Mike Gordon had everything going for him last year.
The Langford resident had recently been hired at CFB Esquimalt Fire Rescue as a full-time firefighter, during his spare time he was a volunteer firefighter with Langford Fire Rescue and coached eight-year-old lacrosse players with the Juan de Fuca Whalers.
He was as healthy as ever B次元官网网址� had never been to the hospital and never had to undergo surgery.
But in September 2017 that all changed.
Gordon began to experience double vision, and after a series of tests, was diagnosed with six nerve palsy, a disorder that affects eye movement.
He was then sent home by doctors and told the problem would eventually fix itself. By the time January 2018 rolled around, GordonB次元官网网址檚 eyes had almost healed completely. But thatB次元官网网址檚 when the migraines started.
They were periodic at first, but it wasnB次元官网网址檛 until one morning when they got so unbearable and Gordon started to throw up that he called an ambulance and was taken to Victoria General Hospital. After an MRI, doctors discovered three tumours in his brain B次元官网网址� the largest one was two centimetres long.
A few days later, he was diagnosed with primary central nervous system lymphoma, a disease in which malignant cancer cells form in the lymph tissue of the brain and/or spinal cord.
B次元官网网址淚 was pretty much at a loss for words,B次元官网网址� said the 32-year-old. B次元官网网址淚 didnB次元官网网址檛 know what to think of it B次元官网网址� ItB次元官网网址檚 definitely a bump in the road.B次元官网网址�
While doctors are not able to operate on the tumours because of where they are located, it is treatable.
And on March 6, Gordon started the first of several rounds of chemotherapy at Royal Jubilee Hospital.
With Gordon undergoing treatment, his best friend Ian Greenwood set up an online fundraising campaign to help.
The campaign reached its $10,000 goal within three days, prompting Greenwood to up the goal to $20,000. More than $20,495 has been raised since the campaign kicked off on Friday, March 9.
B次元官网网址淲e felt helpless when we found out about his illness. Encouraging words only go so far and we really wanted to do something B次元官网网址� Mike knows so many people, just from growing up in Langford and all his family connections,B次元官网网址� said Greenwood, who has known Gordon since they were 16 years old and describes him as a sports fan and one of the most generous, selfless people he knows.
B次元官网网址淛ust to see the support of who and how many people are donating is super beneficial in itself. Just to see how many people are rooting for him and thinking about him, I think the whole thing is going to help in more ways than one.B次元官网网址�
The outpouring of support has meant the world to Gordon, who didnB次元官网网址檛 know about the campaign until a friend notified him of it a few days after it had launched. When he saw the posts and donations from people he knew and ones he didnB次元官网网址檛, he broke down in tears.
B次元官网网址淚 was overwhelmed with the love and support from my family, friends colleagues, and my community. I would like to thank everyone for their kindness, supporting messages and generosity. I got this,B次元官网网址� Gordon said. B次元官网网址淢y goal is to fully recover and get back to work and get on my with my life.B次元官网网址�
For more information on the campaign visit gofundme.com and search .
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