A Nova Scotian man diagnosed with terminal lung cancer in Calgary wants to die in peace in his Lawrence Beach home.
Like many Maritimers, Cameron Conrad travelled back and forth to work out west. But his health took a tragic turn in November.
"He went back and forth to the doctors,” said Juanita Martin, Conrad’s sister. “They thought it was shingles. The pain got so bad he admitted himself to hospital in Grand Prairie that when he was diagnosed with lung cancer and it has spread to his bones"
Conrad now only has weeks, maybe months to live. His final request is to return home.
Family and friends remain at his side visiting when they can, but are now trying to make a final wish come true.
"He looked me in the eyes and said, ‘(Lisa), I just want to come home and die,’” said Lisa Rehberg, Conrad’s niece. “And I said, ‘We're going to do whatever we can to make that happen.’"
Conrad wants to return to the Lawrence Beach area and live out the rest of his days surrounded by people he loves and the beauty of home.
But getting him to the Maritimes has proved challenging.
"If he could sit on a regular aircraft, we could hire a nurse and bring him home, but he can't,” said Martin. “He can't get out of bed at this point. He has to lay flat, so we have to get Mediflight."
Martin says it will cost $47,000 to bring him home.
“It’s not as easy as it seems – emotionally or financially,” she said.
The family has set up a GoFundMe page. While family and friends have been generous, they still need help.
Martin and Rehberg recently returned home from seeing Conrad in Calgary. A fundraiser was held Sunday afternoon to help the family reach their goal.
"The support is amazing,” said Rehberg.
While everyone is grateful for the care Conrad is receiving in Alberta, they know his heart and soul is in Nova Scotia, and want him to return home before it’s too late.
With files from CTV Atlantic’s Marie Adsett.
