Dustin Rhodes
Friday, February 21, 2014

In Memory of Dustin Rhodes

On July 31, 2013, Dustin Evan Rhodes, 29 lost his battle with glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), a severely aggressive form of brain cancer which he bravely fought for 8 months. He was born on March 11, 1984, and married his high school sweetheart, Rebecca, on August 11, 2007 who he met while running cross country and who stood by his side throughout his entire battle.  On March 27, 2012, Dustin and Rebecca welcomed their beloved son, Michael Alexander, who always was his inspiration.

Dustin was diagnosed with GBM on November 29, 2012 after having symptoms of numbness in is left hand and foot, a few headaches, as well as fatigue and short term memory loss. Duke performed surgery removing 90+% of his 4 tumors when everyone else deemed them inoperable. That surgery gave Dustin a couple of more months with us and allowed him to see his son's 1st birthday.

Dustin grew up in York, PA attending Saint Joseph York Elementary School and graduated in 2002 from York Catholic High School, where he was salutatorian, highly active in cross country, tennis, track, and community service. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice from Marywood University in Scranton, PA in 2006. He was always active with tennis, cross country, tutoring other students, the Democrat Club, writing and editing for the Wood Word school newspaper among many other activities too numerous to list.

He shared a special bond with his teammates who fondly called him "Dusty" and "the American Dream." Dustin grew so much spiritually with his Marywood, YC, and Saint Joe's family. Dustin always served others wherever he was. He deeply believed no matter where you are in your life, you are capable of helping others in some shape or form and was deeply impacted by his service trips to Guatemala and Chinle, Arizona.

Dustin earned his Juris Doctor in 2011 from the University of Florida - Levin college of Law. He had worked at Hoffman Homes for the Youth in Gettysburg, was a Sunday school teacher at Holy Faith Catholic Church in Gainesville, Florida as well as St. Louis Catholic Church in Tallahassee, Fla., and was a law clerk for the First District Court of Appeals in Tallahassee, Fla.

Dustin lived to run. He loved his Gulf Winds Track Club and ran in his 1st and only marathon, the Tallahassee Marathon in 2012, along with completing 71.439 miles in the Hinson Lake 24 Hour Ultra Marathon Classic in Rockingham, NC just 2 months prior to his terminal brain cancer diagnosis.

Dustin always enjoyed reading the Bible, trying new foods, travelling especially to the beach, hiking and running trails, and reading bed time stories to Michael. Micael was a true blessing in his time of need and would always make him smile no matter what was going on.

Dustin's strong faith in both God and others carried him through and allowed him to have a positive impact on so many people throughout the world. He was humbled to be able to help so many in a multitude of ways and led an exemplary life, one we can only strive to be a fraction like. He will always be loved and missed dearly, but his fiaith and memory will live on in us all.

To learn more about Dustin's journey with GBM, visit his Facebook page (Dustin Rhodes - The Fight Against Brain Cancer), https://www.facebook.com/DustinRhodesFund, and website: dustrhodes.com."