As a Republican living most of his life in rural Missouri, the last thing Jeff Jeans ever expected was to speak on behalf of the other side of the presidential ticket.
But on Aug. 18, the Sedona resident did.
“If you had told me two decades ago that I’d be part of the Democratic National Convention for a presidential nominee, the hair on the back of my neck would have curled up,” he said, laughing.
Jeans, who battled and beat throat cancer, has been an outspoken advocate for the American Cancer Society’s Cancer Action Network. He’s spoken before elected officials in Washington, D.C., on behalf of cancer patients and their families about the need for available and affordable health care. That’s what helped catch the eye of those organizing the Democratic National Convention, who invited him to speak.
Jeans was joined by four other panelists via Zoom who had either dealt with life-threatening ailments or had family who did and received treatment under the Affordable Care Act during Barack Obama’s presidency. Former Vice President and current Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden led the discussion.
During his 50-second portion of the four-minute discussion that appeared on NBC, Jeans said that eight years ago he lost his voice and wasn’t sure why but because of a lack of health coverage, put off seeking medical attention.
“When we finally got in to see someone who could take a look at my throat, they said ‘you’ve got cancer,’” he told Biden. “It was stage 4 cancer — the worst you can have. My wife [Lee] applied for insurance through the Affordable Care Act. My coverage began on April 1, 2012. That same day they started my chemo and radiation. It saved my life. I’m here today.”
Jeans, who taped the segment with Biden and the others on Aug. 7, said the discussion with Biden was much longer but was edited down for television.
“I had a lot more interaction with Joe Biden that wasn’t seen, but I thought they did a good job with it,” he said. “It was a great honor to take part and to discuss my battle with him, especially since I know his family and Sen. Harris’s have been touched by cancer. They definitely understand the impact cancer has on a family and what they’re up against.”
Biden’s son, Beau, died of a brain tumor in 2015 while Harris’s mother, Dr. Shyamala Gopalan Harris, died from colon cancer in 2009.
These days, Jeans is happy to say that he’s cancer-free as he spends his time as an advocate and enjoying his and Lee’s three grandchildren while no longer taking life for granted.
“I look back and I’m no longer the person I once was,” he said. “Now, every day, I’m grateful to be alive.”
