Support for Catherine Tobin Frost and Jim Caravan
Donation protected
With such a noticed support system of friends and family, we've decided to open a gofundme to help Jim and Catherine to raise funds for anything they may need during these hard times.
Jim Caravan; a father, community member and a friend. Jim has always been a quiet man, those who meet him would say he is an observer, not a conversation contributor. But, those who know him well, know exactly how large his heart is and when he lands a joke, he does it with vigor. Jim has always been a family man, with his values stemming around taking care of everyone as best as he could. Up until his illness had taken over, with Catherine by his side, they've been helping to support his mother in LongTerm Care. Daily visits, grocery runs and long phone conversations, are just some of the everyday tasks they have been helping with that up until now were taking up most of their time. Jim has dedicated so much of his life to helping provide for others, it is now our turn to help him.
Unfortunately, December 2019, Jim missed out on most of Christmas' celebrations. He was having extreme back pain that wiped him out for all of Christmas day. Being a family man, this was hard on him, watching from a distance. Now, Jim didn't think much of it, due to a history of back complications, so he took some much needed rest until things started to take a turn. After many doctor's visits for low sodium and concerning cases of endless insomnia that lasted weeks, Jim and Catherine felt like they weren't going to get answers.
Finally, after months of exhausted waiting, doctors found lesions on his lungs. Western Memorial Hospital in Corner Brook then scheduled Jim for a biopsy on his lungs. Now at this point, he is exhausted, low on sodium, he hasn't slept and is so anxious for this to be fully diagnosed and to start healing. They start the scheduled biopsy, but they can't reach it. So now, he has to be flown in an air ambulance to the next nearest hospital that can do the biopsy - St. Johns, Newfoundland, an 8 hour drive away. So, finally, success, the surgeons are able to reach the lungs fully and finish the biopsy. But now, he has to be driven, by ambulance, 8 hours, strapped to a gurney, back home to Western Memorial in Corner Brook. Fast forward a few days, we finally got the diagnosis of Stage IV cancer in March 2020, it's in his back, lungs and bowel.
Right now, Jim is at home, due to Covid-19, it's just safer for his immune system. Scheduled for his second round of chemotherapy at Western Memorial in the next week. We're in the dark if this will help, but Jim wants to fight as long as he has it in him.
The reason we're asking to help, is to help Catherine support Jim right now for anything they may need.
Catherine; the most loving, fun, generous soul to grace this earth. She is a friend to all and a true warrior woman. Suffering a heart attack a few years ago, she has never been more spritely or full of life.
This is Catherine's turn to be taken care of; to have one tiny less stress in her life. She's consistently helped others throughout her life and there are no two people more deserving right now. Alongside working at the Arts and Culture Centre, working on cruise boats to enter Corner Brook; she has also raised funds for Children's Wish foundation, collected money from cans and liquor bottles to donate to families in need and supports her mother-in-law consistently for years. Catherine has not stopped.
This is also a time when Catherine and Jim need a little less financial stress, as neither of them are working as much as they could. Catherine is full-time looking after Jim and trying to keep pulling her weight at her scheduled employment. Jim also hasn't been able to bring in any money since his illness back in December.
This is our time to help the most generous people I have ever known, at such a trying time.
Jim Caravan; a father, community member and a friend. Jim has always been a quiet man, those who meet him would say he is an observer, not a conversation contributor. But, those who know him well, know exactly how large his heart is and when he lands a joke, he does it with vigor. Jim has always been a family man, with his values stemming around taking care of everyone as best as he could. Up until his illness had taken over, with Catherine by his side, they've been helping to support his mother in LongTerm Care. Daily visits, grocery runs and long phone conversations, are just some of the everyday tasks they have been helping with that up until now were taking up most of their time. Jim has dedicated so much of his life to helping provide for others, it is now our turn to help him.
Unfortunately, December 2019, Jim missed out on most of Christmas' celebrations. He was having extreme back pain that wiped him out for all of Christmas day. Being a family man, this was hard on him, watching from a distance. Now, Jim didn't think much of it, due to a history of back complications, so he took some much needed rest until things started to take a turn. After many doctor's visits for low sodium and concerning cases of endless insomnia that lasted weeks, Jim and Catherine felt like they weren't going to get answers.
Finally, after months of exhausted waiting, doctors found lesions on his lungs. Western Memorial Hospital in Corner Brook then scheduled Jim for a biopsy on his lungs. Now at this point, he is exhausted, low on sodium, he hasn't slept and is so anxious for this to be fully diagnosed and to start healing. They start the scheduled biopsy, but they can't reach it. So now, he has to be flown in an air ambulance to the next nearest hospital that can do the biopsy - St. Johns, Newfoundland, an 8 hour drive away. So, finally, success, the surgeons are able to reach the lungs fully and finish the biopsy. But now, he has to be driven, by ambulance, 8 hours, strapped to a gurney, back home to Western Memorial in Corner Brook. Fast forward a few days, we finally got the diagnosis of Stage IV cancer in March 2020, it's in his back, lungs and bowel.
Right now, Jim is at home, due to Covid-19, it's just safer for his immune system. Scheduled for his second round of chemotherapy at Western Memorial in the next week. We're in the dark if this will help, but Jim wants to fight as long as he has it in him.
The reason we're asking to help, is to help Catherine support Jim right now for anything they may need.
Catherine; the most loving, fun, generous soul to grace this earth. She is a friend to all and a true warrior woman. Suffering a heart attack a few years ago, she has never been more spritely or full of life.
This is Catherine's turn to be taken care of; to have one tiny less stress in her life. She's consistently helped others throughout her life and there are no two people more deserving right now. Alongside working at the Arts and Culture Centre, working on cruise boats to enter Corner Brook; she has also raised funds for Children's Wish foundation, collected money from cans and liquor bottles to donate to families in need and supports her mother-in-law consistently for years. Catherine has not stopped.
This is also a time when Catherine and Jim need a little less financial stress, as neither of them are working as much as they could. Catherine is full-time looking after Jim and trying to keep pulling her weight at her scheduled employment. Jim also hasn't been able to bring in any money since his illness back in December.
This is our time to help the most generous people I have ever known, at such a trying time.
Organizer
Kristin Joy
Organizer
Corner Brook, NL