Jeff Minkovich spent nine years working for Community Options Inc, a local organization that develops housing and employment support for people with disabilities, before being diagnosed with Stage 4 adrenal and lung cancer. Despite an intense treatment, he continued working where and when he could. Minkovich remained on the board of the Chamber of Commerce and made appearances at an event while in active treatment. "I had a cane. I had a bald head, and I was 80 pounds, and I looked horrendous. But I made it," he said. "I had to still show my support to my community regardless."

He returned to Community Options and switched jobs to be in a less physical administrative role. Even after he was in remission, he was kept on the same drugs to prevent a recurrence. To manage side effects, he was able to plan his treatments for Wednesdays. "I’d be here bright and early Thursday morning. No sweat. Around the time I was going home on Friday, the side effects would start...Saturdays would be pretty crummy. Sundays were not too bad. And Monday morning, I was right back here where, again, my boss was like, 'You’re amazing.'"

"I believe if my story helps someone else keep fighting, then it’s worth telling my story...That’s the story I want to get out there and how I overcame that to continue to be the community advocate I was prior to my illness...My body has changed, but my mind has not...I guess it kind of has because I look at things in such a different perspective now."

Read more of Minkovich's story here.