When cancer hit us both

We are a hardworking couple with 2 teenage boys.  It has been a very difficult year for our family.  My husband was a casualty of the Oil and Gas economy and lost his job in the spring of 2015.  He went back to school to change the focus of his career but is still not able to find work in his area of expertise.  He eventually started doing construction work to earn a paycheque.  After our house fire in April of this year, he managed to hire a contractor who would, in turn, hire him to help repair the home.  Dan is willing to do what is necessary to provide for us.

In September of this year, Dan was diagnosed with Stage 4 Cancer of the throat.  He will be going through a very gruelsome series of radiation and chemotherapy treatments for the next couple of months and there is no way that he will be able to work during this time.  Just four weeks after we received his diagnosis, I was unexpectedly let go from my job.  It was a devastating blow at a time when we were at our most vulnerable state.  The pressure was on for me to find new work and I wasn’t sure how I could do that when I was needed to go to appointments with him.  I was blessed with finding some part time work recently but it will not begin to cover the simple costs of living that we face as we go through this difficult time.

In late November, we suffered another blow.  I was diagnosed with Uterine cancer and had to have a radical hysterectomy last week.  We will know soon if the cancer has spread or not.  The recovery time for me is six to eight weeks.  Full time work is not an option.

We have been blessed with friends who have brought us casseroles to eat and are willing to give us rides to the hospital or pick up groceries for us, etc.  We are so very grateful for the love that has been extended to us during this difficult time.    One friend suggested that we create a “Go-Fund-Me Page” to try to take the worry of finances off our plate so that we can both focus on our health issues and to help each other recover.  Our goal would be to have enough income that we could spend the next 3 months recuperating without the worry and burden of accumulating debt.  It is a humbling experience to have to reach out and ask for help.  Especially so for a man who holds pride in supporting his family.  I am here to say that he can’t bare that burden right now.  He will need everything he has to simply survive the battle he is in.  So it is with great humility that I am posting this request.  We are feeling a bit crippled with the events of this year and to have the worry of finances off our plate for a short time would be such a relief.  We thank you all for your hearts in giving and for your continued prayers for healing. - Dan and Darlene Desgagne