In Memory of Darlene Haryott

Darlene was diagnosed with Cholangiocarcinoma, a bile duct cancer in the liver, in 2012. At just 45 years old,  with a 10-year old daughter and 14-year old son, she was given a prognosis of 1 year to live. 

Due to the rarity of this cancer, and the small amount of information currently available about treatment for this sickness, Darlene had limited options to deal with her diagnosis. The only treatment option she could consider was Chemotherapy; which would've given her a 30% chance of slowing down her tumour growth.

In the face of fear, Darlene chose to not treat her cancer. With strength and determination, Darlene's foremost qualities, she surpassed medical expectations. She spent 8 years living with untreated cancer.

She decided to live for those around her and not let her illness define her unforeseeable future. Darlene watched both her kids graduate high school, celebrated her 25th wedding anniversary, and treated every day as her last. She prevailed in the face of adversity.

Despite her resilience, cancer is an unforgiving and uncompassionate sickness. Although there is a lot Darlene will miss from the long life she should've had, she has changed an endless amount of lives in her 53 years. 

She was a beautiful soul with unparalleled fortitude. She will forever be a blessing to those who were fortunate to know her, and now her story will be a guiding light.

This donation is not only to recognize and celebrate the life Darlene had, as well as the life she could've had; it is also for those who do not have the same story as Darlene. Cancer does not discriminate. People fall victim to this illness every single day. Stand Up to Cancer Canada aims to create groundbreaking research for various types of cancer by enabling multiple medical professionals to work collaboratively. 100% of their proceeds go towards supporting collaborative cancer research, education, and awareness programs within Canada.

If you would like to share in the memory of Darlene through pictures and messages from her loved ones, please visit her obituary