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As Jim Pehkonen walks through the corridors of Huntsman Cancer Institute (HCI), tapping feet and claws sound down the hallway. With his small brown dog, Luna, he is instantly recognized. They are a famous volunteer duo who come to comfort patients and staff. Though most don鈥檛 recognize Jim without Luna, he once frequented the same hallways as a cancer patient.
The circumstances leading to Jim鈥檚 cancer diagnosis began on a warm evening in August of 2014 when a semi-truck plowed into the rear of Jim鈥檚 vehicle. The physical therapy that followed the car crash should have helped, but it only agitated his back. After five months, the doctor ordered a CT scan. The scan revealed a large tumor in Jim鈥檚 kidney pushing up against his spine.
Within a week, Jim was diagnosed with kidney cancer and had a surgery scheduled at HCI. 鈥淥n St. Patrick鈥檚 Day of 2015, they removed my left kidney and the tumor,鈥 Jim says. 鈥淚 was lucky because the post-surgery tests showed the tumor had not metastasized. The kidney was still holding everything in.鈥
Because the cancer hadn鈥檛 spread, Jim didn鈥檛 need chemotherapy or radiation. After learning he was cancer-free, he chose to adopt a dog and train it. Roughly a year later, Jim found himself back at HCI, this time with Luna at his side in a red vest that read, 鈥淭herapy Dog.鈥
Before getting Luna, Jim didn鈥檛 consider himself a 鈥渄og person.鈥 But the two are now an inseparable team who provide comfort, peace, and smiles to patients in all stages of cancer. Jim says he has grown to love and appreciate the work the staff and volunteers do at HCI. Of the patients he visits, he says he has met some of the strongest people he knows.
鈥淭his is my giveback,鈥 Jim says. 鈥淲hen you get diagnosed, you often think you are going to pass away. Yet there are a lot of people who not only survive their cancer, but end up thriving in life. I think cancer makes you pause and reflect, and you get to determine what is important for you and what you want to do with this one incredible life.鈥
