Father of 7 raises awareness after stomach cancer takes wife’s life
Dec 23, 2021, 11:23 PM
MAPLETON, Utah — Brent Hatch is hoping to raise awareness after stomach cancer took his wife’s life. He has taken his push all the way to the Capitol, and this week, Gov. Spencer Cox declared December Endoscopy Awareness Month.
Hatch said in 2019, his wife of 34 years, Phelecia, was diagnosed with stomach cancer.
“It was devastating when we found out that it was cancerous,” Hatch said. “They gave her about three months to live, and she actually lived about three months.”
In her last days, she spent time with each of her children, and even made it to her son’s wedding.
“She was able to see my son get married and died 30 minutes after that,” Hatch said.
Hatch is using his late wife’s story to educate others on screening for this type of cancer.
“A few other people that knew her went and got screenings and found out they had polyps that would turn cancerous in about three years,” he said. “So, her death has saved other people’s lives.”
He said screenings even saved their own children. Three of their daughters have the genetic marker for this type of cancer, including Saige Hatch.
“It’s disheartening not having her here, but I’m really grateful that, because of her passing, that it will be able to help other people,” she said.
