Mel wanted to be involved in my post today and gave me a list of things that she wanted to discuss, so this is a joint posting. I would like to point that some content may be written under duress and do not reflect the views of the author. If there is something that you disagree with, then blame it on Mel. She will also probably want to read the entry and edit it prior to posting so it may seem more polished than normal. I will probably not include this intro so she will not be aware of it, thus no edits to it!
A couple of days ago one of my friends and colleagues, Asad, started the GoFundMe and we want to thank everyone who has been supporting us since this all started. Throughout this journey we have had people check in with us, drop off care packages, offer rides to myself for appointments or to drive Xavier to his many hockey events. What has been quite evident is the sheer size of the village that we have surrounding us on this journey. From friends we have made throughout our lifetime, colleagues, hockey players and to people we have only had brief interactions with. This is a testament to the quality of people that we have surrounded ourselves with over both of our lifetimes. To see how much money that has been earned in such a short amount of time is an amazing example of how when people get together amazing things can happen. Friends from my elementary school years at St. Bernadette and St. Raphaels have contributed, even though we have drifted and I have not spoken to some of these people in over 30 years. Melanie and myself have been blessed that we grew up with such strong support systems that even years of lost contact do not impact their willingness to help out in times of need. There have been people that we have only met briefly through various channels such as hockey or random interactions that have contributed to the GoFundMe. Not everyone is able to donate financially, but the support that they have provided by sharing the posts and increasing the awareness is equally as strong. I know of people who rarely post on social media who have done so in order to spread the message. There are so many positive gestures along the way that have solidified that there there is so much good in the world that we should be grateful for. I have had offers from friends to help organize and setup other fundraising in the future. Our community support is different as they are looking at this as a long term commitment. The intent is how do provide sustain assistance as opposed to just right now.
Throughout this journey, not everything has been easy. We have had difficult days, but we have made a conscious decision to focus on what we can do each day and to find something positive, even if it is small. We are grateful to be in Canada, where our healthcare system and private insurance have covered the treatments and medications to this point. It has removed a significant financial burden and allowed us to focus on recovery. As we began exploring next steps, it became clear that our options here are limited. After researching alternatives, PIPAC stood out as the best path forward for us, but it is not available locally and must be pursued out of pocket. This is why the support we are receiving matters so much. It is helping us access a treatment that would otherwise be difficult to reach.
This year we were planning on celebrating 5 years cancer free with a trip to France in the summer. We had saved up over the last couple of years to take the boys on this trip, but unfortunately the cancer returned. Instead of Mel and myself going on our own for this treatment, we took this as an opportunity to bring the kids along with us and to make this our European vacation. Right now I am in a condition that is well enough that we can create a wonderful family experience. We are also lucky that my sister who is an experienced traveler is able to come with us and help assist with the kids. Though the intent of the trip is not necessarily positive, we are grateful for this experience. The kids will see what healthcare systems outside of Canada are like, they will be able to visit me in the hospital that will provide them exposure to a different type of healthcare. It is important that gratitude exists in all situations. No matter how difficult times may be, you need to be grateful for what you have. We are grateful that the kids and my sister can come for this initial session to experience. We will have a couple of days prior to my surgery to explore the city and the kids have already started to identify things that they want to do. The kids want to take a train ride to France so they can eat some delicious food there. They will get to experience what it is like in France as this was our original summer plan. As everyone knows I was kicked out of France because I was not good in French. This is my redemption arc as the kids are fluent in Parisian and Quebecois french.
With all our love, Mel and Quoc Hao