Doyle Stevens with his wife, Evelyn at last year’s Cowboy up for Cancer rodeo. Photo courtesy of Evelyn Stevens

Born and raised in Ashville, Doyle and Evelyn Stevens have long known the support of a tight-knit community. It was not until recently though that the couple understood how much that support really meant to them. 

In 2012, he began experiencing symptoms that were diagnosed as a unitary tract infection. Months passed, and when the symptoms did not dissipate as they should, he decided to have a precautionary CT Scan.

On September 3 of 2013, Doyle was told there was a possibility of kidney stones, so he went in for testing with an urologist. When it was over, his doctor gestured to the results of the test on the screen.

“You have cancer,” he told Doyle.

Doyle went numb, that was the last thing he expected to hear. In one moment, the possibility of kidney stones had turned into kidney cancer. By the time it was diagnosed, the cancer had consumed his right kidney and enlarged it to three times the size of his left one.

“Radiation and chemo treatments have little to no effect on kidney cancer. Surgically removing the kidney was my only option,” Doyle said.

The soonest they could get a team together to perform the surgery was Sept. 30. This left almost a month of waiting and worrying for Stevens and his wife, Evelyn.

“The doctor insisted it was vital for us to wait that time so he could get us the surgeon he wanted,” Evelyn Stevens said, adding that having the recommended surgeon may have ended up saving Stevens life on the operating table.

The morning of the 30th, Stevens went into surgery while his wife waited for the completion of what they had been assured was a routine procedure with minimal risk. She did not have to wait alone, as she was joined by 22 friends and family members in the waiting room.

The surgery was predicted to last an hour and a half, and a nurse would check in with the family halfway through. But hours passed and they heard nothing. Tension was high in the waiting room.

“After four painful hours of waiting and wondering, the doctor came out to tell us it was over. During surgery, a gland ruptured and he began to bleed out. They had to call in another team of surgeons to assist them, and he almost didn’t make it,” Evelyn said.

“What’s scary with kidney cancer is it’s very difficult to detect. It usually isn’t found, until it has spread and by then it is often too late,” Doyle said, “From my experience, the best advice I can offer is to just be checked, whether you’re having symptoms or not.” Doyle also learned that family history is not always a factor in the development of cancer.

“I had no cancer in my family, so I really didn’t consider myself to be at risk for developing it,” he said.

After having the surgery and being declared cancer-free, Doyle said he felt a need to do something to raise awareness. That feeling led to the development of Cowboy up for Cancer Rodeo, which will be held next month in Odenville. The annual event, no win its second year, raises money that goes directly to the American Cancer Society and is used for testing of potential treatments.

Join Doyle and Evelyn Stevens on Oct. 3 at 7 p.m. at the St. Clair County Arena in Odenville for the Second-Annual Cowboy Up for Cancer Rodeo. The event will feature bulls, broncs, barrel racing, team roping and mutton busting. Cost is $10 to attend for ages 6 and up. Donations are tax-deductible and welcome.

Last year, the event raised more than $6,000 for cancer awareness and research.

For more, visit facebook.com/Cowboy-Up-For-Cancer or call

Doyle Stevens at (205) 410-6124 or Evelyn Stevens at (205) 410-6121.

All proceeds support the American Cancer Society.