Doctors gave Glenn Hicks a “death date.” He was diagnosed with stage 3 bone cancer on Dec. 14. Six weeks later, the cancer had spread and advanced to stage 4.
According to the Enneking staging system for bone cancers, stage 3 means the cancer has spread to another part of the body. And according to the TNM staging system of bone cancer, stage 4 bone cancer means the disease has spread to the lungs.
Hicks knew he was dying. He was experiencing severe pain in his joints and bones. But as a resident of Faith Farm, a homeless ministry in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., he was not allowed to take narcotics to treat his pain.