Gladys and Jay Layton, of Dagsboro, met at a church camp and got married when they were teenagers, ran a convenience store together, and grew to trust and depend upon each other. They have a son and a daughter-in-law and two grandchildren. Just over seven years ago, Gladys was diagnosed with breast cancer and they sold the convenience store. A year later, Jay was diagnosed with leukemia. Then, last year, he was diagnosed with lymphoma. “It’s something you never think will happen to you,” Gladys says.

Gladys and Jay look into each other’s eyes when they speak, and they smile the smile of a deep, endearing love.

“Cancer makes you appreciate life and everything around you,” Gladys says, adding that there’s always that fear that the cancer will come back.

They bought a small farm, and Jay tends to the horses. Gladys makes the most of each day, and sees to it that the family gets together for dinner every week. On September 16, 2005, they celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary.

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