crying for?" Nancy Smith said.

But, throughout the pain, Nancy Smith is keeping a strong heart. She is scared and tears flow when she talks about how much her family means to her.

"Oh my God, I love my kids. I'm really scared about leaving them," Nancy Smith said. "That's why I've got to do everything I can."'

It is that core group of family and friends who have decided to host the first Galt Family Fiesta Night to raise money for the Smiths.

Nancy Smith's daughter, Nicole Smith, and others have organized a festival fund-raiser for her mother.

"It's fun. I felt I could reach out to (my) mom," Nicole Smith said.

The festival will be held at the Littleton Center, 420 Civic Drive, on July 26. The event will include a taco dinner, silent auction, raffle and piñata.

Cost is $8 for adults and $5 for children under 8 years old. Donations for the Smith family can also be made at Stockman's Bank, 701 C street.

Event organizer Tawnya Hadden said she is not only looking forward to raising money for the Smiths, but also to seeing the community come together in support of a local woman.

"Being able to see what the community can do is just huge," Hadden said.

Contact Natalie Flynn at natalief@lodinews.com