Jerry Suhr is Dodge County Relay for Life Survivor of the Year

In January of 2017, Jerry Suhr donated his 150th unit of blood to the Red Cross. Within a few weeks, he was diagnosed with prostate cancer and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. He really wants to donate blood 10 more times to reach 20 gallons although at present, he is prohibited from donating because of the drugs he takes to control the disease. He donated five or six times per year and believes, “it is a very noble cause.”

That’s the kind of guy he is.

In a convoluted way, his former wife, now deceased, saved his life although she left the family in the early 1990’s when the couple’s four children, Stacy, Adam, MaryBeth, and Mandy were still young. Also at this time, Jerry’s mom, Evelyn - who was around 70 years old - had to have bypass surgery on her heart.

Then Stacy, the oldest, at 16 became pregnant during this traumatic time and made a strong effort to keep the baby but after living with a foster family a year and a half, she decided to give up the baby so it could have a home with two parents. In later years, that daughter contacted Stacy and now the daughter – Megan – has a master’s degree and specializes in adoption.

“When we reconnected with her in 2010, she was the spitting image of Stacy at that age. It all turned out just fabulous,” Jerry said. “We got to know Megan and she’s a wonderful woman. The darkest times worked out pretty good.”

Megan married Ian in 2016, they adopted two children from Liberia in 2019 and had a daughter in 2020. Her adoptive family “…raised her right,” said Jerry.

“Megan and her family are such a blessing,” he said. “There’s a rainbow after every storm.”

And another blessing is coming. Megan is due with Jerry’s fifth great grandchild in August.

On a side note, Jerry and his family are friends with the couple that fostered Stacy way back when. The couple that helped her see a loving family might be best for that baby.

How did the former wife figure into Jerry’s lifesaving early diagnosis?