Toby Stigdon was first diagnosed with thyroid cancer in May 2021 when he noticed it hurt to swallow on one side of his throat.

COLUMBUS, Ind. — For a Columbus, Indiana man, life, family, and reflection are important more now than ever.

Toby Stigdon was first diagnosed with thyroid cancer in May 2021 when he noticed it hurt to swallow on one side of his throat. Stigdon’s doctor sent him immediately to an ENT.

“It was just like a whirlwind,” said Stigdon, “The ENT was like ‘Well, the good news is, thyroid cancer if you’re going to get it, is the best kind you can get,” said Stigdon. Stigdon later had surgery to remove his thyroid, as is normal procedure with cancer patients diagnosed with thyroid cancer.

Unfortunately, this was not the solution. Stigdon’s tumor began to grow and spread to his lungs. His doctor said he had never seen a tumor like Stigdon’s before.

On his doctor’s suggestion, Stigdon and his family drove to the IU Cancer Center in Indianapolis for further treatment. It was at that place where Stigdon found out his cancer was terminal.

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