Hope for Holly | TAPD detective recovering from brain surgery and aggressive tumor

Holly Smith poses for a photo with her husband, Billy, and their son, Ian, at the Texarkana, Ark., Police Department. Holly is now tumor-free after being diagnosed with an aggressive gliobastoma in April. The Smiths are both TAPD officers.
Holly Smith poses for a photo with her husband, Billy, and their son, Ian, at the Texarkana, Ark., Police Department. Holly is now tumor-free after being diagnosed with an aggressive gliobastoma in April. The Smiths are both TAPD officers.

Life took a frightening and unexpected turn for Holly and Billy Smith this past spring when Holly was diagnosed with an aggressive brain tumor called glioblastoma.

"The doctor said he thought it was a tumor, possibly cancer, and we just fell apart," Billy Smith said.

Nine months later, the couple - both Texarkana, Arkansas, police officers who met on the job - are trying to put their lives back together and look toward the future.

Holly, 37, can only walk a few steps on her own, and she needs a cane and Billy's help to do that.

But with two brain surgeries, six weeks of chemotherapy and radiation treatments and a lot of rehab under her belt, Holly had fought hard for those slow, tentative steps and knows each one is moving her closer to where she wants to be.

Her voice has also been affected by the tumor, but she has Billy's help for that, also.

"She has a story to tell and I told her, 'If you can't tell it. I will stand beside you and tell it for you,'" Billy said.

The couple has been by each other's side since 2006, when Billy bought Holly a 25-cent can of Coke one night at work to try getting to know her better.

"There was a Coke machine in College Hill that sold 25-cent Cokes. I snuck down there one night and got one for her," Billy said.

They married in 2008. Billy and Holly each had a child from a previous marriage who are now 18 and 19. Together, they have a 7-year-old son, Ian.

Billy, who is from Gurdon, Arkansas, is a corporal in the TAPD patrol division and Holly, a Liberty-Eylau native, has been a detective, primarily working domestic abuse cases.

The couple was preparing for a vacation in March when Holly realized something was wrong.

"We have three kids but we have always made sure to make time together. We were getting ready for a trip when she came downstairs and said her right foot was numb," Billy said.

By the next night, Holly was numb on her entire right side.

One doctor suspected multiple sclerosis but it was ruled out. Holly's regular doctor was afraid it was a tumor and sent her to Little Rock to see a neurologist. That's when the devastating diagnosis was made.

It came in April after a 4 1/2-hour surgery. The tumor on her left side was affecting the right side of her body.

"She heard the diagnosis but had not been out of surgery long. I don't think she processed it," Billy said. "But I processed it."

He said "A strong faith in God" helped them through the process.

Grade 4 glioblastoma is a very aggressive tumor. A second surgery was done on April 30.

Holly came out of the surgery totally paralyzed on her right side. And the pain from the surgery was severe.

"She has a very high pain threshold - and she was a 10 out of 10 on pain," Billy said.

Holly took pain medicine for three days and then quit.

She spent 14 days at St. Vincent's Hospital in Sherwood, Arkansas, and then 21 days in a rehabilitation unit.

"On Day 2 of rehab, they stood her up and she was falling in 30 seconds. She couldn't stand on her own," Billy said.

The couple, along with Ian, moved into a hotel in Little Rock and lived there until August while Holly underwent 6 1/2 weeks of radiation every day. She also had chemotherapy by taking a pill for several days every 28 days.

"She never lost much weight, and she was tired but not sick," Billy said.

After the treatments were complete, an MRI showed the tumor was gone.

"The radiation did its job. The chemo did its job. She's tumor-free now," Billy said.

"Finally," Holly added.

The support of their fellow officers and other Texarkana residents was overwhelming to the couple.

Pink Behind the Thin Blue Line, a local nonprofit law-enforcement support group comprised of officers' families and community members who support local police, also helped out throughout the ordeal.

Billy and Holly both say they have become xmore emotional and much of it is related to how many people have been there for them.

"Eighteen people from TAPD came to the hospital with me and sat with me through the surgery, and that was just the beginning of the support. People were mowing my yard while we were gone," Billy said.

A T-shirt sale supporting Holly sold 1,000 shirts and the raffle of a gun raised $17,000 when the goal was to raise $5,000.

"That just blew us out of the water," Billy said.

Billy has been back at work since August. Holly's mother, Renee Monroe, helps her out at home while Billy works.

Having to rely on others has been very hard for Holly, who has always been very independent. She is happy to take part in daily chores such as washing dishes or getting clothes out of the dryer.

"It makes me feel better; it feels normal," she said.

Recently, she tied her shoes with one hand and the couple posted the video on Facebook.

"It's a good day," Holly said.

Holly is continuing outpatient rehab at Encompass Health and, just a little over a week ago, she started walking with a cane.

"We want to get back to taking trips. Get back to living life. even though it will be different. We want to take a cruise to Cozumel in the spring and she doesn't want to be on a cruise in a wheelchair," Billy said.

Holly is working on taking early retirement but hopes to eventually work in law enforcement again.

Christmas this year is extra special. All of the birthdays and other holidays this year, such as Mother's Day and Father's Day, passed in a blur while the couple worked toward better times.

Billy said, "2019 was a different kind of year. It's been tough. 2020 will be so much better."

S T-shirts in support of Holly are still for sale. They can be purchased by calling Sgt. Kristi Bennett at 903-824-4199 or emailing [email protected].

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