Jody Here,
I don’t usually share details of my personal life, but this is kind of a big deal.. I thought that as a weldmonger customer, you deserve to know why I haven’t posted any videos in several weeks and also why I look different.
So here is the news:
I have been in the hospital for a month.
“You have leukemia” is not something anyone wants to hear.
But it is the hand I have been dealt.
Yet, I am full of hope.
I know God is by my side and I don’t even have the words to describe how my family rallied around me.
I have a long way to go with more treatments but I have made some great progress already and I am feeling great.
And...I have a great team of doctors at Emory Hospital who think I will make a full recovery.
So what’s next?
Obviously, a life event like this makes a person think more deeply about life.
So I am asking myself the question…”what is the highest and best use of my time and energy going forward?”
One thing I know is that I have really enjoyed contributing to the welding community and I feel like I have more to give.
So just know that the youtube channel and the store will both keep moving forward...
But I am not sure what that is going to look like.
I will continue to post welding videos but you might also see some podcast type videos sprinkled in along with some other different formats.
All I ask is that you bear with me during this time and of course…
Please by all means, Pray for me.
Sincerely, Jody Collier
118 comments
my prayers and a complete recovery.
my prayers and a complete recovery.
Jody, I have benefitted enormously from your videos over the past 5 years and if there is one thing that has always come through, it is that you are a tough no nonsense kind of guy. Thank you for sharing your story with us and know that we are all pulling for you. That you are starting this leg of your journey in excellent physical shape and with a healthy dose of faith and a supportive family leaves me confident that you will prevail.
I can’t seem to find the CK-slide control you used in your video. Is there a part number or does Weldmonger sell them? Thanks…….
thanks for all tips
Jody, thinking about you and what you must be going through. All I can say is keep you head up and forge ahead. Use every minute of every day.
Jody – sending a boatload of positive energy your way for you in these tough times! You are a great inspiration to us all, and your generosity of sharing knowledge with the community is amazing! Fight the hard fight, and take this thing down. We know you’ve got this one! Stay strong and keep us posted.
Jody,
I can’t imagine all that must be running through your mind right now. How to make the best use of your time regardless of the outcome makes complete sense. However, I just want you to know that regardless of the outcome of your illness, you have made my life eternally more fulfilling with the skills you have conveyed freely. Your contribution to thousands like me and the thousand more who will in turn learn from those who learned from you is in itself far beyond what most of us will ever contribute so broadly to improving the lives of others. You have a legacy that will live well beyond all of us.
Thank you and God bless you. Leo
Jodie I am so very sorry to hear of your diagnosis! I have followed for many years. I first learned of you way back when I went to school to learn how to weld. I had put my Associates degree up on my FB page back when I graduated and you commented and congratulated me for getting my degree. I was ecstatic that you noticed my post. I don’t have social media anymore but I do follow you on Youtube.
I will definitely be praying for you my friend for a complete and quick recovery. Sending Hugs and tons of healing prayers
Certainly praying for you. God is in charge and his will be done.
I just want to say I’ve watched your videos for a long time now & I’ve learned a lot from your videos. I appreciate what you’ve been doing & I look forward to learning more. So that said, I will put you on my prayer list that seems to be growing by the day. There’s a lot of broken, sick & hurting people in our world today & the only answer is to fall on Jesus! I’m a small business owner welder/fabricator and I have to lean on God every day. I pray that God will heal you & give you many more years. And I pray that your life will be a testimony to everyone of how good God is even in the struggle. Keep your head up & keep praying!
I just want to say I’ve watched your videos for a long time now & I’ve learned a lot from your videos. I appreciate what you’ve been doing & I look forward to learning more. So that said, I will put you on my prayer list that seems to be growing by the day. There’s a lot of broken, sick & hurting people in our world today & the only answer is to fall on Jesus! I’m a small business owner welder/fabricator and I have to lean on God every day. I pray that God will heal you & give you many more years. And I pray that your life will be a testimony to everyone of how good God is even in the struggle. Keep your head up & keep praying!
So sorry to hear this Jody. There is hope. My wife was diagnosed with Leukemia 11/1992. She was only in remission for about 30 days after treatment. She had a bone marrow transplant in March of 1993. Luckily her sister matched 6 antigens. I would like to say if was easy from there, but she had many complications. But here we are 32 years later, and she is still with us in good health. We would not have made it through without our faith. Those surrounding you will also have heavy burdens. So let them know that it’s okay to stress and be down. But God gives us strength if we fully rely on him. If you want to discuss anything with me, please feel free to reach out. God Speed. You are in my prayers.
Hi Jody sorry to hear about your illness. Thank you for all your welding videos and sound advice over the last few years. I hope you make a full recovery in the near future. We’re all rooting for you. All the best!
We are also dealing with a sister who has had a bad time since Sep. 2024 from COPD and while in one hospital , we found out she also has cancer of her lymnodes, Skin cancer , and also leukimeia. She had one treatment of chemo through the vien but now taken pills for her cancer. She has had some major surgery for her skin cancer and now it is showing it’s ugly face again. We just got through taking her to 32 radiation treatments for her skin cancer. Doctors says that nowadays cancer is an open book for what to expect if caught in time. We lost both parents from cancer and that has been over 40 -50 yrs. ago. We’ll pray for you and hope everything goes well for you. Just don’t give up. Miracles happen every day also. Stay tough. Good luck , we all can get this nasty condition.
Sorry to hear of detour in your health. I think God always allows a place for new things to grow out of our struggles life brings our way.
Thank you for all that you have brought to the welding community without a doubt you have brought major value! I definitely have learned a few different things from watching your utube videos. Your one of the first ones I go to when searching for more info on anything that I need a deeper more technical understanding of.