Cancer diagnosis helps man realize value of family
When Chrissy Andersen introduces Guy Clements to others, she calls him Dad. When Andersen is ready to walk down the aisle, she said he’ll be the one to give her away.
“I wouldn’t want it any other way,” she said.
Being a stepfather to two young children wasn’t easy, but she said Clements couldn’t have done a better job. And after years of loving support, Andersen said she has a lot to be thankful for.
In 1995, Clements was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Disease, a cancer affecting the lymphatic tissue. Since the diagnosis, he has had three reoccurrences and two stem-cell transplants. His second bone marrow donor was his own son.
“Now I’ve got the immune system of a 26-year-old, a healthy 26-year-old,” Clements said, laughing.
Clements’ laughter, even through serious moments, is a tell-tale sign of his personality. He said after his first transplant he made a promise with his wife, Eileen, to laugh everyday.
Ask anyone in the family of eight — they all look at the diagnosis in a positive light.
Eileen said the couple have even more reason to cherish each day.
“It’s more of a deeper appreciation for the time that the Lord has given us,” she said.
CJ Andersen, the youngest in the family, said Clements’ long bout with cancer only seemed to make him stronger. For this reason, when CJ was asked to write an essay describing a personal hero for school, he wrote about Clements.
“He’s the kind of guy that never complains, that’s what I wrote about,” CJ said. “It always seemed like he was doing better than we were and he was the one who was sick.”
Chrissy Andersen said the diagnosis has changed Clements for the better.
“I don’t think you can go through something like this and not change,” she said. “It completely changed the way he looked at his future as a whole with the family.”
Not many people realize all they have until a life-changing event occurs, Clements said.
“More people need to recognize how fragile we are as human beings,” he said. “People should enjoy every day because you never know when things are going to change.”
Even when all the children were grown and left the house, the couple never felt abandoned, Eileen said.
“It’s not an empty nest,” Eileen said. “Now the nest is just more fun. Our children are so close to us, (the house) is never really empty anyway. They are always coming home to visit.”
Clements, born and raised in Skagit County, is an avid contributor to the community. He was chairman for the local Kiwanis Club salmon barbecue during the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival for five years. He said the salmon barbeque was probably his favorite volunteer project, and not because it won him the George F. Hixson Award for outstanding community service.
“There is something about when you look at a room full of people and they’re all enjoying what you are doing,” he said.
Clements was one of the first people to establish the need for a new sports field in the valley along with Harvey Wolden, then a member of the county commission. Clements said he started out as an active participant in the fundraising for what is known today as Skagit Valley Dream Field, but his work was cut short after receiving the diagnosis.
This week marks his second week of being back in the office since his last transplant. With Father’s Day right around the corner, Clements said he has no plans.
“It’s not my day to plan, it’s my day to be available,” he said. “If something happens — fine, if not — that’s fine too.”
