Advocate for your Advocate

Karene Hawkins has been working as the University of Regina Students' Union Student Advocate since September 1996. As a social worker, the Student Advocate provides students with a safe, confidential place to bring questions and concerns about University rules, policies, or procedures and appeals. Students who are experiencing financial or personal difficulties external to the university may also seek assistance through the office. The services include: academic appeals, disciplinary appeals, student loan appeals, emergency bursaries, notary public, mediation, rentalsman appeals, and referrals. In this role, Karene has provided an integral aspect of the services URSU provides to the student body. Her impact and importance to the students is immeasurable.

Now, it's time for us to Advocate for our Advocate. In September 2014, Karene's husband Dave was diagnosed as having a Grade IV Glioblastoma Multiforme type of brain tumor, an incurable aggressive cancer. Since then, he has undergone various types of treatment. This includes surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, and taking various types of supplements and medication. The goal of these treatments is to temporarily alleviate his painful symptoms and to prolong his quantity and quality of life. Still recent MRI scans have shown progression of his tumor.

Dave is working at Milestone School as a Vice Principal, where he has been for fourteen years. In addition to tending to his administration duties, he is teaching two classes with the assistance of the teacher who had replaced him while he was on leave. He also helps with coaching the flag and tackle football teams at his school, who have shown a tremendous amount of support to him and his family. Dave is also currently working on his final course in a Master of Education at the University of Regina, and will be accepting his degree this June. Karene and Dave have two teenage children, and it is important for them that they see Dave reach this achievement in this time of adversity. Their children have been able to rise to the occasion in this time of adversity, and have shown their incredible compassion and helpfulness.

The family wants to take all options available to them to help improve his quality of life, and all the options are overwhelming. They are consulting with an oncologist naturopath who recommends that he stay on traditional treatment while taking on any alternative types of treatment. Alternative treatments could potentially include different types of supplements, promising clinical trials, intravenous treatments, and a special diet in the form of a supplementary powder.

However, these alternative methods present a financial problem. As oncologists are not able to support all types of alternative treatment because their licenses are on the basis of them giving traditional medicine, these types of treatment are not supported financially. Also, there is the option of him being put on additional medication to help with swelling, but he has to fit within certain parameters for the government to cover the expensive treatment.

It's time for us to Advocate for our Advocate for her and her family in their time of need. Any options they desire to take to improve Dave's quality of life should be available to them, and we would like to do our part to assist to make this happen. Please help our cause by donating, so we can see Dave make the most of his time with loved ones.