A rural Bellefontaine resident is helping to spread cheer in his neighborhood through the recent completion of a fence project on his property that he hopes will bring smiles to his neighborhood and to passing motorists.
John Guider said he was inspired to install and paint an 80-foot cedar fence in a “dandelion wish” yellow featuring 3-foot smiley face designs this spring, following his personal cancer battle and also to offer a little happiness and light-heartedness to the community after all of the difficulties with COVID-19 and political strife during the past year.
While Guider lives along Bruce Street in Sunrise Estates, the bright-colored fence can be viewed along the adjacent High Street, up on top of the hill at the end of the road.
“I’ve always been a big fan of smiley faces, and I think it’s hard not to smile when you see one,” he said Wednesday. “I got to thinking this spring, ‘Why not put up something to share some joy?’ We’ve all been through so much this past year and there’s been so much negativity in the world. We need something that’s a more of a positive note.
“With everything I’ve been through dealing with my cancer diagnosis, too, I still have so much to be grateful for — even the fact that I’m still here today.”
The outdoor enthusiast who enjoys spending time in his backyard garden and watching wildlife said he was diagnosed with lung cancer in 2018, after he had some unusual and alarming symptoms, including coughing up blood. He was surprised by the diagnosis, as he related he had never smoked a day in his life.
On Nov. 29, 2018, Guider underwent a procedure to remove two-thirds of his lungs. While the surgery was a success, he also encountered a major setback during his recovery when he experienced a MRSA infection and another operation was necessary.
“They had to open me up again, which was very painful since I was still healing from the first surgery,” he said.
Despite those difficulties, the area resident has since recovered to good health. In an important milestone during recent medical appointments, he said his scans have been cancer-free and were “some of the best scans I’ve had so far.”
Now with less lung capacity, Guider has to modify some of the physical activities he has done in the past, but he is working to build up his tolerance. Regular exercise is very beneficial for this purpose, and he said he rides a bicycle daily, between eight to 11 miles, and has logged more than 1,000 miles on a bike he recently purchased.
“During some of my doctor’s appointments, they have told me that my lungs actually have been expanding from the exercise that I’m doing,” he said. “It’s really amazing how the body is able to heal itself.
“While I find myself short of breath sometimes and need to take a break, it’s like I’m just happy to be able to do the things I can today. I’m still walking around and able to function pretty well. That’s one of the reasons I wanted to build the fence this year.”
With the project, he was able to pace himself, working a couple hours at a time to paint the different fencing sections, which took about two weeks. Then he added the smiley face design to each section by using a 20-inch board tied with a screw at 18-inches to make the circle.
Buying high quality paint to ensure the finished look will hold up over time and painting each section with three to four coats each made for a little more costly project than he first anticipated, but said the end result was worthwhile. Guider and his family, including his five grandchildren, are appreciating the backyard oasis.
“It’s been fun hearing the reactions from family and friends, and I hope more people will get to check out the fence as well. I’ve planted crown vetch all along the fence line that the deer enjoy, so it’s a nice spot for wildlife, too.”