Some people get more than their fair share of heartache and challenges. And I think the rest of us who lead pretty lucky lives should help when we can.
Rick Bigg is a London man who has had to overcome some huge obstacles in recent years. On his 49th birthday he was told he had Parkinson’s Disease. By the time I got to know him, in his early 50s, he walked with a stoop and rode a scooter. What we have in common is motorcycles. Rick would scoot up to his bike, wriggle under it and work away at it. Once he was able to get propped up onto the bike he could ride a while. But it got to the point where he couldn’t work anymore. I remember a frank discussion we had one time as he was wrestling with the right time to leave. His tolerance for standing was almost nil but he didn’t want to lose benefits or the pay, of course. And at the time his wife, Laurie, was on the kidney transplant list.
Laurie did have her surgery and despite his own challenges, Rick was there to help and support her as she recovered and went back to work.
A few weeks ago Rick had trouble swallowing and experienced severe chest pains. I don’t know how the diagnoses could have been any worse. He has stage IV bone cancer and an inoperable tumour in his throat the size of an orange. Doctors believe the symptoms were likely masked by the Parkinson’s. Rick has only weeks to live and because of their health histories he and his wife have been unable to secure any kind of insurance. Laurie is eligible for six weeks compassionate leave from work but if she takes them now to spend time with her husband at the end of his life, while she’s not working, what are they supposed to do for income?
I don’t claim to know Rick well, but we had some talks over the years that were very important to me. He was interested in the progress of my Dad’s Parkinson’s case and shared his deep knowledge of motorcycle riding and building. He’s an interesting man who was made all the more respectable to me because of the deep love he has for his family and his wide smile and enduring optimism. He has simply been dealt a really crummy hand.
Friends have organized a fundraiser for Rick and Laurie at East Side Bar and Grill on Sunday, May 25th starting at 3 pm. It will be hosted by Hurtin’ Merv. There’s also an online donation component here: Go Fund Me. If you have any inclination to help them get through this dark time, please do. I can tell you that it feels a lot better than buying flowers that will die or clicking a like on a Facebook page. This is real. This is the face of cancer. This is our friend Rick.
(This blog also appears at Blackburnnews.com)
Done and done. I’ve never given to a Go Fund before but your story of Rick and Laurie’s hardships were too touching not to. Thank you for being a good friend and sharing their challenges with all of us. We are indeed so damned lucky, Lisa.
Oh Erin thank you thank you so much! They are truly wonderful and deserving of so much better than what they’ve been given. xo