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Jillian O’Connor was told she would probably not live to see her youngest son’s second birthday. Today, the Ottawa-area mother is looking forward to watching Declan turn three early next year and is grateful for every day she gets with him and her two other young children.
On Friday, those children — Declan, two years old, Landon, four years old, and Myla, six years old — played on a vintage tractor near Pakenham as its owner, Mike Thompson, handed a cheque for $16,500 to O’Connor to support her children’s education.
Thompson, a stranger who was moved by O’Connor’s story, drove his tractor — which was flying a pink ribbon flag for breast cancer and displaying a picture of O’Connor and her family — to raise awareness about the disease and money for the children.
Jillian O’Connor and her kids Mya, Landon and Declan near Mississippi Mills Ontario Friday Nov 24, 2017. Mike Thompson drove his tractor around Ontario to raise money for an education fund for Jillian’s kids. Jillian is battling terminal cancer.
O’Connor was diagnosed with metastasized breast cancer three years ago while pregnant with Declan. She received chemotherapy while still pregnant and then more aggressive treatment once she had delivered a healthy baby.
Today, O’Connor lives with a terminal cancer diagnosis and counts every day as a blessing, she says. But despite regular treatment, including cyber-knife treatment for brain tumours and ongoing chemotherapy, she leads an active life with a focus firmly on her kids.
“I feel great,” she said. “You are so busy with them that you don’t have time to think about yourself and I think that is the way it should be. I think that is the best way.”
She said doctors have no explanation for her ability to remain healthy and carry on, despite having incurable cancer that has spread to her brain and organs.
“It is something that they can’t explain. I don’t want them to explain as long as I can keep on doing what I am able to do. I am quite happy doing exactly this.”
O’Connor’s story has touched many people who have offered to help. Thompson was one of them.
He had never met O’Connor or her family before he made the offer to drive the antique tractor at 15 miles an hour through Ontario to raise money for her children.
“It just hit me. Here is somebody who is losing everything and has a young family. I just wanted to help.”
His travels throughout the province included a drive past the Parliament Buildings in early June.
Along the way, he met many people who were also inspired to give. One woman, he said, searched in her purse and came up with $3.25. Thompson thought she looked like she couldn’t afford the donation and offered to put $10 toward the cause in her name.
“She said, ‘No, I have had cancer. I know what it is like.’ She was adamant.”
O’Connor said Thompson began as a stranger and has become like family.
“He is a very special person and very special to our family.”
She said others have also reached out with good wishes and to support her children’s education fund.
“It just shows you there are such good people out there. There are some pretty amazing people.”
The webpage www.driveforjill.ca will continue to be live until early December.
epayne@postmedia.com
查看原文...
On Friday, those children — Declan, two years old, Landon, four years old, and Myla, six years old — played on a vintage tractor near Pakenham as its owner, Mike Thompson, handed a cheque for $16,500 to O’Connor to support her children’s education.
Thompson, a stranger who was moved by O’Connor’s story, drove his tractor — which was flying a pink ribbon flag for breast cancer and displaying a picture of O’Connor and her family — to raise awareness about the disease and money for the children.
Jillian O’Connor and her kids Mya, Landon and Declan near Mississippi Mills Ontario Friday Nov 24, 2017. Mike Thompson drove his tractor around Ontario to raise money for an education fund for Jillian’s kids. Jillian is battling terminal cancer.
O’Connor was diagnosed with metastasized breast cancer three years ago while pregnant with Declan. She received chemotherapy while still pregnant and then more aggressive treatment once she had delivered a healthy baby.
Today, O’Connor lives with a terminal cancer diagnosis and counts every day as a blessing, she says. But despite regular treatment, including cyber-knife treatment for brain tumours and ongoing chemotherapy, she leads an active life with a focus firmly on her kids.
“I feel great,” she said. “You are so busy with them that you don’t have time to think about yourself and I think that is the way it should be. I think that is the best way.”
She said doctors have no explanation for her ability to remain healthy and carry on, despite having incurable cancer that has spread to her brain and organs.
“It is something that they can’t explain. I don’t want them to explain as long as I can keep on doing what I am able to do. I am quite happy doing exactly this.”
O’Connor’s story has touched many people who have offered to help. Thompson was one of them.
He had never met O’Connor or her family before he made the offer to drive the antique tractor at 15 miles an hour through Ontario to raise money for her children.
“It just hit me. Here is somebody who is losing everything and has a young family. I just wanted to help.”
His travels throughout the province included a drive past the Parliament Buildings in early June.
Along the way, he met many people who were also inspired to give. One woman, he said, searched in her purse and came up with $3.25. Thompson thought she looked like she couldn’t afford the donation and offered to put $10 toward the cause in her name.
“She said, ‘No, I have had cancer. I know what it is like.’ She was adamant.”
O’Connor said Thompson began as a stranger and has become like family.
“He is a very special person and very special to our family.”
She said others have also reached out with good wishes and to support her children’s education fund.
“It just shows you there are such good people out there. There are some pretty amazing people.”
The webpage www.driveforjill.ca will continue to be live until early December.
epayne@postmedia.com
查看原文...
