Extreme Gratitude: Family Finds True Meaning Of Thanksgiving
BY LELAND ACKER

David and Julie Mitchell of Rusk not only believed the saying, "It is more blessed to give than to receive," they lived it, said longtime family friend Dee Dee Rigsby.

"They've always given, they've never taken," Mrs. Rigsby said.

That all changed when Mr. Mitchell was diagnosed with lung cancer.

"They found four masses, one on each lung and one on each adrenal gland," Charlie Rigsby said. "After the second dose of chemo, he started spitting up blood."

Mr. Rigsby said Mr. Mitchell's spitting up blood had initially caused optimism as nurses said many times that indicates that the body is rejecting the cancer. However, after the MRI was done, they found three of the masses to be the same size and one had enlarged.

"They called him in the next day and gave him two megadoses of chemo," Mr. Rigsby continued.

The Mitchell family does not have health insurance and the lung cancer rendered Mr. Mitchell unable to work. As a result, Mr. and Mrs. Rigsby have stepped in to help.

"We're just doing what we can to help raise money to help them with their expenses," Mr. Rigsby said. "We took our savings and put it in an account for (the Mitchells). When I moved nine years ago, he basically adopted me. We've been good friends since."

Members of the First Baptist Church of Rusk helped the Mitchell family by performing much needed maintenance, yard work and painting on the Mitchells' home.

With Mr. Mitchell suffering lung cancer, his wife Julie has taken a job.

"Their teenage daughters are great kids. They're helping her," Mr. Rigsby said.

With the family struggling to make ends meet, the First Baptist Church of Rusk stepped in to help. On Oct. 20, the youth group from the church converged on the Mitchell's home to make much needed repairs and to maintain the lawn. The group painted the house and replaced the overgrowing bushes with colorful flower and shrub arrangements.

"That Saturday, there were at least 50 people," Mrs. Rigsby said. "They were everywhere. The youth group felt it upon their hearts to help and do something. They did maintenance, yard work and painting. They just jumped in and took it over."

Members of the youth group and sponsors from the First Baptist Church of Rusk express their wellwishes for David Mitchell after completing the work at his home on Oct. 20. The group performed home maintenance, yard work and painted the entire house.

Mrs. Rigsby said the Mitchell family was very overwhelmed.

"It was awesome," she said. "Julie was very excited that something was done. David looked at it in awe. They are very grateful."

Those wishing to help the Mitchell family during this time may do so by making a donation to the Mitchell family at Austin Bank of Rusk. Mr. Mitchell has been told he has seven months to live.