A local restoration company is rallying behind one of its employees following a leukemia diagnosis, as they fundraise for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society of Canada Light the Night campaign.
Maple Ridge resident Todd Yuen, who works with First OnSite, initially felt sick in December, 2022.
Yuen came down with what he thought was a common cold and his gums swelled to the point where only half his teeth were showing.
After seeing doctors and dentists, he didn’t receive a correct diagnosis.
Days later, on Jan. 3, the following year, he almost fainted in his driveway before going to work. He had a busy schedule that day, so he continued into the office, but by the afternoon he felt exhausted and just not right.
Yuen drove himself to Ridge Meadows Hospital where he was diagnosed with leukemia and transferred to Vancouver General Hospital. He has acute myeloid leukemia, a rapidly progressing cancer of the blood and bone marrow.
He had three and a half months of treatment, including a stem cell transplant, before he could see his home again.
It was a tough time for the father of three, who couldn’t see his eldest son while he was in the hospital, because of COVID-19 restrictions. When he returned home, had to deal with the challenges of not being able to work, or participate in the day-to-day activities that used to bring joy to his life, like riding bicycles with his children, or playing a game of soccer with them.
Yuen, who will be turning 39 in December, explained what an eye-opening journey he has been on so far. There are many costs and financial burdens placed on families when they need to access treatment for blood cancer.
Only certain hospitals treat blood cancers, some are better than others, and patients have to reside within a certain radius of those hospitals to be accepted as a patient.
Those outside the radius have to move within, and this often can involve taking on renting a residence while undergoing treatment, while not working, and still paying for their full-time residence elsewhere.
And, Yuen noted, there is the high price of medications not covered under the province’s Medical Services Plan.For example, the chemotherapy Yuen is undergoing initially cost $13,000 per month. The cost drops in price, depending on the different therapies for different people.
For Yuen it dropped to $11,000 per month and then to $8,000 per month.
“If you don’t take it, you’re essentially going to not survive,” he said.
There is 100 per cent coverage for people who need it, but you have to apply through an oncologist and social worker, who plead your case.
Yuen ended up a successful candidate and getting the chemo covered, but he didn’t find out until a couple of days into treatment.
“It was very eye-opening for me because I felt we had essentially free medical in Canada. So it was quite surprising to see that,” he said.
Another issue is funding for housing which is based on incomes decades old. For example, he said, successful applicants must have a combined household income of $50,000. But, he said, most dual income families make well over this amount now, so they wouldn’t qualify.
Yuen feels fortunate that he has a support network of family and friends who have been raising money for his family so they don’t have to worry. However, not all patients are that lucky.
Currently, he travels to VGH twice a week for blood work, and gets blood transfusions, generally once a week.
His chemo cycle is down to five days because his blood counts are not recovering like they should.
“I feel like it’s just the norm now,” he said.
His company, First OnSite, is raising money for Light the Night, described as more than just a walk, but a heartwarming and transformative event put on by the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of Canada, and taking place on Saturday, Oct. 25. The event is designed to infuse hope and healing into the blood cancer community.
“Each employee at First Onsite stands with Todd and the many others affected by blood cancers. Our goal is to bring hope and healing to more families through continued research, awareness, and support, as we work together to find a cure,” said the company.
And, reminded Yuen, people don’t have to give money – they can also donate blood through the Canadian Blood Services.
“Somebody like myself, I rely on blood transfusions to live, essentially, and have energy to play with my kids, and operate my day-to-day,” said Yuen.
Donating blood is quick, he added, and it’s something that helps tremendously.
Light the Night takes place Saturday, Oct. 25, in Vancouver.
To donate to the campaign go to: https://secure.llscanada.org/site/TR/LTN/LTN?pg=team&team_id=19999&fr_id=1705.
As of Thursday afternoon, Oct. 23, First OnSite had raised $22,684. They are hoping to surpass $25,000.
To donate blood go to: https://www.blood.ca/en.