Helping our friend Marc Paradis
Donation protected
We are Chris Card and Pat McKinnon and we have a friend/brother/colleague named Marc Paradis and he is in for the fight of his life at the young age of 39. 
Marc is an amazing individual, husband and father of two (children 4 and 6 years old). Less than a year ago, Marc's life turned for the worse. He was diagnosed with stage four melanoma cancer and he needs our help with the next steps in his treatment. Below is part of Marc's story that he posted on Facebook some weeks back. Up to this point, Marc's cancer treatments have had a minimal effect and a costly new drug (Trametinib) has been prescribed by his oncologist. This drug has the potential of slowing Marc's aggressive cancer down. The drug is very costly and is not covered by Marc's insurance company. The cost is eleven thousand dollars per month and we are trying to help Marc and his family anyway we can. At this point surgery is no longer an option. Any donation amount would be appreciated. Please feel free to share this link as his family needs our help.
Thank-you for your generosity and support,
Chris and Pat
Dear Facebook Friends, On October 4th last fall, I was diagnosed with stage 4 metastatic melanoma. BOOM. Yup. It started as a bump the size of a chickpea that I felt under my armpit as we were walking a beach up near Petawawa on my birthday, July 30th. The lump swelled, I went to my doctor, got an ultrasound done August 4th, and then an ultrasound guided biopsy in early September which got us results October 4th when Bonnie and I were called into my GP’s office. We both stopped working, and continue to not work. We are fortunate to have such supportive employers. October 30th, I had an axillary dissection done in my right armpit where about 50 lymph nodes were removed (pretty much all that are there), 7 of which were diseased. I’ve had a PET scan, CT scans and MRIs along the way. I’ve been going through immunotherapy. I’ve had genetic testing done in the US, and I’ve traveled to the US for complementary therapy. I’ve lost about 35 pounds (I knew I could stand to lose some! HA). I go to the gym 3 days a week and have 2 awesome trainers working with me. I've prayed. I’ve done physio, I’ve done massage, I’ve done reiki and I’ve seen a shaman. I've seen a psychologist. I had radiation in March when the lump returned to my armpit and where it continues to reside. We call him “Jake 2.0” - “Jake 1.0” being the first. I’ve read books and articles galore. And who can forget the traditional Chinese medicine doctor I've been seeing for the last few years, but weekly for the last 8 months?! Early scans revealed that the cancer had spread to my right hip, T10 spine, and I’ve got 2 lesions now on my spleen. I’ve got another CT at the end of this month. Doctors don’t think the immunotherapy is working, but I continue to pray and to be hopeful. There are lots of stories of delayed responses. It’s not easy, but I try to do it every day. I've met incredible people on this journey. Every Cancer patient has their own story, and this is mine. I refuse to allow the story of others reflect on my own. I am strong. I am optimistic, and I am a fighter. I won’t give up. There’s a lot of pain, physical especially, but also emotional. I’ve got an amazing oncology team at the Ottawa Cancer Clinic at the Ottawa General Campus on my side, fighting with me. I hope to know more next week when I meet with my oncologist. My wife, Bonnie, is an incredible support through all of this. She is my rock. I’ve got an extremely supportive immediate family and two incredible friends that have been along my side since day one (you know who you are). Many others have shown their support in a multitude of ways, and I am thankful, every single day. Iléana knows I’ve got cancer, and Cai, well, he’s 4. I don’t blame him. Our kids are amazing. You never think it can happen to you, until it does. And when it does, pick up your shoes, dig in your heels, and get ready to kick the shit out of it. Be proactive. “You’re going to be running a marathon, not a sprint” (NM). Don’t give up.
Marc
Marc is an amazing individual, husband and father of two (children 4 and 6 years old). Less than a year ago, Marc's life turned for the worse. He was diagnosed with stage four melanoma cancer and he needs our help with the next steps in his treatment. Below is part of Marc's story that he posted on Facebook some weeks back. Up to this point, Marc's cancer treatments have had a minimal effect and a costly new drug (Trametinib) has been prescribed by his oncologist. This drug has the potential of slowing Marc's aggressive cancer down. The drug is very costly and is not covered by Marc's insurance company. The cost is eleven thousand dollars per month and we are trying to help Marc and his family anyway we can. At this point surgery is no longer an option. Any donation amount would be appreciated. Please feel free to share this link as his family needs our help. Thank-you for your generosity and support,
Chris and Pat
Dear Facebook Friends, On October 4th last fall, I was diagnosed with stage 4 metastatic melanoma. BOOM. Yup. It started as a bump the size of a chickpea that I felt under my armpit as we were walking a beach up near Petawawa on my birthday, July 30th. The lump swelled, I went to my doctor, got an ultrasound done August 4th, and then an ultrasound guided biopsy in early September which got us results October 4th when Bonnie and I were called into my GP’s office. We both stopped working, and continue to not work. We are fortunate to have such supportive employers. October 30th, I had an axillary dissection done in my right armpit where about 50 lymph nodes were removed (pretty much all that are there), 7 of which were diseased. I’ve had a PET scan, CT scans and MRIs along the way. I’ve been going through immunotherapy. I’ve had genetic testing done in the US, and I’ve traveled to the US for complementary therapy. I’ve lost about 35 pounds (I knew I could stand to lose some! HA). I go to the gym 3 days a week and have 2 awesome trainers working with me. I've prayed. I’ve done physio, I’ve done massage, I’ve done reiki and I’ve seen a shaman. I've seen a psychologist. I had radiation in March when the lump returned to my armpit and where it continues to reside. We call him “Jake 2.0” - “Jake 1.0” being the first. I’ve read books and articles galore. And who can forget the traditional Chinese medicine doctor I've been seeing for the last few years, but weekly for the last 8 months?! Early scans revealed that the cancer had spread to my right hip, T10 spine, and I’ve got 2 lesions now on my spleen. I’ve got another CT at the end of this month. Doctors don’t think the immunotherapy is working, but I continue to pray and to be hopeful. There are lots of stories of delayed responses. It’s not easy, but I try to do it every day. I've met incredible people on this journey. Every Cancer patient has their own story, and this is mine. I refuse to allow the story of others reflect on my own. I am strong. I am optimistic, and I am a fighter. I won’t give up. There’s a lot of pain, physical especially, but also emotional. I’ve got an amazing oncology team at the Ottawa Cancer Clinic at the Ottawa General Campus on my side, fighting with me. I hope to know more next week when I meet with my oncologist. My wife, Bonnie, is an incredible support through all of this. She is my rock. I’ve got an extremely supportive immediate family and two incredible friends that have been along my side since day one (you know who you are). Many others have shown their support in a multitude of ways, and I am thankful, every single day. Iléana knows I’ve got cancer, and Cai, well, he’s 4. I don’t blame him. Our kids are amazing. You never think it can happen to you, until it does. And when it does, pick up your shoes, dig in your heels, and get ready to kick the shit out of it. Be proactive. “You’re going to be running a marathon, not a sprint” (NM). Don’t give up.
Marc
Organizer and beneficiary
Chris Card
Organizer
Orléans, ON
Bonnie Mickle
Beneficiary
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