11/25/2025
NMO is honored to announce one of our 2025 Recipients as Kyle Smith of Chicago.
Kyle is a 27 year old Local 399 engineer and newlywed diagnosed with Stage 4 Colon Cancer. Kyle was active and healthy and proactive with his health. At the end of February, Kyle was advised to proceed to the emergency room for medical concerns and abnormal results that led to multiple tests including a colonoscopy. After hours of waiting, a diagnosis was determined that changed his and his new wife’s lives forever, Stage 4 Colon Cancer.
In March, Kyle underwent surgery to remove the mass on his colon and the surgeons were confident this was going to be quick and easy because of his age. However, biopsies confirmed his cancer spread to his liver and lymph nodes.
Kyle’s wife, family, and friends stepped into action helping with a go fund me, caring for them and their dog, starting meal trains, and making sure he was never alone as they tried to navigate this life changing experience.
Kyle is undergoing chemotherapy, radiation, and immunotherapy every 3 weeks in hopes to kill these tumors in his liver and lymph nodes. They are also still searching for answers with genetic doctors to find out how he got the cancer diagnosis.
After a month of treatment, CT scans have confirmed that his tumors have shrunk and treatments are working. He will continue with radiation treatments all while returning to work to help support his family.
He is scheduled for his follow up with his oncologist in November to discuss next steps in his cancer journey. We admire his strength and courage in fighting this horrible disease. We wish his family well wishes and a healthy future.
