Let's get Rick Hodge back home

Hi all, my name is Dave Lamb and I am looking for your assistance to help get Rick Hodge out of the hospital and back home. I have worked with Rick since 2018 but he has been in aviation field since 1991 and is very well respected. Odds are if you are in aviation maintenance you have worked with Rick at some point in your career.

Rick's journey:

As some of you know Rick has been unable to work since February of 2024. His legs were becoming increasingly numb to the point he could no longer support himself and he was eventually admitted to the hospital after numerous falls.

Within two weeks of being admitted to hospital, Rick was unable to walk at

all and was permanently confined to a wheelchair.

After 3 months of numerous tests, scans, MRIs, and biopsies, he

was finally was diagnosed CNS lymphoma (central nervous system lymphoma)

This normally means brain cancer; but for Rick, it showed up as nodules on his lower spine which is rare. Radiation treatment was not an option due to the sensitive area in which the cancer was developing. Any direct treatment to the area could cause further paralysis.

On August 3rd, Rick was moved to the Tom Baker Cancer Centre where he began chemotherapy immediately. His final round of chemo was completed on October 1st and he spent the next month gradually recovering from the side effects.

He has recently been moved to the spinal rehab unit at the Foothills hospital where therapy has commenced. The goal is to have him return home by the end of

the year. MRI's of his spine have not been completed to date and the doctors

do not know if the chemotherapy has worked.

As a result of the cancer, Rick has lost the use of his legs,

bladder and bowel. He remains in a wheelchair, and the prognosis of whether

he will ever be able to walk again is unknown at this time.

If you know Rick you are aware of his level of ingenuity. Even with this he is still going to need some help from us to make home more accessible and comfortable for him. Rick's current home is a 4 level split which poses some challenges when you are confined to a wheelchair.

Some items his family is looking to purchase to help support him are :

-A wheelchair (potentially a motorized one to make it easier on him)

-A hospital bed (which he can raise and lower to allow him to get in and out

of the wheelchair)

-A wheelchair ramp to allow him access to the house

-A stair lift in the home so he can access the washroom and bedroom

With the current layout of his home there are also substantial renovations required to make certain areas accessible.

And last but not least, Rick's family may have to look at purchasing a wheelchair accessible vehicle to provide mobility for him, including ongoing out-patient therapy.

As you can imagine, this has been all very overwhelming and life-changing for Rick and his family.

Rick always took care of the people he worked with, helping where needed and creating any tool needed to get the job done. I'm hoping we can return the favour and contribute to the tools Rick needs to settle into his home with his health challenges.

Thank you for your time and support.