 |
Kevin, 35, was a hockey fiend, book lover, trivia fan and an amazing friend. He was married to his beautiful wife Jill for three years. While at work on September 11, 2007 Kevin’s jaw went numb in the middle of a sentence. He was rushed to the hospital and scheduled for immediate brain surgery. Doctors removed a grape-sized tumour. The diagnosis was glioblastoma multiforme – brain cancer. Numerous rounds of radiation and chemotherapy proved ineffective. Kevin underwent a second brain surgery in April 2008 to remove three new brain tumours. Despite following up with a powerful new type of chemo, one of the tumors, which hadn’t been completely removed because of its proximity to Kevin’s motor strip, regrew. In June 2008 Kevin’s team of medical specialists recommended a drug treatment usually given to colorectal cancer patients. This chemo cocktail has a record of positive results when used to treat GBM like Kevin’s, but it is not covered by provincial or private medical insurance for treatment of any kind of cancer other than colorectal. Kevin was treated by a private oncologist, for which they traveled from Victoria to Vancouver for two days twice a month for several months. |
|
One morning in mid-November, Kevin had a grand mal seizure which lasted a frightening 7 minutes. He was rushed to the hospital where he had a second major grand mal seizure and two smaller seizures. An MRI revealed that the chemo was no longer effective against Kevin’s cancer. Treatments with two more types of chemotherapy over the next month both failed to halt tumour growth in Kevin's brain. A combination of damage from treatments and from the latest tumour caused extreme weakness, fatigue and partial paralysis, which were exacerbated by the cumulative effects of chemotherapy, steroids and anti-seizure medications. Kevin was unable to work after his diagnosis and Jill stayed home to care for him for the duration of his illness. |
 |
Kevin was admitted to hospice on December 25th, 2008, when he was no longer able to get comfortable at home. Providing 24-hour care to Kevin, who was in constant discomfort, unable to sleep, experiencing vision loss and rapidly decreasing mobility, exhausted Jill both emotionally and physically.
Around 2 AM on January 10th, 2009, with Jill at his side, Kevin Rushton passed quietly from this life. It was just four days short of their third wedding anniversary, which became the day of Kevin's wake. Hundreds of people came out to remember Kevin and to comfort each other. Kevin and Jill both showed unbelievable strength and courage during the sixteen months of Kevin's illness. They shared more love and laughter in ten years than most people have in a lifetime, and for that they are very fortunate.
Kevin, you are missed.
