Our QDR Hometown Hero of this week is Summer Williams, Firefighter at Fuquay-Varina Fire Department.
Summer was nominated by her mother Jennifer who says, “My hero is not just a Hometown Hero, she is my 23-year-old daughter, Summer. In 2018 she was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer called Acral Lentiginous Melanoma, in which she had to have her toe amputated and lymph nodes removed. Summer joined the Wake County Fire Academy in September of 2019. Midway through the training her cancer came back. She would not quit; she wouldn’t let the cancer stop her from her training. In the picture I submitted, she is fighting the cancer and going through her treatments. When Covid hit, The Academy was stopped, and she was unable to graduate due to missing classes that she needed. Whenever a class was available, she took it. The therapies that she was on were not working like they hoped, so she had to undergo another surgery to remove more lymph nodes. After that, she was on chemotherapy for about a year. We thought all was well until May of 2021, when she went to the ER with severe headaches and vomiting. She ended up having emergency brain surgery to remove a tumor and then had radiation treatments and immunotherapy. In October, she ended up back in the ER where they found more tumors in her brain and spine that all are inoperable. On Wednesday October 27th, with the help of the FVFD, they helped her finish her last class by taking it with her, completing The Academy. On November 18th at the Wake County Fire Commissioners meeting, she was presented her diploma and an outstanding achievement award for her outstanding performance, personal commitment, and dedication. Summer will probably have to go through chemo soon and will not be able to work during treatments. We ask that you please keep her in your prayers! Summer is the strongest and most amazing young woman I have ever seen! I am so PROUD to call her my daughter!”
Thank you, Summer, for your service! You are in our prayers and as a token of our appreciation, we’re sending you a gift card to Smithfield’s Chicken ‘N Bar-B-Q to thank you for all you do!
Want to nominate a Hometown Hero? Click Here!
