UA doctoral student faces cancer

Josh Wimberly is like a lot of students at the University. He's a third-year doctoral student studying social work. Wimberly, like other doctoral students, spends most of his time working on his dissertation, which has taken the place tests and quizzes held in his undergraduate years.

However, on a Friday in August, he took - for perhaps the first time - a test for which there was no way to prepare.

After having severe stomach cramps, Wimberly went to the Student Health Center for an examination. The doctors told him he might have appendicitis and sent him to DCH Regional Medical Center. The doctors at DCH thought the problem might be colitis, the inflammation of the lining of the colon. However, Wimberly was in too poor health to perform proper testing to find out what was the real problem.

The Student Health Center referred him to a gastroenterologist in Tuscaloosa. It was this doctor that suggested colorectal cancer after examining Wimberly.

The doctor scheduled a screening for colorectal caner at DCH on a Friday, which meant Wimberly would not know the results until the following Monday.

Though he said he would rather have known the results sooner, the weekend in between gave him time to research colorectal cancer and formulate questions to ask if he was diagnosed, Wimberly said.

Wimberly said he spent the weekend studying about the disease, as well as entertaining his mother and in-laws who came to stay with him and his wife until the test results came in.

That Monday, surrounded by his family, he learned that he had colorectal cancer.

A benefit concert was held for Wimberly at Little Willie's in downtown Tuscaloosa Thursday to with all proceeds going toward the payment of expenses for his treatment.

The idea for a concert came from Allan Kaufman, a social work professor.

"We had been talking about doing something for him and we were together at a social work function and there was a band playing and it popped into my head," Kaufman said. "Instantly we knew it was the right thing."

The event was co-sponsored by the Social Work Association for Cultural Awareness, faculty and staff members of the UA School of Social Work, Phi Alpha honorary society and the Doctoral Student Organization.

Performers included Willie King, Caroline Shines, Midlife Crisis, Tom Zeiler, Headtones, Gary Edmonds Band and The All-Stars. All of the performers played for free.

Wimberly finished the first of three stages of chemotherapy treatment Wednesday. For this stage, he received daily radiation treatment and took medicines both in a daily pill form and through an IV once a week.

The second stage will be a meeting with his doctors, and a CAT scan to determine the size of the tumor before surgery to remove as much of it as possible.

For the third stage of his treatment, Wimberly said he will essentially repeat the first stage, but without the radiation, which he said he is thankful for.

"The radiation - that's tough," Wimberly said. "It's a full load to go through cancer treatment and it takes, if not all, most of your energy."

"I guess now I can say what it's like to be a potato inside a microwave," he said with a laugh.

Since his diagnosis this summer, Wimberly said the only thing in his life that has changed for the worse is his health.

He said that despite the stress that comes with his condition, he and his wife have become closer.

"When you get married and you go through the vows, one of them is 'in sickness and in health' and she's proven that to me," Wimberly said.

Wimberly said his faith and his wife are the two things that have helped him the most through his illness.

"It's not just me and my wife," he said. "It's me and my wife and God."

Lakesha Lee, a senior majoring in social work, met Wimberly when he was a teaching assistant in two of her classes and said she had a great time at the concert.

"He's a great guy," Lee said. "He really goes out of his way for students."

Dan Durkin is a doctoral student in social work like Wimberly. He said he knows Wimberly through the department and bought advance tickets to the concert.

"I'm happy with the turnout," Durkin said.

Cassandra Simon, a professor in the social work department, helped plan the event. She said she was pleased with the fundraising for Wimberly's expenses and appreciative of the concert's turnout, despite bad weather.

"They have helped a wonderful human being who has a lot to contribute to the world," she said.

Vicky Carter, a masters student in social work and the president of Social Work Association for Cultural Awareness, also helped plan the event.

"We're pleased with every amount of turnout because every little bit helps Josh," Carter said.

For students who missed the concert but still wish to help, Carter said more fundraisers are being planned. She said students can also go by any Alabama Credit Union branch and donate to the Friends of Josh Wimberly account they have set up at the bank.

Wimberly said he urges others to start conversations with their doctors and families so they learn their family history and find out if they are at risk for a condition like his.

He said he encourages other students with his condition to keep fighting and stay focused on their schoolwork.

"Be strong and remember that it's only temporary and you can get through it and you can meet your goal that you've set up for yourself as a student," he said. "You've got to fight it.

"In moments like this, you're reminded that you're not doing this alone and it really helps because the cancer treatment really breaks you down."