By Shelly Zeller, Alden Advance

As terrifying as the diagnosis of cancer can be, the Huston family of Walters continues to defeat the illness by staying positive and learning that he’s not dying of cancer — he’s living with it.

Derek Huston and his wife, Jes, noticed a spot on his head but thought nothing of it.

“I forgot about it as he usually wore a hat,” Jes said.

Jes and Derek, who were married Dec. 9, 2006, spent early 2007 learning about cancer. The picture of melanoma looked just like the spot on her husband’s head, Jes said, and she wanted him to have it looked at. After a little nagging, Derek saw a doctor in May and heard the results.

“It’s what you said it was,” Derek said to his wife, who then thought he was joking.

Appointments were made, Rochester specialists were visited during the month and on May 23, 2007, Derek had the melanoma removed.

“They also took lymph nodes from the left side of his neck,” Jes said. “Those were clean.”

After recovering quickly and subsequent positive visits, normal life continued. Kyler, who had been a part of Derek’s life for years, was officially adopted by Derek and the family life was unrelenting.

In September 2009, the doctors found small nodules in Derek’s lungs. After visits and close care for a couple of years, it was determined they were stable.

Five years later, things began to change. Jes dealt with herniated discs in her neck and after failed physical therapy, medication, alternative methods, chiropractors and steroid injections, she decided to have surgery on Nov. 5.

“Follow up appointments told I was healing slowly, the bones not fusing yet,” said Jes, who had no idea that later the same month she would be awakened to her husband tapping on her foot telling her he needed help.

“He was lying on the floor, and I knew we had to get to the emergency room,” she said, noticing more frequent headaches and was tired of seeing her husband suffer. “I was concerned and the history of cancer nagged at me. I told the nurse he had never had headaches like this before.”

The Hustons found out it was a brain bleed.

“After that it was a tornado,” Jes said. “The doctor told me he shouldn’t be walking or talking with the mass in his head, and they were concerned it was melanoma again,” who then saw the scan results, showing an immense mass. The doctors found a spot on Derek’s kidney and one in his lung.

Surgery was scheduled for Nov. 24.

“The surgery went well,” Jes said. “The mass was contained and removed without damaging brain tissue.” The couple came home and days later quickly had to return for radiation to ensure no cancer cells remained in his brain.

“The spot on his kidney was biopsied and also showed suspicion for melanoma,” Jes said. “Chemotherapy was started on Dec. 19.”

According to Jes, her husband is an inspiration.

“He is full of quiet grace and does not fail,” she said. “We’ve shed our tears and moved on. We look at the positive. When they put the IV and meds in him, he just sits there and quietly goes about his day.”

The family, who has no idea what tomorrow will bring, said they have chosen to look at the list of things they want to do, see and say.

“Derek has been dealing with the cancer much the same as he deals with any unforeseen occurrence; he takes a minute to process and then pushes forward. He makes jokes and doesn’t let it get him down.”

Derek, who has a quiet perseverance about him, makes it easy to be around, said Jes.

“His nurses and doctors love him because he always has a smile on his face and makes the best of it. He jokes about shaving his arm so the chemo nurse doesn’t give him a “wax job with the tape.”

Jes said although her husband has been through more than most, he rarely complains.

“The only time he says anything is if the noise level gets too loud, as his hearing seems more acute, and due to the incision location, he would get frequent headaches from the incision stretching. But, the noise and headaches have decreased substantially.”

As for Derek, he tells his family “I’ll keep smiling, until they kick my teeth in.”

He continues his sound effects as he and his son walk around the house.

“He and Kyler have done that forever,” said Jes. “They love making Chewbacca sounds, Baine from ‘The Dark Knight Rises’ sounds, and all sorts of stuff. I try, but that makes them laugh harder.”

He just has a great personality, Jes said. “He tends to be shy in public and he’s not a big talker, but he’s witty!”

One of Jes and Derek’s friends, Jolene Babcock, decided after Christmas to hold a benefit for the family, and has been diligently working with family and friends to get it organized.

It will be from 4 to 7:30 p.m. Saturday at the Eagles Club in Albert Lea. Donations will be accepted for the meal, and there will be door prizes, T-shirts for sale, a photo booth a silent auction from 4 to 6 p.m. and a live auction starting at 6:30 p.m.

“We have been friends for a lot of years,” she said. “Anything I could do to help at this point I figured was beneficial.”

Babcock, who graduated with Derek and became friends with Jes in the local 4-H club, said the friendship has only grown throughout the years.

“The family is just so positive,” she said. “They are an amazing family, and the benefit is the least the community can do to show their love and support for them.”

After first thinking she couldn’t live without her husband, Jes changed her mind to, “I have a very strong husband, he can do this,” she said. “I, as well, have to be strong for him. He’s just a cool guy, and he continues to inspire me every day. I couldn’t fathom a more amazing man, as he remains to smile and carry on.”

If you go

What: Spaghetti supper benefit for Derek “Ducky” Huston

When: 4 to 7:30 p.m. Saturday

Where: Eagles Club, 206 W. William St., Albert Lea