Benefits Set For Former KCSD Deputy With Tongue Cancer
Posted
Jennifer Peryam-jperyam@timesuniononline.com
CLUNETTE - It has been five months since Tony Baugher was diagnosed with cancer after being laid off from his job of 17 years delivering lumber three days prior.
Tony, 47, Clunette, was diagnosed with tongue cancer in May after a trip to the dentist.
He credits his wife Erin, parents Kenny and Anita Baugher, the community and Warsaw Missionary Church for keeping him going.Tony and Erin have two daughters, Taylor, 14, an eighth-grader at Edgewood Middle School; Bailey, 12, a seventh-grader at Whitko Middle School; and two sons, Tyler, 14, an eighth-grader at Whitko Middle School; and Lucas, 10, a fourth-grader at Triton Elementary School.
Tony served as a Kosciusko County Sheriff's Department deputy for five years beginning in 1987.
He then went to Borkholder Building Supply, Nappanee, where he drove trucks delivering lumber for 17 years. The company was downsizing, and he was laid off in May.
Tony said he went to a Warsaw dentist three days after he got laid off, and the dentist discovered a small white spot on his tongue.
"I asked the dentist what he thought it was, and he said he didn't like the looks of it, so I went to two to three other doctors and a specialist," Baugher said.
A biopsy was done confirming he had tongue cancer, and 40 percent of his tongue was removed during surgery in South Bend.
The cancer spread to his neck and doctors took out 31 of his lymph nodes, one of the lymph nodes being cancerous.
"I never smoked, chewed tobacco, drank alcohol or did drugs," Baugher said.
His wife is employed at Nappanee Veterinarian Hospital where he is able to get health insurance through her work, but money is tight.
His wife said he is a wonderful man and has worked hard all his life.
"It has been a hard struggle to watch him be sick and go through surgeries and not be able to talk for awhile," Erin said.
"It's been a roller coaster. I would have taken the tongue cancer 100 times before it happened to my husband," Erin said.
Kenny, who had three surgeries in 2006 for his bladder cancer, said he is proud to call Tony his son.
"It was a shock to find out he had tongue cancer, but I am proud of all he has accomplished," Kenny said.
Tony has check-ups every six weeks, and said his strength is coming back slowly but surely.
The family lives on a ranch, and have sold their cattle, horse trailer and tractor to help with Tony's mounting medical bills.
A benefit fund has been set up at Lake City Bank where the community can go to any branch to donate funds for the Tony Baugher benefit.
A poker run is Sunday at Rex's Rendezvous. The event will leave at 1 p.m. and registration is at noon. Riders will return to Rex's Rendezvous at 4 p.m. for a meal, auction and prizes. Registration is $25 per motorcycle rider and $5 per passenger.
A fish fry also is set for Oct. 21 from 4 to 7 p.m. at Atwood Community Building to help with defraying Baugher's medical expenses.
