John Quint keeps fighting

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John Quint keeps fighting
John Quint | Courtesy

The career services office is missing one of its star players this semester.

After visiting the emergency room last Christmas, Assistant Director of Career Services John Quint was diagnosed with testicular cancer by University of Michigan’s Urology Department. He had surgery to remove the tumor on Jan. 19, but three months later, the cancer returned, prompting Quint to start chemotherapy on Aug. 21. He is still receiving chemotherapy at the University of Michigan, with the 21 infusions spread over a nine-week period.

“I’m doing really well, all things considered,” Quint told The Collegian via email. “So far, I haven’t suffered from the major side effects like dizziness, nausea, or lack of appetite. Ultimately, my major battle has been with fatigue. Some minor effects have been hair loss and the crazy effects it has on my taste buds.”

Quint said the medication makes everything taste like “sucking on copper pennies,” a personal tragedy given his love of coffee.

In the midst of everything, Quint keeps a positive attitude, rolling with the punches.

“The hair loss is what it is,” Quint said. “I’m thinking I may keep the bald look and go all out for Halloween this year…maybe Mr. Clean, John McClean from ‘Die Hard,’ or Walter White.”

Career services is feeling the effects of having Quint out of the office, although he does occasionally visit campus.

“We miss him a lot,” Director of Career Services Joanna Wiseley said. “He’s done a great job keeping up with the paperwork, the strategic things that he’s been working on as far as employer development, but just knowing where he is every day in the hospital bed getting an IV, it’s really hard.”

Wiseley said the students who work in career services, the student affairs mentors, have been great at picking up the slack.

“It’s always hard to be down a staff member,” Assistant Director of Career Services Sophia Donohoe said. “But, obviously, John’s health comes before his work, that’s what’s most important to us as a staff, so we’re obviously more than willing to pick up the slack.”

Moving forward, Quint said the best way for students to help is to keep him in their thoughts and prayers.

“The messages and prayers of my family, friends, students, and colleagues at Hillsdale have made this whole thing bearable,” Quint said. “Though challenging and scary, this disease has been a clear signal of all the blessings of faith, family, and friendship the Lord has seen fit to give me so far in life.”