Dave Millar was at work recently when he suddenly lost the use of his left hand.
The Blackfalds man called his wife Julie after this happened – she met him at work and rushed him to the emergency room, as she thought he was displaying signs of a stroke.
He was diagnosed with a Grade 4 glioblastoma mass on his brain – a deadly and aggressive form of cancer.
Since that diagnosis, he had brain surgery to decrease the sign of the tumour and has begun chemotherapy and radiation treatment.
A GoFundMe page was launched to support Dave and Julie Millar, as well as their sons 17-year-old Cole and 15-year-old Ethan.
Dave and Julie met in Vancouver in 1996 when they were in their mid-20s. When they began their lives together, they set roots in Squamish, B.C., where they both worked at an insurance company. When they had their sons, Julie left the insurance company and eventually began working as an educational assistant.
The family then moved to Blackfalds about five years ago to be closer to Julie’s side of the family.
Now, after Dave’s diagnosis, he has been given eight months to live.
“If his body responds well to treatment, his life may extend to a year. We’re all praying against the odds, that he will live to be with his family and friends longer than that, but unfortunately, this will be terminal,” said the GoFundMe page, which was created by Jason Miller.
The GoFundMe has already raised about $9,500 of its $10,000 goal.
“Dave has recovered from surgery well and is hoping to respond well to the cancer treatment. His spirits remain positive, but as you can imagine, this has impacted his family greatly,” the online fundraiser said.
“They are going to need some help. Dave will not be able to return to work. Julie, who currently works as an educational assistant will now have the added stress and cost of getting to treatments. The family will also have the loss of Dave’s income to worry about.”
To see the GoFundMe page, search “Dave’s Battle In The Trenches” on www.gofundme.com.
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