THUNDER BAY – Two years ago, Jeiyd Sedgwick was floored, finding out she’d been diagnosed with cancer.
She was only 20 at the time, preparing for his first pregnancy and looking forward to becoming a mother.
She had no idea her life was about to change forever.
Diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukemia, Sedgwick said she’d been feeling sick for months, even losing her job because she was unable to work. Told her white blood cell count wasn’t right, it eventually led to a bone-marrow biopsy, a procedure she described as the most painful thing she’s ever experienced.
“They said I had to start treatment right away, so it was a pretty big shock,” she said on Monday, helping to launch Daffodil Month at city hall, a $20,000 fundraising campaign to help the local branch of the Canadian Cancer Society.
“But not as a big a shock as it could have been. I was waiting for them to say when I’d start radiation and was told ‘You just take this pill every day for 70 years of your life.’ That was a whole shock to me and researching if it was really true.”
She quickly realized entering the world of cancer was not a death sentence.
“It’s not just something you’re going to live with and die. It’s something people can live with for the rest of their lives now.”
Campaigns like Daffodil Month play a huge role in that, helping cover the cost of cancer research, but also making the lives of patients easier in communities across Canada.
It’s why Sedgwick agreed to help out this year’s campaign.
“It’s so much more important to me now, because it shows that symbol of hope and togetherness and community, which I love,” she said. “When you’re alone, it’s terrifying, but when you’re together, even if you’re all together and aware and unknowing, it’s a lot easier and a lot less scary than being along.
“Seeing that little symbol on somebody’s shirt, it’s a little reminder that we know too, and we’re helping too. You don’t know what their story is or what it may be, if they had (cancer) or a family member or even a friend, or just hoping one day they don’t get it, then that makes my heart sing.”
Maria Cabral, regional manager of the Canadian Cancer Society Northwest, said Daffodil Month raises awareness of the disease, but is also a key component of their annual fundraising drive.
“We work really hard at fundraising and the reason is that it fuels the mission,” Cabral said.
About 200 volunteers will be out in the community in April selling daffodil pins, which are also available at the Canadian Cancer Society’s local office and at a number of businesses around town.
The public can also purchase virtual daffodils to pin onto Facebook profile pictures at www.cancer.ca.
