Kevin Harper, at his home in Caledon, Ont., says he’s grateful to have a second chance at life and doesn’t plan to waste it.Della Rollins/The Globe and Mail
Kevin Harper could not believe it was happening again.
Already a two-time cancer survivor, Harper learned in 2017 that his rare and aggressive T-cell lymphoma had returned. But this time, he would be referred to Princess Margaret Cancer Centre for intensive treatment that included a stem cell transplant, nuclear chemotherapy and radiation.
Harper was just shy of reaching his five-year cancer-free milestone when he got the bad news. For this research-and-development scientist and avid world traveller who leads a healthy, active life, the news felt like a sucker punch.
“I got really depressed,” says Harper, who lives in Caledon, Ont. “I was walking the halls of The Princess Margaret thinking, ‘What’s the point of doing this again? I’ve already been through this twice.”’ He even considered giving up and going home.
Just as his thoughts turned even darker, Harper bumped into Dr. Sarah Hales and one of her interns in the hall. Dr. Hales, a psychiatrist with The Princess Margaret’s psychosocial oncology team, realized that Harper was in crisis. He promptly received a referral so he could access sessions with her.
Dr. Sarah Hales, psychiatrist with The Princess Margaret’s psychosocial oncology team.SUPPLIED
“I had an appointment or two and it turned the page,” Harper says. “I thought, ‘You know, maybe this is worth another shot.’”
That decision saved his life. After receiving the recommended treatment at The Princess Margaret – supported by an experienced, caring team of oncologists, nurse practitioners and other staff – he continues to receive clear results to this day.
Harper credits the hospital’s specialized medical care and its psychosocial oncology team with helping him to survive, both physically and mentally.
To show his appreciation for the lifesaving care he received – and to pay it forward for others touched by cancer – Harper decided to leave a gift in his Will to The Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation. He hopes that future patients can be spared the mental and physical suffering he endured.
“To boil it down, I don’t want other people to go through what I went through. If giving some financial support means research gets done and others don’t have to face the same uncertainty, then that’s what I want to do,” Harper says. “I can’t think of anything better to do with your money.”
Miyo Yamashita, president and CEO at The Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation.SUPPLIED
Support through a profoundly challenging time
“Philanthropy, including legacy gifts, is a meaningful way to help create a world free from the fear of cancer,” says Miyo Yamashita, president and CEO at The Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation. Donor support is a critical driver of research at Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, accelerating breakthroughs that improve cancer treatment in Canada and around the world. It also helps enhance the cancer experience for patients and caregivers while in treatment and beyond.
“By leaving a gift in your Will, you create a legacy of hope and possibility,” says Yamashita. “Donor support is essential to fund life-changing discoveries, giving patients more moments to cherish with the people they love.”
While we often think of donations as primarily funding medical research, Yamashita notes that donor support also helps fund the support patients and caregivers receive as they deal with the mental, emotional and social effects of cancer. “Philanthropy enables the team at The Princess Margaret to conceive, create and implement programs that directly impact the quality of life for cancer patients,” she says.
That’s where Dr. Hales and her team come in. Dr. Hales says it’s essential for cancer patients to have access to social workers, psychologists and psychiatrists who support both patients and their families throughout the cancer experience.
“Cancer is not only a physical disease; it profoundly impacts all domains of life,” Dr. Hales says. “Psychosocial oncology services are necessary to support the whole person through cancer care, considering their practical and resource needs, their emotional state, their values and what they find meaningful in life, and their wider family and social network.”
Patients may need help processing and managing the intense emotions that come with cancer diagnosis and treatment, she adds. The team can also help address barriers such as financial strain and help patients and loved ones get their lives back on track after treatment. For Dr. Hales, it’s a vocation that is as rewarding as it is necessary.
“To accompany patients and families as they face the challenges of cancer is an honour and privilege for our team,” she says.
Kevin Harper, seen here during a trip to St. Kitts, says travelling and enjoying his life after cancer is ‘a blessing.’SUPPLIED
Embracing the future with gusto
While Harper says his energy levels have changed slightly, he’s grateful to have been given a second chance and doesn’t plan to waste it. When he’s not travelling the world as a consultant, he’s giving back to the community by maintaining hiking trails, singing in a choir and playing in a band.
Harper and his bandmates record in his garage – dubbed Abbey Road – at the home he shares with his wife, Vicki Clare, a breast cancer survivor herself. He recently got his scuba diving certification, and he and Vicki Clare have been busy kayaking and snorkeling when they can.
“It’s a blessing, really,” Harper says, describing how far he’s come while sipping coffee in his kitchen that overlooks an expanse of rolling hills. “You know, it’s such a difference between wandering the halls of The Princess Margaret and scuba diving in Belize.”
To learn more about including a gift in your Will to The Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation, visit CARRYTHEFIRE.ca/legacy or contact the Gift Planning team at legacy@thepmcf.ca.
Advertising feature produced by Globe Content Studio with The Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation. The Globe’s editorial department was not involved.