“What keeps me strong is the hope that through the prayers and that, that there’s a light at the end of this tunnel, and that my cancer will dissipate, or at least will go into remission.”

This past June, Joe Hessling, Circulation Director at The Wayne Independent, The News Eagle, Carbondale News and The Villager, was diagnosed with stage 4, pancreatic cancer. He credits Dr. David Reynolds with figuring out the problem. When a routine colonoscopy came back clean, Dr. Reynolds asked if Joe had any other issues. Joe didn’t have an appetite and felt full all of the time. That’s when additional tests were ordered and a golf ball sized mass was found in his pancreas.

 “It was devastating to Cherryl (his wife) and I both to hear that. It all just seemed like a dream. We couldn’t believe what we were hearing …Aside from the gastritis (inflammation of the stomach wall and excess stomach acid), I had no problems,” Joe said.

He was sent to Geisinger in Danville where an ultrasound and needle biopsy showed the mass was cancerous. Laparoscopic surgery to determine if the cancer had spread found nodules on his liver and one near the digestive tract. Two days after the exploratory surgery, they met with chemo specialist, Dr. Ronjon. Intravenous chemotherapy started the following week, along with a chemo pill taken nightly.

One day at a time
Sitting on his porch, with Cherryl at his side, he’s enjoying the fresh air, their flowers, and the birds that seem to love the gardens as much as he does.

Cancer, he says, is just another challenge. “It’s just something that you have to deal with on a day by day basis and keep strong, mentally.  Eighty percent of the battle is all in your head ...80 percent of the battle is a mental battle, that you’ve got to keep positive and think positive, constantly.”

He’s honest with his emotions. “It’s still extremely hard to accept – the unknown or what’s down the road is the thing that keeps one’s mind just spinning all the time.” But he tries to stay positive. “I try to be positive and do little things around my yard and my garden.”

Prayers make a difference
 “Numerous churches and church groups, as well as many, many individuals are praying for me and Cherryl. It’s just overwhelming, the number of people that have come forth,” he says. “I just think it’s fantastic, the outpouring of family, friends and people that don’t even know me, how people come out in a small town to support a community member. It’s something that we’ll be forever grateful for.

“One other thing, the medical staff and everyone involved at Geisinger in Wilkes Barre have treated Cherryl and I both, like family. [I] never experienced any kind of care as to the care that they have provided. It just makes one feel so good,” he said. “They all treat you with love and care constantly.”

Joe’s made friends of fellow chemo patients, like Al, who teases him about his “entourage.” When Joe went for treatment, he was accompanied by Cherryl, sister Mary and two of his three sons: Fran and John. That support has made a world of difference.

Joe and Cherryl, who just celebrated their 10th Anniversary on August 8, couldn’t be more in love. “Joe was God’s gift to me. Ten years ago, I asked for him and God gave him to me. My Joe’s been my everything my whole lifetime,” she says. 

Sister, Mary Hessling Siepiela, who refers to her brother as “Big Guy,” says her brother is staying very positive. “He says, ‘We’re going to beat this thing.’” 

Upcoming Benefits: “Riding the rails for Joe”

Joe Hessling, who loves both model trains as well as the real thing, passes some of his time these days watching homemade videos of trains and reminiscing. His love of trains dates back to when he was a little boy, watching trains with his dad, the late Joseph B. Hessling. “From the time that I was one year old, I’ve always had a Lionel Train under the Christmas Tree ...I’m looking forward to being able to set up my train layout underneath the Christmas Tree again this year,” he said.

Knowing his love of trains, Michelle Hessling, Director of Advertising at The Wayne Independent, Carbondale News, and The Villager, has organized a train ride aboard the Stourbridge Line in Honesdale. “Riding the rails for Joe” is being held Sunday, October 5, 1 to 5:15 p.m.,, departing from the Wayne County Visitor’s Center, enroute to Hawley. The cost is $35 per ticket, includes a train ride, a BBQ chicken dinner at the Hawley Fire Department, music by  “The Local Boys” and an official “Riding the Rails for Joe” T-shirt.

Tickets for the chicken bbq only may be purchased in advance at The Wayne Independent for $8. The chicken bbq and music will run from 1 to 4 p.m. 

Car Giveaway

A second benefit is also being held to help defray medical costs, the Joe Hessling Benefit Car Giveaway. One winner will receive their choice of a 2009 Dodge Caliber from B&B Dodge, Inc. or $10,000 in cash. One thousand tickets are being sold, with the winner announced December 31 at the Hawley American Legion New Year’s Eve Celebration. The cost per ticket is a $25 donation. For more details, contact The Wayne Independent at 253-3055.

Anyone wishing to make a private donation to the Joe Hessling Trust Fund may do so by mailing their check to: The Wayne Independent, Attention: Dana Wolf, 220 8th Street, Honesdale, PA 18431, or by dropping it off at any Honesdale National Bank branch.