Marble Hill is doing its best to help lick cancer. An ice cream fundraiser Saturday, June 1, on First Street raised $700 for the family of Marble Hill police officer Austin Kight. His fiancée, Missa Comstock, has stage 3 esophogeal cancer. She was diagnosed in April.
“I can’t get over how generous everybody’s been. It’s very humbling,” Comstock said.
Beginning this week, for 28 consecutive days, Comstock must travel to Cape Girardeau for radiation: 28 treatments in 28 days. During that time, she also will be receiving five treatments of chemotherapy.
Kight said funds raised from the ice cream benefit will help offset the expenses incurred from driving from their home in Bell City to Cape Girardeau every day for a month, as well as the trips to the hospital in St. Louis.
“It was an honor to be able to help out one of our Marble Hill police officers and his family during this time,” Becky Wiginton said. Wiginton is owner of Old Lutesville Emporium on First Street, which donated the ice cream for the fundraiser.
The benefit was hosted by the city of Marble Hill and the police department.
Also providing much-needed support, Kight said, are police chief Kristin Nenninger, Capt. Jerry Gilliam and his fellow officers.
Because of their assistance, Kight said, his work schedule is more flexible and he can take time off to be with his fiancée while she undergoes treatment.
The radiation and chemotherapy treatments will be over at about this time next month, he said, and that will be followed up with surgery in St. Louis.
“After surgery, it’ll be about a three-week hospital stay. She’ll have to learn how to swallow again,” Kight said. The surgery will be in St. Louis.
Community members had an opportunity to help officer Kight and his family by saying “vanilla” or “chocolate” and placing donations in a jar. Later this month, the community will get a second chance to help them.
A “kickin’ cancer” pancake breakfast to support Kight and his family will be from 7:30 to 9:30 a.m. Saturday, June 22, at Marble Hill First Baptist Church Family Life Center, 502 Broadway St. Cost is $7 per plate.
