INSPIRATION
“
I’ ll beat this puppy” is the mentality that has carried Judy Smith Barnett through living with cancer, lymphedema, arthritis, diverticulitis and diabetes.
Judy, 81, was born in Loam, Kentucky, and attended high school in Livingston before attending Earlham College in Richmond, Indiana, and Sue Bennett in London to pursue Business Management. She was married to James( Jimmy) Barnett until his passing in 2023. The couple’ s daughter, Molly Barnett, now lives with Judy— helping her with everyday tasks such as retrieving things, cooking and going to regular appointments.
Judy was originally diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer in December 2009 after finding an indention on one of her breasts.
“ It just looked like a little indention— not as big as an eraser head on a pencil,” Molly said.“ Just a little indention,
Judy Barnett, left, poses for a portrait with her daughter Molly Barnett. | PHOTO BY MADISON NANTZ
just pulled in a little bit.”“ It wasn’ t painful; I just knew it was there,” Judy added.“ I could tell, just like showering, that it was getting a little bit bigger. There was no
Judy Barnett, here with her late husband Jimmy, rocked a hat daily back in the Fall of 2010 as she underwent cancer treatment. | PHOTO COURTESY OF MOLLY BARNETT pain to it.”
After mentioning the spot to her family doctor at Saint Joseph Hospital, treatment moved quickly. She had her first mammogram in two years and confirmed that she had breast cancer.
“ When they first tell you you have‘ the big C,’ it’ s hard to describe, but it’ s a feeling where you don’ t feel like you have that surety of yourself being forever,” Judy said of receiving the news.“ It’ s like it kind of shortens down the way you think about your lifespan.”
Judy said she’ d“ probably be dead today” if not for noticing that lump. Once care began, she went on to have lumpectomies to remove her tumors, as well as procedures to have her lymph nodes removed. During all of this, she continued to work, running the Taco Bell on Exit 41.
In 2010, Judy had chemotherapy on a weekly basis to combat cell division
10 l 2026 GOOD HEALTH