Planning for death - supporting Troy & Katherine

Big breath. This is so hard to write.

Troy Guyot is our friend, brother, pilates instructor, guitar and bass player, and philosopher that loves to poke the bear and get a debate rolling among many other things. He's got a wicked sense of humor and has the biggest explosive laugh! It's so contagious! His partner, Katherine Denham, is a dancer, performer, therapist, teacher, and founder of Kalijo Pilates in Davis Bay. Together, they run the Pilates Studio, teach and work with people to heal and strengthen themselves.

What happened?

12 months ago, Troy was in a motorcycle accident near Sechelt. He hit a deer, and although he didn't break a single bone, he rag-dolled on the highway and sustained multiple injuries and whiplash. At the time, their work at the pilates studio had already been deeply impacted by the effects of the pandemic, and after the accident, trying to keep the business afloat grew even more difficult.

Over time, instead of recovering, Troy was getting worse - weaker and more tired as the weeks and months went on, and by this past March, he was unable to teach. He was losing strength and coordination in his hands and legs, losing muscle and weight, and his voice had changed. Something more was going on.

The Diagnosis

After dozens of appointments and tests, Troy was finally diagnosed in June with Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), and it's progressing much faster than anyone is ready for. ALS is gradually paralyzing him, as the nerve cells in his brain and spinal cord stop communicating with the muscles of the body. Over time, as his muscles break down, he is losing the ability to walk, talk, eat, swallow, and eventually breathe. It has been described as being a prisoner in your own body, as the mind stays bright, while the body slowly stops functioning. ALS is fatal. 

>>> Read about ALS and how it progresses here. <<< This is important info about what this disease is and what it does.

Today, Troy struggles with holding and carrying things as simple as a fork or toothbrush. You can literally see the muscles in his arms, stomach, and legs twitching constantly, a result of the ongoing disruption of signals from the nerves to the muscles. This makes him weak and tired. He's thin, has significant muscle wasting and eats very slowly and carefully so as not to choke, and swallowing is difficult. He is able to talk (in a whisper) for short periods of time with pauses for breaths and swallowing, and he puts in great effort to control slurring his words. He can text, and he can still walk, but is unsteady on his feet, and is very weak.

Very soon, Troy will need a wheelchair, a communication device has now arrived, and soon he will be faced with decisions about medical interventions to help him eat and breathe. Troy, Katherine, and all of their loved ones are preparing for Troy's end-of-life care. It's impossible to believe that this is happening to our Troy. Tron. T-Roy. Trout. Troy-boy. (He just rolled his eyes at that.)

To add another layer, facing a housing crisis here on the Sunshine Coast, they have already had to move twice in the midst of all this and may need to move again this fall. 

What do they need?

They are preparing for end-of-life care, and as self-employed people, this is an important and very difficult time financially, after the past year and a half in a pandemic.  As Troy becomes less self-sufficient, the cost of care, support, supplements, devices, and equipment increases.  Your financial support will be used wisely to help Troy and Katherine in his final days of life. 

Keeping in touch & seeing him

If you feel inclined to contact Troy, please know that his abilities change daily and his strength and pain ebbs and flows. They may have limited time and social resources but please feel free to reach out! They will do their best to connect.

Thank you SO much. We will post updates and hopefully some video to keep you connected to how he's doing. Troy and Katherine are full of love and gratitude for everyone who has supported them through this unimaginable time. 

xoxo