Terry and Dan Smith have lived in the Vail Valley for over 20 years. “It is a wonderful community with generous people. We love living here,” says Terry.
The Smiths have given back to the valley in many ways. Dan, after 30 years with Exxon, was a Vail Mountain Rescue mission coordinator for nearly 20 years and is currently chair of Eagle County Paramedics Services Board. Terry, who retired from a successful career in accounting and marketing management, volunteered on the Eagle County Library District board for 10 years. She is currently the secretary of Vail Valley Cares Board and a member of the Vail Health Volunteer Corps. Together, they bring joy to children over the holidays by distributing thousands of toys each year through the Vail Valley Salvation Army.
A Holistic Approach
Five years ago, Terry was diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer. She began treatment at Vail Health Shaw Cancer Center and loved their innovative, holistic, and compassionate approach to cancer care. Terry recalls, “Everyone on my care team was phenomenal. They treat you like a person, not a number, and you feel part of a family.”
Spirit of Survival
While at Shaw, Terry and Dan participated in several services offered free of charge to patients and their families through the Spirit of Survival program, such as nutrition consults and the fitness center.
Five years later, testing shows no signs of cancer, and Terry remains a survivor. Today, she volunteers in the Shaw Cancer Center Infusion Room, helping to give comfort to patients undergoing treatment.
The Smiths are grateful for their health and ability to be active into their 70s. They enjoy hiking trails in the Vail Valley, sailing in Washington State, and cruising around the world.
The couple is leaving a legacy through estate giving. “We feel blessed in our careers and have the ability to support vital nonprofits. It was important to us to invest in institutions with integrity, which is why we chose Vail Health. We want to ensure that the Shaw Cancer Center Spirit of Survival program is available for others in the future,” says Dan.
Like Terry and Dan, you can help others experience the compassionate care at Vail Health by including a gift to us in your estate plan. Contact Aaron Ciszek at 970.569.7574 or aaronc@vailhealth.org and Anne Walters at 970.569.7648 or anne.walters@vailhealth.org to discuss your giving options.
“Everyone on my care team was phenomenal. They treat you like a person, not a number, and you feel part of a family.”
Terry Smith