Fighting cancer James (Jim) Cottreau (Denise)

After 40 years of being a truck driver, local, linehaul, truckload and for last so many years, self employed as an owner operator. Travelling all through the US and Canada. He than landed his dream job with CN here in Halifax where after many years of being on the road, finally was going to be home every day with his wife Denise and live out until retirement. Was the perfect dream.

Unfortunately it wasn't meant to be as early 2022 Jim didn't feel right and by May could no longer work and was down at Emergency. After months of various testing he was diagnosed with stage 4 rectal cancer.

Obviously he needed treatment right away but had many complications before that could even begin. The cancer kept causing infections and he had to go through at least 8 operations to even get to the point of treatment. But he did it! The doctors where only giving him a 50/50 chance at this point but boy did he prove the doctors wrong.

After going through 6 months of chemo and than right into 5 weeks of radiation it was helping to shrink the tumor. The doctors were amazed with his progress and how he was able to get through it and how much better he looked. They went from pity and helplessness on their faces to now we have a fighting chance to help him beat this cancer.

So at this point, he is finally ready and recovered enough from all the treatments to go to the surgery stage to remove all of the cancer. He has been very fortunate that the cancer has not travelled to either his liver and lungs and been contained.

Finally a surgery date of Oct 18th which is what we've been working towards this last year and half but it is going to be a major surgery with many complications that can come up. Surgery will be all day, minimal stay in the hospital for 3 weeks, possibly longer and once home, recovery is going to be long and slow, months maybe even a year or so. Reason being, his immune system is still so low due to having all the chemo and radiation. They are also expecting more infections to come through, during the recovery stage. It's just a matter of timing due to the immune system being so low.

Although we are very nervous about this surgery, know it is make or break time but Jim will get through it as he is one tough cookie and has the determination to ring that bell!

It's a bit embarrassing asking for help but a year and a half with no income, Denise unable to work due to taking care of Jim, all the appointments and von coming in daily, our funds are depleted.

If you are able to help in any which way, would be so much appreciate and of course, lots of prayers will be welcomed, especially on the 18th just to get through the surgery but then to with the long road to recovery.

Although Jim is anxious about going into this surgery, he is positive and determined to beat the odds. And he knows he has so much support and love from family and friends.