I’ll never forget the helplessness I felt after my mother was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2004, and we were told that it was inoperable. It seemed so unjust that this lethal disease received such a small portion of medical research funds, and that patient outcomes had improved little in 30 years. Volunteering with Craig’s Cause has allowed me to channel those feelings into something positive that is trying to change the odds.
My dad was diagnosed on July 29th, 2006 with Pancreatic Cancer. On September 29th, 2006 he passed away, after suffering complications from the Whipple Procedure. Devastated does not begin to describe how our small family felt. What had gone wrong? I was educated about the disease. My father had 2 experienced surgeons. He had the Whipple Procedure at a high volume hospital. He was extremely fit (non smoker, avid cyclist, nutrition conscious etc.) and everyone had high hopes that he would survive this devastating diagnosis.
However, it was not meant to be.
During his hospitalization, we had discussed how to repay the passionate surgical oncologists/researchers who were working tirelessly to save his life. It was decided that we would fund their research. Of course when we thought of this, Dad was to be involved in this plan. After he died, I promised myself that that plan would move forward. I needed it to move forward.......I needed to move forward and help others. I needed to make sure that this horrible experience, somehow, had a happier ending.
It is now four years later. I have met some incredible individuals, shared personal stories and embarked on adventures that I never thought possible. Perhaps, Dad was a part of the plan after all! :)
I began volunteering with Craig’s Cause Pancreatic Cancer Society in June of 2008, six months after losing my brother Donnie to this horrible disease. When I read an article about Stefanie in a local newspaper, I contacted her right away and immediately realized that I found a place to put my energies. Up to that point I felt like no one understood the terrible trauma my family had just been through. I never realized the devastation that losing someone to pancreatic cancer could cause.
I was also shocked and angered by the fact that Donnie’s doctors never talked about hope or possibilities. He was dead to them the day they told him he had pancreatic cancer. When I started researching about pancreatic cancer I discovered so many terrible facts, like pancreatic cancer affects thousands of Canadians each year yet receives less than 1% of available research dollars. That pancreatic cancer has a less than 5% five year survival rate and worst of all that many doctors do not offer patients the chance to explore the one and only option for a cure (Whipple surgery)because they have already written off the patient.
I have found another passion in life and it is trying to change the outcome for those diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. There should always be hope and for too long there has been none with this diagnosis. Now is the time to change that sad fact and that is what Craig’s Cause is trying to do. I am so happy to be part of something that is so important.
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