As a child of the fifties, J. D. Bankfarm innocently spent his days outside playing basketball and war until nightfall. In his teen years, he worked outdoors in construction. The Kentucky summers were hot and muggy, and his fair skin was no match for the glaring sun. But before sunblock, the treatment only came after the burn—cool baths in vinegar water were the common remedy for scalded skin.
It may come as no surprise then that in 2011 he was diagnosed with melanoma, a deadly cancer. Was this written in his destiny? Or was it simply a product of bad luck and circumstance? Either way, it was an event that changed his life forever…and, surprisingly, it was a change for the better.
His journey has led him to connect with people who enrich his life, to build a deeper relationship with God, and to harbor a strong belief that there is no limit to the amount of good that can come from whatever challenges we may face. His is a story of struggling to hop, jump, and claw his way out of a warren of depression and helplessness, to stand victorious as an inspiration that brings happiness and fulfillment to other people’s lives.