Red’s Story

Site created on March 24, 2021

October 3, 2018 
This date may not resonate with most of you reading this, but it was the date that our Dad, Terry "Red" Carter's, journey began.
This is the date that Dad was diagnosed with cancer.  
Dad was diagnosed on that day with Waldenstrom Macroglobulinemia (WM). This is an extremely rare form of blood cancer, with less than 100,000 cases worldwide. While this was sad and scary news, the blow was lessened by the fact that while WM is not curable, it is treatable. Living with WM would entail a daily chemo pill and some other challenges, including a compromised immune system. Our hope was that Dad would have success with his treatment, and have many more years to come with us. Dad started treatment right away and it has generally been pretty successful, despite some rough "chemo days" from time to time. 
Unfortunately, living with WM was not the limit of Dad's struggles. This past Sunday, March 20th, Dad was admitted to St. Luke's due to some issues with confusion and headaches.  A CT scan and MRI both revealed a tumor that was determined to be brain cancer.  The family was told there is no cure, and that this form of cancer is very aggressive. Unlike WM, it can't be controlled and lived with; slowing its spread required fast, aggressive treatment . Dad was given a choice: to rest here, knowing he had fought a good fight already, or to attack this new challenge and hopefully gain some additional time with his family.
In what should not have been a surprise, Dad has decided that he will fight this head on.  As he told us earlier this week, his dad faced death on a daily basis for three years in the Pacific in WWII. This upbringing is part of his fiber and he will model Papa Carter's bravery in his fight.  
Dad keeps telling us that "hope is in this house", and this will be his motto as he heads into this difficult battle to buy us more time with him.   
The first step is brain surgery this Monday to remove as much of the tumor as they can. He will then have six weeks of radiation, followed by daily chemotherapy.  
As many of you know, our Dad has a strong devotion to his Catholic faith, and is leaning on this heavily as he heads into the journey that awaits him. All of us, like Dad, believe in miracles and will be praying with him daily for any intercession.  
We will use this site moving forward to share with all of you his progress and updates.  Thank you for all of the support you have given to us during this difficult time.  It brings us comfort and lifts our spirits to know that so many thoughts and prayers are going out for Dad and helping to give him strength in his new fight. 
Patrick and Trish Carter 
On Behalf of: Sue Carter
Tim and Shellie Carter
Mike and Lindsay Carter
Jimmy and Brittany Carter
Bobby and Hillary Carter

Newest Update

Journal entry by Patrick Carter

Terrence Francis (Red) Carter passed away on Friday, April 5 at 71 years of age after a brave battle with brain cancer. He was born on August 3, 1952 to Robert and Kathryn Carter.  He was the third of their six sons and was a lifelong resident of Shawnee, KS. Red spent almost 50 years in the commercial glass and glazing industry in Kansas City, serving as Chairman for Carter Glass Inc. which was founded by his father. Red and his five brothers worked together and grew the company which glazed premier buildings and complexes in the Kansas City metro area. Upon the closure of Carter Glass, Red moved on to another family-owned glazing firm, Janssen Glass, for which he was an estimator.   

Red attended St. Joseph grade school and was a lifelong member of St. Joseph Parish. He was a proud graduate of De La Salle High School and attended Johnson County Community College. In 1973, he married Sue Ellen Galvan and together they raised five sons. Family was very important to Red, as was his Catholic faith. He instilled in his sons the practice of hard work, honesty, love of faith and most of all, family. Red was a consummate family man and enjoyed imparting his wisdom to his sons. It was in coaching each of his sons that Red found a vehicle for this. It was not uncommon to hear him telling his players that a misplayed ground ball was “water under the bridge” or if a lackluster performance was given, the team might hear Red tell them they could not beat the “Little Sisters of the Poor.” As much as Red enjoyed coaching, it was fatherhood where he excelled the most. Being the patriarch of his large family was by far his proudest accomplishment. He was extremely proud of his five sons, loved his five daughters-in-law and doted on his 15 grandchildren. 

Red was an example to family and friends of how to live your life with grace and dignity when God sends challenges. He adopted a mantra of hope when given a terminal cancer diagnosis in March of 2021 and chose to fight aggressively. He relied on his faith to sustain him when despair was at hand.  He will be remembered by his family as a loving husband, father and grandfather. Those who knew Red will remember him for his generosity, kindness and willingness to help others. 

Red is survived by his wife of 50 years, Sue, his five sons, their wives and 15 grandchildren:  Timothy (Shellie) Overland Park, KS; Patrick (Tricia) Kansas, City, MO; Michael (Lindsay) Lenexa, KS; Jimmy (Brittany) Olathe, KS, and Bobby (Hillary) Leawood, KS. He is survived by his three brothers: Bob (Joan), Bill (Charlene) and Tom (Jan), along with many loved nieces and nephews. He also cherished his Texas cousins, the Cooks, with whom he shared a close bond.  He is preceded in death by his parents, Robert and Kathryn Carter, and his brothers Jack and Jim. 

A rosary at 5:30 p.m. followed by a visitation will be held at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 11311 Johnson Drive, Shawnee, Kansas 66203 on Sunday, April 14. The funeral Mass will be held at St. Joseph at 10 a.m. on Monday, April 15 with interment at St. Joseph Cemetery.  A luncheon will be held at the church following services. We invite family and friends to join us. 

In lieu of flowers, the family would like to request donations be made to the Sister Servants of Mary, 800 North 18th Street, Kansas City, Kansas, 66102-4291.        

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