Fund for Dave and Mandy McKittrick
Donation protected
Dave McKittrick just recently turned 42, and as some of you know, the last two years of his life have been the hardest.
In January of 2017 Dave became very ill, was in constant pain, and even dropped below 100 lbs. In May of 2017 Dave went in to hospital for a day surgery to remove a "mystery mass" which turned out to be cancerous. Dave woke up after being under for the whole day to learn that he had stage 4 bowel cancer, an ileostomy, and perhaps six months--though probably far less--to live.
This May (2018), Dave and Mandy celebrated a year of beautiful life since Dave's diagnosis, and sixteen years together. After many surgeries, seven months of chemo, HIPEC (a very serious and dangerous 12 hour operation), Dave had been declared NED (No Evidence of Disease). This past Friday, Dave went in for his last surgery of this illness, after which he could go home and return to normal life.
This surgery revealed that the cancer is back.
He and Mandy have spent every penny they have on trips to and from Vancouver for treatment, medical supplies, on living a healthy life without being able to work, on humbly making life work while one of them has been living on death's door, and they haven't asked for help. This has been very hard on them. Chemo was covered, but some of Dave's very expensive medications were not, and neither were Dave's medical supplies. There is very simply, no money left.
Recovery has been a nightmare, and our dear friends have been through so much. It has basically been non-stop for two years. Non-stop pain, non-stop fear, non-stop worry, non-stop change and non-stop brutal news. Dave has not for even one moment, felt sorry for himself. Dave has been a beautiful champion of wellness even though he's been dancing between illness and health. He's been smiling and cracking jokes and being basically wonderful, all through so much pain.
It is unclear in this moment what is next. Our best hope is that Dave is well enough to enjoy bit more time with Mandy and also that he can get back home. These things however, remain uncertain. At the moment they are in Vancouver, and waiting for word on what is possible. Likely palliative care, hopefully in Nelson.
What Dave and Mandy could really use right now is financial help. For Mandy's hotel while Dave is in hospital, for trips back and forth, to get Dave home to Nelson if it ends up being something that's not covered, for Dave to get someone to fix some things around the house so that he's not leaving Mandy with an unfinished home, and if the best of the best happens, then a small nest egg for them to work with and enjoy life with, whatever's left.
Maybe they can go on a trip. Maybe they can get matching sequin suits. Maybe they can just not worry about money for a minute.
Dave and Mandy would like to thank everyone ahead of time for your continuous, endless, love and support. We ask only that you give what you can, if you can.
Thank you, and Happy Christmas.
In January of 2017 Dave became very ill, was in constant pain, and even dropped below 100 lbs. In May of 2017 Dave went in to hospital for a day surgery to remove a "mystery mass" which turned out to be cancerous. Dave woke up after being under for the whole day to learn that he had stage 4 bowel cancer, an ileostomy, and perhaps six months--though probably far less--to live.
This May (2018), Dave and Mandy celebrated a year of beautiful life since Dave's diagnosis, and sixteen years together. After many surgeries, seven months of chemo, HIPEC (a very serious and dangerous 12 hour operation), Dave had been declared NED (No Evidence of Disease). This past Friday, Dave went in for his last surgery of this illness, after which he could go home and return to normal life.
This surgery revealed that the cancer is back.
He and Mandy have spent every penny they have on trips to and from Vancouver for treatment, medical supplies, on living a healthy life without being able to work, on humbly making life work while one of them has been living on death's door, and they haven't asked for help. This has been very hard on them. Chemo was covered, but some of Dave's very expensive medications were not, and neither were Dave's medical supplies. There is very simply, no money left.
Recovery has been a nightmare, and our dear friends have been through so much. It has basically been non-stop for two years. Non-stop pain, non-stop fear, non-stop worry, non-stop change and non-stop brutal news. Dave has not for even one moment, felt sorry for himself. Dave has been a beautiful champion of wellness even though he's been dancing between illness and health. He's been smiling and cracking jokes and being basically wonderful, all through so much pain.
It is unclear in this moment what is next. Our best hope is that Dave is well enough to enjoy bit more time with Mandy and also that he can get back home. These things however, remain uncertain. At the moment they are in Vancouver, and waiting for word on what is possible. Likely palliative care, hopefully in Nelson.
What Dave and Mandy could really use right now is financial help. For Mandy's hotel while Dave is in hospital, for trips back and forth, to get Dave home to Nelson if it ends up being something that's not covered, for Dave to get someone to fix some things around the house so that he's not leaving Mandy with an unfinished home, and if the best of the best happens, then a small nest egg for them to work with and enjoy life with, whatever's left.
Maybe they can go on a trip. Maybe they can get matching sequin suits. Maybe they can just not worry about money for a minute.
Dave and Mandy would like to thank everyone ahead of time for your continuous, endless, love and support. We ask only that you give what you can, if you can.
Thank you, and Happy Christmas.
Organizer and beneficiary
Ursula Twiss
Organizer
Nelson, BC
Amanda Miller
Beneficiary
