Cancer survivor's wife likes being golf widow
Web posted
Sunday, April 09, 2006
The luck of the Irish is finally rubbing off on the Smiths, of Dublin, Ireland.
Doctors once told David Smith that intestinal cancer would kill him within six months.
Now, nine years after the diagnosis, he's more than alive and kicking: He's savoring something he thought he'd never enjoy, a second visit to the Masters Tournament.
The trip is part of a whirlwind world tour he and wife, Jean, are taking to celebrate the 37-year-old's being free of cancer and other health problems for nearly five years.
As they did seven years ago on their honeymoon, the Smiths set their itinerary around the Masters.
"What can I say? I'm still golf crazy," Smith said while standing under the course's main scoreboard. "It's a dream to come back."
In 1999, when they first came to Augusta, he was undergoing chemotherapy treatments, which continued for six months.
Jean Smith said that although there have been scares since then, her husband pushed through with aggressive medical care.
Being at the golf tournament this week certainly has helped.
"I think it's even more beautiful this time," she said.
"Last time, we thought we'd never get back, so we were rushing here and there. We're much more relaxed now."
That includes drinking a lot of beer and watching the Irish golfers such as Padraig Harrington, who made the cut for the weekend.
"You have to root for your boys," Smith said.
Besides the Masters, the cancer survivor was a spectator at the past two Ryder Cups, even meeting and downing a few cold ones with some of the European players.
What it goes back to is a love for the game of golf that began when Smith became ill with cancer.
Once an avid soccer player, he took up golf because of wear and tear to his knees. Interest only grew from there.
Even while battling intestinal cancer, Smith said he would still visit the greens and get in a few rounds on the course.
Now he goes out nearly every week, teeing off around Ireland.
"I've become a golf widow," his wife said with a chuckle. "I never see him."
She wouldn't have it any other way.
Reach Dena Levitz at (706) 823-3339 or dena.levitz@augustachronicle.com.
