Carrying on For Heather and Julia

Hello friends, family and all who have been touched by Steve and Heather Boissoin. I know I am an unlikely person to start up this page for Steve and Heather and their family as I am the “x-wife” of Steve! Steve and I share two amazing kids together and have journeyed through life for the past twenty four years. We were only married for a couple years but have parented together for many. Today, we are all blessed to be friends connected via our children and our faith.

Steve and Heather are perfect together. They are passionate for one another and share many of the same interests from the outdoors, competitively shooting handguns (Heather often out shoots Steve which is hard on him), they originally met boxing, they share fitness, their Christian faith and especially the love for their children. Steve spent many years serving in ministry and helping others especially troubled youth and their families and over the last decade in the modular home sales industry. Heather has a huge heart for the homeless and the less fortunate and has been passionate giving of her talents and time working at the Kelowna's Gospel Mission. At the moment neither Steve and Heather are working.

Steve entered the hospital on January 12, 2018 with moderate pain. What he thought would be routine visit to the ER ended up with a shocking aggressive lymphatic cancer diagnosis.  He was told he was in critical condition and must be addmitted immediately for full diagnosis and care.  A lengthy hopistal stay resulted in 5 biopsies, 3 surgeries and a fight against a major infection the first chemo brought on.  After multiple biopsies, including surgical biopsis under general anesthesia, Steve was disagnosed with Diffuse Large B Cell Non Hodgkin's lymphoma while being treated in the Acute Care Ward of the Kelowna General Hospital.   (Unfortunately, this was only part of the diagnosis they awaited. Heather and Steve were informed that odd cell growths were found which could lead to a further diagnoses called ‘Double Hit Lymphoma.’ All prayed and hoped against this much more aggressive life threatening diagnosis which would have seen Steve being shipped back and forth to Vancouver for more involved treatment.  UPDATE: Steve & Heather were blessed with a NEGATIVE Double Hit diagnosis.  Steve will remain and be treated in Kelowna with the Diffuse Large B Cell diagnosis.  Although still a terrible diagnosis, it offers a real fighting chance.  Steve will be on a very aggresive chemo regime into late May or June of 2018 before be reassessed.  

This diagnosis came at an especially critical and devastating time for Heather and Steve. Together they had just made a family decision, one they thought was a calculated risk at the right time. It involved Steve resigning from a position that was negatively affecting both Heather and Steve’s marriage in relation to his goals to be a better husband and father. In December 2017, Steve negotiated a payout dor some of his yet unpaid commissions he had earned in 2017and ones that were coming in 2018. It as a relatively small amount in comparison to what he would have earned had he stayed but it was enough to just cover their plans for a better quality of family life together.  That amount, along with Employment Insurance and Heather’s moderate earnings at KGM provided just enough financial security for Heather and Steve’s living expenses for six months maximum AND THIS WAS WITHOUT A CANCER DIAGNOSIS.  Steve's last official day employed was Dec 31, 2017.  Steve and Heather were committed to do whatever was necessar to make their plan a success including selling off some possessions to supplement and cover some of the debt load they carried from home improvements, like the 1978 home windows they had replaced, that finally had sceens on them. Steve committed to the plan first week of the new year and got to work. Heather was super excited about their new opportunity to build a better lifestyle together. Steve was enrolled at the University of British Columbia to complete his Real Estate Trading license course and began to work on it as his full time job. The plan, with the assistance of a Real Estate Agent who was guiding Steve through the ropes, was to fast track his license and get him immediately working with a local brokerage Steve had already been in contact with. Through Christmas and the early part of January Steve began to feel pain in his pelvic area. Just twelve days into their new and exciting family improvement plan, Heather and Steve were devastated to learn that their dream for 2018 had just became an actual real life nightmare.

Now without miracles and the mercies of others, this nightmare can quickly see them come to financial ruin including to the extent of the loss of their home. Steve has no ability to earn a way beyond one year of medical based unemployment insurance until he is well enough to work again.  This medical E.I. he receives pays less than the cost of their mortage.

As a couple with a 5 year old daughter Julia, caring for her and dealing with the appointments, treatments, medication costs and ongoing stress related to this diagnosis they need our care, support, prayer and even our financial assistance. As you can imaging this unexpected journey would be a blow to anyone’s financial situation. There are costs that are not considered when in a crisis such as this. We as friends and family are not all close in proximity and cannot be there in person to bring meals, care for Julia or visit Steve and Heather in the Hospital, we can however take a little of their load off by giving. Cancer fight costs can include, medical care, prescriptions (some are covered by Canadian Medical and a large amount to the tune of many thousands per month that are not...to our shock), home costs and living expenses, loss of income, child care, home medical equipment, travel expenses including ambulances, extra Cancer related medical coverage that Heather and Steve have since had to purchase and many other unknown expenses that may arise.

The support and encouraging expressions of care, concern and prayer over Facebook have been very beautiful. Steve and Heather have been deeply touched by them and those of us reading them are also encouraged. Thank you and keep them coming!

Let’s show our support and care through this offering. Whatever you can give is sooo appreciated! Please also continue to Pray for healing, strength and Peace to cover them. Thank you in advance.

For I am the Lord, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, do not fear; I will help you. Isaiah 41:13

PLEASE NOTE: It is impossible to predict the cost of a cancer fight of this magnitude. With all variables considered, this is going to be a large fight but one that can, with help from others, have a very positive outcome. This fundraising campaign will be updated as the fight continues. Updates will include accountability on use of funds. Steve and Heather want everyone to know how your donations are literally fighting for Steve's and his family's survival. If in the end there is a surplus of funds, equal amounts of the full balance will be publicly donated back to cancer victim agencies in both Kelowna, BC and Red Deer, AB.