By Pepper Parr
December 19th, 2023
BURLINGTON, ON
There is no cure
It was a blunt statement, that hit hard is as I reads it on a Facebook page.
Russ Campbell had been struggling for the past 2 years, dealing with an aggressive form of bladder cancer “that has now spread outside my bladder.”
“Unfortunately, there is no cure and, given my age and other health issues, any further treatment is high risk and if successful would only add a few months to my life expectancy.
“My plan is to make the best of the time I do have and what will be will be. For the most part, life has been good and I have very few regrets so don’t feel sorry for me – I don’t.
“But do do the things that are important to you NOW, today if possible, and don’t put them off to some distant date.”
Russell G. Campbell with his wife, Denise and his grandson Kia.
Things are tough for Russ – but he doesn’t see it that way. He knows what is going to happen and he is prepared.
He is on dialysis, doesn’t have a bladder but is no longer on radiation – 34 bouts of that was enough for him.
Russ was born in Jamaica, moved to Canada with his parents and settled in Burlington. Says with a chuckle that he “married the girl next door”.
Russ finished high school and went to work – soon realized that he needed more in the way of an education and took accounting courses at night and earned a CGA – Certified General Accountant.
I crossed his path when I read the blog that he wrote. Russ was a strong conservative and I was looking for someone to bring a small c conservative viewpoint to the Gazette. He wrote a few columns and reminded me that “I don’t think you were all that happy with me and I decided I would stick to the blog I was writing.” We kept in touch.
Russ doesn’t have much time for the conservatism he is seeing south of the border. He doesn’t have the energy he would like to have – but he can still start cooking some of the meals – when he gets tired Denise takes over.
Cancer has been a part of the family for a long time. Denise had cancer on three occasions – each time she was able to overcome the disease.
We are going to stay with Russ as he completes his journey. ” I know I am going to die and I’m prepared”, he said. “I will miss the people in my life.” The family unit is 13 people strong: two sons and their children.
He doesn’t have very much in the way of stamina – but the courage that gets him through a day is remarkable.
Stoic.
