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However, that was not the route that the
Greenwood family chose to take. They chose
to share the diagnosis and the updates of
Roosevelt’s condition, knowing they were
surrounded by people who would pray.
Roosevelt immediately began treatments for
the cancer. He took a chemo pill, hormones and
radiation therapy to kill the cancer. He took
several medications for pain. A normal PSA
(Prostate Specific Antigen) level should be
somewhere between 0-4. At the time of the
diagnosis, Roosevelt’s level was 1490. His level
after his initial treatment went down to a nine, and
the radiation helped him to be able to stop all
pain medications. With continued treatment, the
PSA level became undetectable by March of 2017.
Mr. Greenwood’s PSA level did begin to inch
back up slowly. November of 2017, he was put on
a very expensive medication called Zytiga.
Finances became an added stress as the family
walked through this trial. However, the people
that surrounded them found ways to ease some
of the burden. A friend named Lauren Swanson
planned a 5K in their honor. A few times, people
sent the family a check for their rent. Another
friend sold bracelets that said, “Greenwood
Strong.” That slogan was the family’s hashtag
on social media whenever they were sharing
updates.
Some of the medication that Roosevelt took
made him become diabetic. In the summer of
2018, he was diagnosed with diabetes when blood
tests revealed that his blood sugar level was 1,000.
Roosevelt now takes insulin daily, has altered his
diet, and exercises.
Through the trials, the family remained
strong. In addition to support of friends, Shay
shared ways she learned to cope.
“There have been
seasons where we
count our losses.
The enemy likes
to steal our joy.”
She imagines herself in a field of beautiful
flowers with Jesus’s arms around her. He’s
helping her count the flowers, which are as far
as the eye can see. Those are the blessings in
her life. She has learned to take every thought
captive. Shay, a personal stylist, continued, “I tell
people, if you see me with extra mascara on, or
I have on a darker lipstick that day, and my hair
is a little bit extra, you can just assume that
I’m having a really bad day. I feel better when
I look better.”
Roosevelt and Shay dreamed of writing a
book for a long time. They hoped to write one
on parenting, home schooling, or marriage.
They never dreamed that this would be the
book they’d write. Roosevelt’s brother, Maximus
Wright, a Mississippi native, who wrote a book
and feature film called, “Soul Damage,” coached
them throughout the writing process. At one
point he mentioned how amazing it was to watch
the community of love that surrounded the
Greenwoods. That statement reminded Shay
of the pastor’s quote, and gave them the title for
their book, If Love Could Heal. It is available on
Amazon or at www.shaygreenwood.com.
Roosevelt is currently in remission. It has
been over three years since the original diagnosis.
His doctor, Dr. Qu, recently told Roosevelt that
his original prognosis was that Roosevelt had a
year to 18 months to live. Roosevelt’s body
responded so well to treatment that he has
beaten those odds. The entire family has come to
an agreement that if a person is saved because of
their story, they’ll be okay with the fact that they
had to go through this. At first, Roosevelt would
ask, “Why me?” but he came to a place where he
was able to say, “Why not me?” He often says,
“I win regardless. If I live, or if I die, I win no
matter what.” l
Hometown MADISON • 19