It's been 20 years since I heard the words "you have cancer" and I'd like to kickstart “greater giving” to celebrate my 20th anniversary! 

I am asking for your help to raise funds in support of the Clinical Pharmacy Specialist role at St. Paul's Hospital. This dedicated specialist will support cancer therapies administered to hematology patients.

I pledge to match your collective gifts up to $750, in addition to my personal contribution, with a goal of raising $3,000 this year.

My Journey

It was at a political event in 2004 that I first found out something was wrong. I was giving a speech at the opening of the Shiraoi House in Quesnel. It was a hot day and after I delivered my remarks, I sat down. I was feeling very, very tired. I made my way to the back of the crowd outside the building without anyone really noticing. I sat on the bench next to my wife, Maggie, and couldn’t even hold myself up. I plummeted to the ground. Maggie brought me to Emergency Room at G.R. Baker Hospital. I started to feel better after waiting around for about half an hour, so I just left.

The next day I decided, or it was decided for me by Maggie, to go to the doctor. He sent me for blood tests. I thought that would be the end of it. Within a few hours, however, I was called to his office. “You have cancer, It’s CLL, chronic lymphocytic leukemia. It’s not a death sentence.” I was totally in shock. All I remember is that he gave an informational print out and said he would refer me to a doctor in Vancouver. He also repeated a few times, “It’s not a death sentence.”

I went home and Maggie said my face was ashen. I told her the news and we sat together for a while. Then we started crying. I was 56, the same age in which my dad had passed away. Over the ensuing weekend we spent many hours together. I was adamant that I didn’t want this news to spread around. I didn’t want sympathy from people except for those whom I considered close. My relatives, my kids and a couple of friends. I had seen others who spread around that they were ill, and it wasn’t to my liking.

Also, as mayor of the town, I didn’t want it to be political. In fact, the night I found out the diagnosis I had to attend an event. It was a play about a death. I was in shock anyway so I didn’t really mind the subject!

About a month later, I got my appointment with an oncologist. My condition wasn’t severe, so we were just going to ‘watch and wait’. She sent me to get some tests at St. Paul’s Hospital. From then, I just took regular, sometimes monthly, tests. People didn’t notice my lack of energy and I kept active but I realized that slowly I was losing energy to the point that we needed to do something. I was fortunate to attend a four-day seminar in Vancouver from InspireHealth, a supportive cancer care group, which provided much comfort.

Then in 2011, the doctor put me on chemotherapy, one day a month for five months. My only side effect was a day or two of being a bit tired. At the same time, I could feel my energy returning. I sometimes say that chemo gets a bad rap, for me anyway! I don’t want to be flippant, but it was miraculous. I was also able to have the treatments in Quesnel which was a big plus. After five months, my energy returned.

My energy stayed the same for a number of years until about 2017 when I noticed that the readings were moving in the wrong direction. My oncologist said that maybe it was time for a new treatment. In the last few years Ibrutinib came on the scene and the provincial government had recently approved it for use. I had to get another test to make sure I was a good candidate. After that, starting in 2018, I began taking three pills a day without fail for the rest of my life. The pills have worked! My blood test readings are almost, but not quite, in the normal range. Every couple of months I go to the local pharmacy in the hospital and pick up my meds, at no cost. I’ve been taking Ibrutinib for five years now and feel good at almost 76 years old. I love golfing!

According to some estimates, these pills would cost $6,000 per month. Multiply that by 75 months and that amounts to $450,000! So far, the government has provided me with almost half a million dollars’ worth of a life-saving, and life-enhancing drug. Amazing!

So, this year, 2024, is the 20th anniversary of my diagnosis. I have lived an excellent life during this time due to great physicians, good government policy, and somebody I don’t know who invented Ibrutinib. I am very grateful. (By the way, this is one of the drugs U.S. President Biden is trying to make cost affordable for Americans.)

Over the years, I have not discussed my illness openly and have done very little to understand it. I don’t know how right I am but I just am not the kind of person who likes to discuss my health issues. However, now I feel I should give a bit back. I have only donated a few dollars every year. But I’m hoping to kickstart “greater giving” to celebrate my 20th anniversary.

I’ve chosen to support the Clinical Pharmacy Specialist, at St. Paul's Hospital. This dedicated specialist will support cancer therapies administered to hematology patients. In the last 20 years, cancer therapies have increased in complexity and one of the main issues is multi-drug resistance and relapse. The support will help prevent adverse medication effects, improve quality of life, and provide great health-economics advantages.

I am pledging to match your collective gifts up to $750, in addition to my personal contribution, with a goal of raising $3,000 this year. I think it’s the least I can do.

I would love your support. Please make a donation today!