Hello everyone.

I am reaching out to all of you because a dear friend of mine has been battling esophageal cancer. Darren Robertson was diagnosed in May of 2025. I have known Darren for almost 25 years now, and he has become one of my best friends. Sitting here feeling helpless, all I want to do is help him. Creating this is one of the ways I can contribute—a way that could make a meaningful impact on his life right now.

Darren has always been such a huge support to his family, friends, and the community. Anytime his friends needed help, he was always there for them! Even while gathering strength and recovering from his first treatments, he continued helping the community as an active member of The Soo's Got Talent and its production of Soo Voxx, which is run entirely by a dedicated cast of volunteers. Showing incredible resilience, he dedicated himself to what mattered most to him.

To put his journey into perspective:

• May 2025: Darren received his initial cancer diagnosis.

• September & October 2025: He went through 25 rounds of daily radiation (excluding weekends and holidays) alongside 5 weekly chemotherapy treatments lasting 5 to 6 hours each. Despite the toll it took, he managed to get through it. During this time, we also pulled off our Soo's Got Talent show, which supports community members, up-and-coming singers, songwriters, and artisans. It was a great show with a fantastic turnout. Darren showed a level of love and dedication to playing his part that went far beyond anything I had ever seen.

• November 2025: Because the initial treatments had not removed all the cancer, Darren consulted with his oncologist and radiologist to explore further options. He felt—as did I—that he still had so much left in him to give and live for. Based on these discussions, they decided on a multi-modality approach combining chemo, radiation, and surgery, which they believed was the best course of action. They felt confident they had removed it all.

• Follow-up & Immunotherapy Side Effects: As a precautionary measure, they added immunotherapy to the mix. Unfortunately, the immunotherapy did not turn out as well as hoped. What started as a hopeful plan turned into a severe battle with side effects, including an overactive thyroid, low potassium, and colitis (which required over a month on prednisone to clear up). Although the colitis eventually resolved, he continued to experience blockages and other health issues.

Early Summer 2026: Darren requested a visit to the emergency room due to respiratory issues. Doctors discovered that fluid had built up around the outside of his lungs (a pleural effusion). They performed a procedure using a needle in his back to drain the right side around his lungs, removing 2 liters of fluid. A few days later, doctors inserted more permanent drainage tubes, which were draining up to a liter of fluid each day. This condition remains an ongoing issue, and the fluid buildup has since expanded to cause edema in his legs and feet. We are still waiting for some clear answers from the medical team soon. In a recent hospital stay, he also had his gallbladder removed.

• Recent Hospital Stays & Recovery: Shortly after, he had to return to the hospital for over a month due to severe shortness of breath. During that stay, the medical staff saw subtle, steady improvements, and Darren was encouraged by his own progress. To take his mind off his illness, he picked up the ukulele and started learning to play. Already an accomplished guitar player, he wanted a new creative outlet. He also spent time drawing and creating digital artwork, all of which turned out wonderfully.

• Current Situation: His journey has continued to be a rollercoaster. He had a brief hospital stay for a severe back issue, followed by another stay after he and his visiting home nurse determined he needed further evaluation.

In this recent string of events, the hospital has practically become a second home. If you talk to Darren face-to-face, he puts on a brave front, but there are times you can catch a glimmer of fear in his eyes. Honestly, as much as I have witnessed and as much as neither of us wanted to face this, I do not know how much time he has left.

I am getting desperate because I do not know how else to help him beyond what I am already doing. It breaks my heart to see him in so much pain. Thankfully, another friend, Derrick, along with Darren's sons, Jaeden and Julian, have all stepped up to help as much as they can alongside their own responsibilities.

Darren also has a daughter in Calgary whom he hopes to see again soon.

Darren is a trooper. He has fought every step of the way, kept his guard up, and has no intention of giving up—he is only determined to fight harder. He truly believes he has a good life ahead of him and wants to stay here with us.

If we can all rally together to send him well wishes, words of encouragement, or financial support, it would mean the world. Any advice or shared experiences from those who have faced similar health battles would also be deeply appreciated.

Thank you for taking the time to read this. I hope we can help get Darren back on his feet so he can continue pursuing the wonderful legacy he has built in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario.

P.S. As Darren would say: If you know someone who is struggling with any type of illness, please greet them with a smile or words of encouragement. You never know how much light that can bring into a patient's life.