February 27, 2015 is Brave Day over on 99.1 Hits FM! Hits FM has been a huge supporter and sponsor of Young Adult Cancer Canada (YACC) and Shave for the Brave over the last decade, and they continue to blow our minds with great partner ideas like this!
Hits FM is sharing short stories from our community members throughout the day, but we bet some of you are here for a little more info; you’ve come to the right place.
Kathy and Jason Stock
It’s hard to believe we’ve only known Kathy and Jason for a little over a year! They’ve become a big part of the YACC community through attending our events, public speaking, and other volunteer activities, and we can’t imagine it any other way!
Kathy says cancer quickly stole her identity when she was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma at 29. “How I looked, what I could do, how I functioned. Within weeks I was bald and pale and alone because I wasn’t well enough to take care of my boys. I remember looking in the mirror and not recognizing my own reflection,” she said. “YACC has been a really big part of helping me find myself again. I have a new normal now and there’s no reason why it can’t be even better than it was before.”
Jason said her diagnosis was a shock to everyone because she seemed so strong and healthy. “She started chemo and it was incredibly hard to watch her go through it, especially with having to work and take care of our two boys. Within weeks of treatment, she began losing her hair.
“One of the hardest moments for me was when she asked me to shave her head. I knew she wanted me to do it so that she could take back control of what was happening to her but every hair that fell to the floor broke my heart. Young Adult Cancer Canada understands that cancer affects the whole family, and for that I am forever grateful.”
(Read Kathy’s survivor profile and learn what they thought of Retreat Yourself!)
Jody Mason
Jody has become another familiar face around YACC HQ after being diagnosed with stage 4 bowel cancer at 32, and we’ve come to count on him as the comic relief!
“I’ve relapsed twice since being declared cancer free in 2012. My most recent relapse requires me to be on chemotherapy every two weeks indefinitely. It has been quite a challenge over the past four years, and will continue to be so,” he said. “Thanks to Young Adult Cancer Canada, I’ve been able to connect with others like me. They are my family now and they will always be close to my heart. The community understands the unique struggles young adults face with cancer. Thanks to your generous donations I was able to attend [Retreat Yourself]; this was a life changing event for me. Being an eternal optimist, I found the best way to deal with my diagnosis was with a lot of smiles and laughter. Cancer may be my diagnosis, but cancer isn’t me.”
Make sure to check him out at the Big Cancer Hook-up on February 28!
(Read Jody’s survivor profile!)
Noviley Power
Noviley is one of our newest YACCers, but she’s already part of the family! She says she felt like cancer had already taken a lot from her by the time she was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma at 37.
“In 2004 it took my mother, who was my best friend. Now it was taking my hair, my health and my happiness. Fortunately, I was introduced to Young Adult Cancer Canada (YACC), and that made all the difference. I was incredibly lucky to be able to attend a YACC retreat, where I met other young adults who truly understood how I felt. I made friendships that will last a lifetime.”
