Sydenham Cancer benefit raises $26,000 plus

Mar 31, 2011

Photo: The Sheldrick family and Holly York with Linda Lothian (fourth from left), with Linda's grandson Donovan

Linda Lothian and her family got a boost from friends, family and the Sydenham community who held a fund raising dance and benefit in her honour on March 26 at the Sydenham Legion. The Sheldrick family, along with Holly York, are all long-time family friends of Linda’s and organized the benefit as a way to honour her. All funds raised will be donated to the Kingston Cancer Centre at KGH where Linda has been receiving ongoing treatment since first being diagnosed in 1997.

The last 16 years have been a bumpy ride, to say the least, for Linda and her family. Diagnosed with cervical cancer in 1997, which spread to her lymph nodes, she underwent radical surgery, radiation and chemotherapy.

Since then her cancer has reoccurred a total of five times. Before Christmas Linda underwent two more surgeries to treat a hole that was found in her bladder as a result of the cancer spreading yet again. Still she continues to beat the odds, but admits to feeling that she is living on “borrowed time”. “I think I must be part cat because I definitely seem to have about nine lives.”

Linda's treatment now includes regular weekly blood transfusions to keep her going and in the last four months she has undergone 40 transfusions. The Friday before the dance she opted to have two transfusions at once to keep her energy up for the benefit dance this weekend, as she planned to have at least one or two turns on the dance floor. Though she walks with a cane and uses a wheel chair, she happily greeted over 250 well wishers at the Sydenham Legion on Saturday night. Joining Linda were family and friends from as far away as Oshawa, Scarborough, Ajax, Campbellford, and Whitby. All marvel at her ability to remain positive, and in between greeting guests, she told me what enables her to maintain her positive outlook. “I try not to dwell on the negative things. When the doctor at Christmas told me that I had between two weeks and two months to live, my husband Dave and I looked at each other and said, 'Okay'. All I know is that I have to keep thinking positive. I try not to harp on the negative.” She added, “The only real explanation I have for beating the odds this far is that I'm just not ready to go yet. It's not my time. So I must have a strong will. I also have a lot of great friends and family who have been really supportive.” Linda's husband Dave chimed in, “We really just try to take one day at a time and live day to day, sometimes even hour to hour. I think also that our kids and grandson Donovan definitely help to keep Linda going. Also you just never give up hope.”

Linda says, “It really helps to have a supportive husband and family.”

The event included a silent auction and live music by the band “The Saggy Bottom Boyz”.

Melissa Sheldrick said of Linda, who has been a second mom to her, “She is an incredible woman and a real inspiration and we all just wanted her to know that we are behind her.” Linda was overwhelmed by the turn out and wishes to express her thanks to the Sheldrick family and Holly York for putting on the event and helping to raise her spirits.