Welcome to Rich’s blog!

Us on our wedding day!

Rich and his battle with Cancer

My husband Richard is a young, healthy mechanic. He loves his job and in his spare time, odds are you’ll either find him underneath a vehicle, or out playing in the mud with his dirtbike. He has a big heart, loves to help people and definetely keeps life interesting for the both of us. He enjoys spending time with family and friends and doing his favorite outdoor activities.On November 23rd, 2006, Rich proposed to me in Disneyland. He was very excited to begin life as a married man. Planning a dream wedding and buying a dream house. You know, all those good things.It wasn’t long after the holiday in Disneyland that Rich noticed a small lump under his left arm. Not sure what this was he consulted his family doctor only to find that his doctor was struggling with his health and was unable to practice. Rich then decided to talk to the doctor at the local walk in where he was told that he had a lypoma and it was nothing to worry about until it begins to bother him.

On June 23rd, 2007, Richard Smid and I got married in Abbotsford.

One month after the wedding, Richard and I were both back at work and life together had begun. Not long after Rich felt a sharp pain in his stomach while underneath a vehicle at work. He dealt with the pain until the 3rd week of August when he was having trouble working full days. Rich and I went back to the doctors where they began doing tests, tests, and more tests for the next 3 weeks. The doctors still didn’t know what was causing Rich so much pain.

On August 21st, 2007 Rich had an appointment with a specialist who opened our eyes. He informed us that this is not a lypoma and that we should be very concerned. The lump under Richs arm would be the easy part, but the stomach would be much more complicated.

Rich spent the next 2 days at MSA Hospital for more tests to find out exactly what was happening inside his stomach. Once we received the results, they told us that the lump under his arm was a Lymphoma which had spread to his stomach. We were then sent home. After a night at home, and intense pain, we went back to the hospital where we waited for Rich to be re-admitted into MSA Hosiptal.

On August 30th, 2007, Rich had an appointment at the Cancer Centre in Surrey. Once there, they informed us that Rich had Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma, but the type was unknown. From Surrey, he was transferred to Vancouver General Hospital where they confirmed Rich had Burkitt’s Lymphoma which is an extremely rapid spreading cancer. With no time to waste they began chemotherapy within hours of his arrival.

Once Rich and I had some time to ourselves, we started talking about how he felt. He told me everyone and their dog was asking how they could help us get through this tough time. He said that if his friends were in the same situation, he would not ask but plan an event to support the couple in need and to raise funds for the disease they were suffering from.

This is why I wrote this… This is why your reading this… We need to help make Rich’s dreams come true.

Our fundraiser is taking place on Febuary 22st, 2008. This is the day after Rich’s 22nd birthday. Our event will include dinner, dessert, a silent auction, a head shaving from the man himself (he is going to shave off my hair) as well as a dance to finish off the night.

So now I am asking for donations to our silent auction to help raise money for Rich and I, but foremost, Cancer Research.

Thank-you for all of the support so far. Its been a long journey. I hope to see everyone there. Thank-you for all of your thoughts and prayers.

- Richard and Katrina Smid.

Love you guys.