Alum Reid Bowyer Experiencing Global Support for His Fight Against Cancer
Posted on: February 3, 2021
Tigerville, SC (November 13, 2019) Earlier this spring, Reid Bowyer (‘96) began to experience dizziness. To improve his overall health, he had recently begun a new diet and exercise regimen. Bowyer thought the dizziness was related to low blood sugar and the recent changes in his diet and exercise routine. He did not take the symptoms too serious.
Towards the end of July, Bowyer began having symptoms that he thought were related to a stomach virus. As the symptoms persisted, he contacted a childhood friend, Brandon Davis, a Spartanburg Regional physician. On the weekend of Aug. 10 and 11, Davis encouraged Bowyer to come to the emergency room if he was not better by Monday.
On Monday, after arriving in the ER, Bowyer’s bloodwork and vital signs all looked good, but the vomiting persisted. He was admitted to the hospital and an MRI found a tumor in Bowyer’s brain. Surgery was scheduled for Aug. 14.
“They were shocked I hadn’t been having seizures already,” Bowyer said in an interview with Spartanburg Herald-Journal. “We went from a Monday night discovery and announcement to extensive brain surgery shortly after lunch on Wednesday.”
Bowyer had surgery to remove the tumor on Wednesday, and by Friday, his wife drove him home from the hospital and he walked into his house on his own two feet.
The week after his surgery, Bowyer came to understand the depth of the support that was in place during his surgery and afterward during his recovery. Bowyer is a regional director and area representative with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA). FCA is an international organization, and because of Bowyer’s work, he received support from across the globe.
“I got a message that an estimated three million Middle Eastern Christians had prayed for me at one time during an online church service,” Bowyer stated.
This fall began the senior year for Bowyer’s son Kade, as a varsity start on Dorman High School’s football team. Attending the games is important to Bowyer, “We’re proud of him and I think it’s helped him to know that at this point I’m healthy enough to try to be present and see him.”
Kade has a new perspective on his father’s presence at his games. “We’ve all known since day one that God was in control. God works miracles, and He’s still working them today.”
Bowyer understands the cancer he is battling is aggressive, yet, he is hopeful. “But none of this is a surprise to God. He knew all this, we trust Him and we’re going to fight a battle.”
Submitted Photo: Reid Bowyer pictured with his family.
