Robert's Story

The reality of life with cancer is this: It can be hard to stay positive when there just seems to be so many negatives. For instance, Robert, 42, does not recall the time spent in hospital in St. John’s fondly. In fact, he says, “I couldn’t stand it. Sometimes the nurse would come along and close the door, and you’d know someone had died. You’d hear them wheel someone away and then a little while later, the nurse would open all the doors again.” Whether he’s in St. John’s or at home in Botwood, Robert feels miserable most of the time. He can’t do all the things he once loved to do, like work, or hang out with friends. When friends do come to visit, they have to wear masks so they don’t expose Robert to any germs. What’s worse, his 14-year old daughter (who does not live with Robert) is afraid of what is going on with her Dad, and he doesn’t see very much of her anymore. The last time she saw him in the hospital, he was very ill, had lost all his hair and was shivering uncontrollably. She ran away from him crying.

But the hardest part, he says, is finding the money to go to his appointments in St. John’s. Too ill to drive, Robert must take the bus to the city once every month. He can not stay with his relatives because they all have pets and he can’t be around them. Robert estimates that each trip costs him $350, and that he has already spent close to $13,000, most of which he has borrowed. “It’s not fair,” he says. “Everything costs so much and there is so little financial support.”

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