Support for Dave's family after his Cancer battle

Help the Savage Family after the loss of their father/husband

Part of being human is the connection that we have with the people who surround us. For some the connection is tenuous and fleeting while for others there is such a deep, all encompassing attraction that it seems like they are a part of us. It is then that we realize that we cannot live only for ourselves, and we decide to completely give our heart and soul to another person. Our hearts and minds become intertwined with our chosen partner and we laugh, love, cry, and grow with them. As a couple, we make friends together, we build a home, and we create families which fight, flourish, love and grow. There is a price to pay for this connection and happiness however. We have no choice. If we love, we must grieve. To appreciate the light, we must also endure darkness.

It fills my heart with sorrow to have to say that David Savage passed away on May 8th, just 8 days shy of his 53rd birthday. Dave was able to spend his final days resting at home comfortably surrounded by his family. He was at peace, and he was unafraid.

There are times in our existence when we face such a devastating loss that it seems like we just cannot go on, times where it feels like we will drown just by taking in the air that we breathe. Leanne, Abby, Mary, Estelle, Leland and Aidan, and the rest of their family are all forced to begin to navigate their lives today in the face of such a loss. It will not be easy, but they will have the love and support of each other and those who are close to them. When one of them is weak, another can be strong and they WILL go on and eventually they will flourish again. Dave would have wanted this. With the right combination of friends and family, journeys that at first seem utterly insurmountable can be brought within one's reach.

Dave was true to the vows he made with Leanne almost 14 years ago, and he loved her until his final breath. He was a husband, a father, a son, an uncle, a nephew and a firefighter. He was a friend. He lived his life with love, kindness, integrity and an abundance of humor. He will be missed, however memories of him will be cherished by many.

To live in hearts we leave behind is not to die. For those who loved him, Dave will live forever.

As per Dave's wishes there will be no public service, however there may be a celebration of life at a later date.

Flowers are graciously declined however for anyone who wishes, donations could be made to the Canadian Cancer society, the Victoria Hospice Society or the Canucks Autism network.

Here is some background on this family beginning two years ago when Dave was diagnosed:

Dave has worked for 20 yrs as a firefighter at the Victoria airport, which is where Dave first laid eyes on Leanne over 12 years ago. Their love burned hot and could not be extinguished, and within a short period of time, they eloped to Las Vegas where they were wed.   Dave was a package deal and came with 3 young girls to raise, so Leanne wholeheartedly embraced the role of stepmom to Abby, Mary and Estelle.  Shortly thereafter, they embarked on the challenge of adding sons Leland and finally Aidan to their growing family, and then there were seven!.

Leanne made a career change and moved on to become a beloved rowing coach at the Victoria City rowing club at Elk lake. Over the course of 7 years, she developed the “novice” rowing program which teaches adults who are new to the sport, including those with disabilities, how to begin from scratch. Her devotion and sense of pride in her athletes shines through and is reflected in the fact that almost no one really wants to LEAVE the program and transition into the regular club group when it comes time to do so.  Both my husband and I went through this program, and we are now blessed with a real sense of community and friendship at the club, in addition to a new and healthy activity.  Leanne freely shares her passion for the sport, combined with a patience and understanding of how to teach it to others.

Dave works long, overnight shifts ensuring that runways are clear and passengers and crew arrive and depart safely, and are helped when in need. Leanne’s role as a coach also has meant that she has devoted her career to helping others learn and develop, even in freezing rain, dark and early morning hours. Their young son Leland is an intelligent and wonderful boy, however faces his own challenges with Autism, which Dave and Leanne have adapted to with a special kind of patience, and understanding. Watching how Dave and Leanne are able to juggle their careers and large family with such passion, kindness and empathy, is simply awe inspiring.

Dave was a fit and healthy 50 yr old vegetarian who had an active lifestyle running and lifting weights. The family home is abuzz with activity with 5 children dependent on Dave and Leanne for love, support and guidance. Dave works 20 hour shifts at the firehall, and picks up much needed overtime hours on a regular basis, leaving Leanne often alone to juggle the many tasks related to the home and the children.

Recently, Dave had been feeling tired, but assumed this was due to shift work, overtime, parenting and perhaps an imbalanced vegetarian diet.  He had also had a sore lower back, however discounted this as stress related to weightlifting.  Without a family doctor, these symptoms went unchecked for too long, until finally he went to hospital for an examination. On Mar 8, he was diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma, which included several areas of bone fracture and damage, liver and kidney damage, as well as severe anemia. The severe pain in his lower back turned out to be the result of cancerous nodules on his bones pressing onto the nerves in his spine, as well as a fractured vertebra and rib.  For this type of cancer, treatment should be undertaken when the cancer affects 10% of the marrow. A sample of his marrow revealed that his was 90% affected. 

 Dave is currently off work and this family is just starting to battle this demon, which will be a long, difficult and emotional journey. His overtime shifts are no more, and his income is stopped for 3 months until his long term disability takes effect, albeit at a reduced income level.   This is a cancer with no cure, but Dave will undergo radiation, followed by 3 months of chemotherapy and steroid treatment. Finally, if all goes according to plan, Dave will spend a month in a Vancouver hospital for a stem cell transplant. The challenge is to get the cancer down to a level that can be endured, and with monthly monitoring and lifelong chemotherapy, the hope is that he can be there for his family for many, many years to come.

Dave and Leanne have devoted their lives to their 5 children, and also dedicated their careers to assisting and helping others. Now is the time for us to step up and help them, so at the very least we can assist them in relieving some of the financial burden, so focus can be given to addressing the task at hand. They will have treatment and travel/accomodation costs, childcare expenses including autism assistance, and the need to continue with all of their regular expenses at a much reduced income level, for 6 months or longer.