Raymond Kincade Haynes thought he was doing everything right. He got age-appropriate screens – including a colonoscopy – and took good care of himself.
But he ignored the pain in his leg.
"He thought maybe it was restless leg syndrome or that he was just getting old," says his sister, Georgina. "It got so bad he couldn’t sleep on one side."
When Raymond saw a lump in the mirror, he knew it was time to see his healthcare provider. But he had waited too long; he had a rare cancer on the outside of his colon wall, and it had advanced. "(It was) something not detected by a traditional colonoscopy. He fought very, very hard," Georgina says, "But his body just gave out."
Raymond died in 2009, leaving behind a family who loves him dearly and has chosen to honor him by establishing a scholarship in his name. The Raymond Haynes Scholarship will help one young man each year to achieve his college dreams.
The Haynes family will hold a dance and silent auction to raise scholarship funds this Father’s Day weekend – from 6 p.m. to close Saturday, June 19 at the Eagles Club, 1200 W. Galena Avenue in Freeport. Materials will be available at the dance to help attendees learn more about colon cancer and how to detect it early.
Georgina also hopes that Raymond’s story will inspire more men to pay attention to their pain and make their health a priority.
"Pain is truly the body’s way of communicating. If you’re a man, listen to what your body is telling you. If you’re a woman, encourage the men in your life to consider medical help if pain persists for longer than a week or two. Take it seriously, in honor of my brother and all the people you love."
If you don’t have a healthcare provider, call FHN’s Physician Referral line at 815-599-7060 or toll-free at 888-433-5700, or use our provider finder online.
