Brian Kijowski is Looking for Your Help

Hello everyone,

My name is Stefanee and I am writing this on behalf of my dad Brian Kijowski. We are reaching out to all who can help us to reach our goal of $30,000.

You may stop to think and ask yourself why we are looking for such a generous donation and the reason is that my dad is fighting cancer.

Myeloma cancer to be exact.

For those of you who don't know what Myeloma cancer is, it is a cancer of the plasma cells. Plasma cells are white blood cells that make antibodies that protect us from infection. What happens with Myeloma cancer is the cells grow too much, crowding normal cells in the bone marrow that make red blood cells, platelets, and other white blood cells.

Since 2010 my dad has been in hospitals and seeing doctors to keep his Myeloma cancer at bay. Unfortunately, 12 years later, it has returned and has been affecting his quality of life the last few years. He has found himself in the hospital more then he ever has in his 71 years of life and that is saying a lot because he was apart of the Calgary Police Service for 27 years.

The treatments and the medicine have left him tired, not always present, irritable, and shameful towards himself. Shameful because he has always known himself as the man that you could come to for help. Whether it was to help with friend's home renovations, be a friend who lent an ear, and being the best dad to his two daughters and a wonderful grandpa to his granddaughter.

It has been hard to watch him struggle, to see him in pain, and to longer see the spark of life that he use to have in him just a few years ago.

With the donations that we collect Brian is looking to pay for his medicine, his trips to the hospital (these trips include driving from Vernon to Kelowna as well as Vernon to Vancouver), and other expenses. Brian's wife, Albertine, has been working 3 jobs since his cancer has returned just to keep everything going at home. This has been hard on Brian because being the person he is, he wishes that he could provide for his family along side his wife.

If cancer wasn't affecting his life he would be working a part time job not only to help Albertine provide but to keep himself busy because that is the way he has lived most of his life. He has never been the husband or dad that sits around because he was always the go getter.

I want to thank everyone on behalf of my dad who has taken the time to read his story and are considering donating. Your kindness and compassion is very much appreciated during this trying time.