Cancer survivor remembers those he lost to the disease
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Amelio died from cancer 14 years ago, while Paul, who was only eight years old at the time, was fighting his own battle with the disease.
Before his death, Amelio said the one thing he wanted was for his grandson to be OK.
He didn't live long enough to see his dream come true.
"I wish they were still here with us today, so it's certainly a special time when I can remember them," said Paul, 21, who was diagnosed with cancer in December 1993, the year he spent Christmas in the hospital.
Doctors eventually discovered the Grade 3 student had Burkitt's lymphoma, which presented as a tumour in his bowel that was later removed.
That surgery was followed by eight months of chemotherapy in Hamilton.
"I remember a lot of it, some of the details are missing, but I remember it being one of the most difficult years of my life."
The treatments were gruelling, making him feel much sicker than he was.
One of the drugs weakened him to the point that he wobbled and couldn't walk in a straight line.
The lumbar puncture, which injected medicine into his spine, left a lasting mark on Paul.
"The needle had to go into an exact spot, and it was agonizing. My mom would be there holding me," he recalled.
The entire process made him wonder, "Where has my normal life gone and when is it coming back?"
Paul beat the disease and has been in full remission ever since, though he gets tested every year.
"On checkup days it's still a little nerve-racking, but I'm sort of confident that I've passed that stage."
This fall, he is entering into his fourth-year studying international development and political science at Dalhousie University in Nova Scotia.
The Waterloo resident is not certain where he'll go from there.
But one thing that won't change is his dedication to the Canadian Cancer Society, where he is volunteering this summer.
"It's a way I turn that horrible, negative, uncomfortable experience into something that was meaningful or worthwhile. And I think that's really important."
He began volunteering for the society when he was still receiving chemotherapy. Over the years, he's helped out with the Great Ride 'n' Stride, in the office and as a spokesperson.
To top all that, he has raised more than $200,000 for the cause.
He's taking part in the Relay for Life this weekend in Waterloo Park West, in the bandshell area off Westmount Road North; it begins at 7 p.m. on Friday, and runs until 7 a.m. the following day.
During that time, participants, who are in teams of about 10 people, take turns walking around the track.
The first lap is just for cancer survivors, who carry a banner that says "I am a survivor."
"As a survivor, it's that sense of the camaraderie and strength and courage, and remembering what all of us went through during our treatments, and now we're all around to celebrate," Paul said of the lap.
The luminary ceremony, when people light candles that are placed in bags around the track, will be held around 10 p.m.
"It's quite an empowering thing that goes on," said Karen Griffiths, the manager of the Waterloo Canadian Cancer Society.
Participants write messages of love, hope and remembrance on the bags.
"It's one of the most emotional things .... It's powerful, that's what it is," Paul said.
Just like when he was young, his family will be by his side at the relay.
"It means a lot to me. I'm no longer fighting cancer, but everyone is in need of a support network, and that's my support network."
The Relay for Life is held in cities across Canada.
The goal this year is to raise $450,000 between the Waterloo relay and one recently held in Cambridge.
"I'm sure we're going to exceed our goal," Griffiths said.
To volunteer, register or donate, go to www.cancer.ca/relay.