NEW SMYRNA BEACH, Florida—There are a lot of Buckeye super fans, but maybe none quite like Connie Cox. Cox loves her Buckeyes so much that she rescheduled brain surgery to avoid missing out on any of the action on the Buckeyes' bid for a national championship.
What You Need To Know
- Connie Cox delayed her brain surgery so she would be able to watch the Ohio State Buckeyes in the College Football Playoff against Clemson
- Cox was diagnosed with glioblastoma the day after Christmas
- Cox has dedicated the last several years to mission work in Kenya and now is focusing her efforts to use her diagnosis to push her to accomplish her dream of building a clinic
- Cox's friends and family have come together to raise money for Cox's clinic in the village of Gaitu
You can say Connie Cox is pretty much the biggest Buckeye fan of all. She grew up listening to games that Woody Hayes coached. And now after living in Florida for over 30 years, the Buckeyes are still a major piece of her life.
“Well, important enough that I rescheduled brain surgery to make sure that I could ward off the Woody Hayes curse against Clemson," Cox said.
You heard that right- Cox delayed her brain surgery so she’d be able to watch the Buckeyes eventually beat Clemson. Cox was diagnosed with glioblastoma- an aggressive form of brain cancer, on December 26. She eventually rescheduled her surgery for last Friday. Cox is recovering, with a little help from calls from Buckeye legends like Cardale Jones.
“I’m leaving the Mayo Clinic when I get that call from him," Cox said. "I’m sorry, I do have little moments and of course it has to be over a Buckeye legend.”
Another positive has come from Cox’s diagnosis. After spending years volunteering in the small village of Gaitu, Kenya, Cox’s friends and family have come together to help Cox’s dream of building a clinic there come true.
“How many people have the blessing to actually see their biggest goals come true?" she said. "And I’m getting that.”
Cox says she’s brought her Buckeye roots to the kids of the village
“My first interaction with the kids was teaching them OH-IO!” she said.
And is now making this goal a priority since her diagnosis.
“I cannot feel sorry for myself," Cox said. "I have lived blessed life.”
That, and an Ohio State National Championship would be nice too.
“If for some strange reason, it doesn’t work out that way," she said. "I plan on being back next year for another national championship because I’m a fighter just like the Buckeyes.”