Hey, my name is Karli and I'm Ron's niece from Winnipeg. Uncle Ron always steps up to help out those around him and I'm hoping now is the time you could step up to help him and Auntie Donna's upcoming continued challenge.

Here is an update on Uncle Ron's cancer journey from Donna;

The pathology report from June 2026 is back and it is confirmed that the tumour is a recurrence of the chordoma cancer - a small tumour but a recurrence. In September or late fall, Donna and Ron will be headed to Jacksonville, Florida for 8-12 weeks for Proton Radiation treatment. Their time away will be dependent on the specific plan they create for Ron. The radiologists at the University of Florida Proton Radiation Institue create an individualized plan for every person having the treatment.

Treatment of the actual radiation time is less than 5 minutes but the set up for the whole appointment will likely be about 1/2 hour, 5 days a week, weekends off and 8-12 weeks in duration. The intention is that the beam is very direct, targeting specific areas, and less damaging to surrounding tissue which is a good plan considering that most of the radiation will likely be on Ron’s lower spine and Donna says he has pretty good function down there right now!

This type of radiation means fewer side effects although Ron will like have a ‘sunburned’ bottom, might be tired near the end of the treatment, nausea, diarrhea. It will be a ‘let’s see how it goes’ situation. Donna says Ron is always cheerful and seems to take all these events in stride so they are expecting a good outcome, as is his surgeon in Vancouver.

For the GFM - AHS will cover Ron’s proton radiation treatment and likely his airfare to Jacksonville, Florida. Accommodation and Donna's flight will need to be covered. They hope to get a suite where they can cook meals, do the laundry and be close enough to the institute that they can walk there as often as possible. It will also be important that Ron has a community. The place they are looking at is 3rd and Main in Jacksonville, Florida. They have amazing reviews from patients who have stayed there while having treatment at UF Proton Radiation Institute.

They are very grateful for the friends and family who have supported them in the past and thank you in advance for those who could possibly help their upcoming expenses this fall.

Donna will be posting regular updates on Caring Bridge. Donna started the Caring Bridge account as a way to keep in touch with regular updates in 2018 after Ron’s original diagnosis and his epic 11 1/2 hour surgery and post recovery. Please join Donna there as she writes about each stage of this adventure, 8 years later. You can even read the posts from 2018 -2019 if you are curious about chordoma cancer.

If you wish, Caring Bridge also has some other options for supporting them. All the kind thoughts, warm wishes, healing vibes, and prayers from all faiths sustained them through the first encounter with a rare, one in a million cancer diagnosis. They would love to hear from you!

Ron's Caring Bridge Link-

https://www.caringbridge.org/site/1388b8fc-ae84-3334-b97e-506b2972012e

Great news already! Donna’s airfare has been gifted by Ron’s boss. But meals/food will be an expense

Thank you to Ryan Brown from Triad Mechanical in Okotoks, AB

We're thinking about you Uncle Ron and we're all behind you on this journey!