Helping One Guy Honors Jon Smalling

Jon Smalling

Jon Smalling’s story is rooted in faith, family, and perseverance. As he faces his battle with a rare cancer, Helping One Guy honors his dedication as a husband, father, and provider for his family.

Jon Smalling was born in January 1985 to Karen and Richard. Jon is a lifelong resident of Acworth. He graduated from North Cobb High School in 2003 and went on to earn a Bachelor of Science in Professional Sales from Kennesaw State University in 2007. During his time at KSU, Jon demonstrated an early commitment to leadership and faith by founding the campus’s Wesley Foundation.

Family Life

In 2007, Jon married his high school sweetheart, Ashlyn. They are proud to say they have been dating each other for over 20 years. Together, they are raising three sons: Owen (2009), Liam (2012), and Ellis (2014). Their active household is rounded out by their beloved dogs. Jon also maintains close family ties with his brother, Matt, who resides in Athens, Georgia.

Community Involvement & Interests

Dedicated to servant-leadership from a young age, Jon earned his Eagle Scout rank with BSA Troop 422 in 1998. Building on that foundation, he later poured back into the organization, previously serving as an Assistant Cubmaster and an Assistant Scoutmaster. His passion for helping others also shaped the beginning of his career when he worked as a youth pastor for area United Methodist Churches.

Professional Career

Jon successfully transitioned his background in ministry and his degree in professional sales into a thriving career in the plastics manufacturing automation and recycling industry. Today, he serves as the Head of Sales for North America at Rapid Granulator, where he leads sales initiatives across the Americas and continues to build a strong, service-oriented professional network across the industry.

The Diagnosis: A Rare and Aggressive Cancer

In September 2025, Jon’s life changed with a single hospital admission. After a lingering cough and a missed diagnosis of bronchitis he went back to an urgent care where they luckily took an additional step and X-Rayed his lungs. What was initially suspected to be a routine lung issue was revealed to be a softball sized mass on his thymus—a specialized organ in the chest responsible for immune system development. The eventual diagnosis was Thymic Carcinoma (specifically High-Grade Squamous Cell Carcinoma). This is a rare, aggressive malignancy that differs significantly from more common thymomas. Thymic carcinoma is extraordinarily rare, rare enough that most oncologists and even many thoracic cancer specialists may never personally treat a case during their careers. This type of cancer accounts for less than 1% of cancer diagnosis worldwide and only a few hundred cases globally yearly.

Timeline

• Sept 25, 2025: Hospital Admission. After discovery of the mass during respiratory X-Ray.
• Dec 4, 2025: Robotic Surgery. Full removal of the visible tumor.
• Dec 15, 2025: Pathology Report. Confirmed High-Grade Squamous Cell Carcinoma.
• Jan 1, 2026: First PET Scan. NED (No Evidence of Disease) achieved post-surgery.
• Feb 12, 2026: Proton Therapy. Start of 30 sessions of targeted radiation at Emory.
• Mar 25, 2026: Ringing the Bell. Completion of radiation treatment.
• Apr 21, 2026: Follow-up Scan. Continued NED status confirmed.

Current Status

Due to the relentless nature of Thymic Carcinoma, Jon will continue to have quarterly PET scans for the foreseeable future. The reoccurring rate for this type of cancer is greater than 50% within the first 2-5 years, even while under NED. This type of cancer never goes into remission and is why ongoing scans and imaging is required.

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