Support my wife, Niki website for local designed shirts and mugs, made in Canada
When cancer touches your life, you will never be quite the same as before. (written by Niki Kudaka)
I lost both of my parents to cancer. And for the past couple of years, my husband, Bill, has been fighting his own battle with cancer.
One thing I've learned from this latest experience, is that compared with women, men seem to get the short end of the stick when it comes to comfort/care items made especially for them. I guess women naturally tend to gravitate towards providing support and care towards each other. But since men usually are less expressive of their feelings, sometimes it's hard to know what they need to get through their rough patches.
But believe me, men need comforting just as much as women do. And it's for that reason that I've created these new cancer related mug and t-shirt designs. The mugs are covered with encouraging messages such as, "You are not alone," "Stronger than cancer," "You are loved," "You've got this," and "We're here for you." They can be given on their own as a gift, or part of a comfort/care package to take with them to the hospital. (We live in a smaller community that doesn't have a cancer treatment centre, so my husband had to spend his treatment time away from family. A comfort/care package really helps in that situation.)
The t
-shirts have either the words "Fight Cancer" or "Fuck Cancer" in a rainbow pattern to symbolize the range of colors respresenting the different types of cancer. The words are superimposed on a background of exploding colors which echoes the disruption that cancer can cause to a person's and their family's lives.
When my husband was diagnosed with cancer, we searched around for a support group to help him go through this new and devastating experience. We could find a lot of support for women, but it was more difficult finding support for men. Fortunately, a friend invited Bill to join The Sea Wolves Men's Cancer Pack here on Vancouver Island, and Man up to Cancer which is North America wide. The support that Bill has received from The Sea Wolves has been phenominal, and very much appreciated by both of us. They have regular coffee meets, provide awesome chemo packs to men who are undergoing treatment, and are a great source of support and much needed information. If you know a man who has recently been diagnosed with cancer, please click the above links. It is so much easier to go through this with support than to try to go it alone.
If you want a mug or t-shirt for the man in your life who is battling cancer, please visit my store https://detailsbyniki.etsy.com
Please donate to Bill Manners Cancer Fund
5 February 2025by Nicolette Kudaka, Organiser
Bill's last few scans appeared to be cancer free, and we thought that we had gotten through it. Unfortunately, all the scans that were done were from the neck down. Unbeknownst to us, the cancer had spread to Bill's brain.
On Saturday night (February 1st), we were enjoying a quiet evening at home. I was on my computer and Bill was watching TV. Bill made a comment about something on his TV show, and I couldn't understand what he was saying. So I turned around and asked him to repeat it. His words came out all garbled. After several attempts to speak, where nothing came out right, Bill was getting upset, and I was getting frightened. I thought he might be having a stroke. I called 911, and the Fire Department showed up minutes later, closely followed by an ambulance. They tried to speak to Bill with the same results that I had gotten, so they made the call to take him to the hospital.
I followed a short time later in a taxi. After being told to wait by the front doors of emergency for nearly an hour, I could see Bill on a gurney in the hallway on the other side of the desk. So I ignored them telling me to stay put and I went to Bill. I got there in time to get the results of the brain scans from the doctor. She told me that Bill has two masses on either side of his brain, which were causing his brain to swell, bringing on his garbled speech.
During the night, Bill was violently ill, throwing up our dinner and his dentures in the process. The top denture was found by a care aide, who helped clean him up, but his bottom denture has not been found as yet, so we're assuming that's gone.
Bill was released yesterday, February 4th. He has a long road to go. The doctors have ordered him off work from his Amazon delivery job, and he is unable to drive, in case of seizures. We're waiting for the oncologists to review his treatment options and let us know the best plan forward. He has new medications to help keep the swelling in his brain down, and is now on insulin because the new meds raise his blood sugars dangerously high.
He's in good spirits, but we're understandably worried as the rug has been yanked out from under us yet again. Because of my problems with arthritis, both osteo and rheumatoid, and diabetes, I haven't been able to work for the past few years, so Bill was our only income earner.
Love,
Niki and Bill
November 2023
You can have everything in life you want, if you will just help other people get what they want. • Zig Ziglar
BILL MANNERS 2024
I have lived in Nanaimo for almost 55 years and have always been interested in the political arena in and around Nanaimo. For more details on my background and interests check out my ABOUT page.
I am a President and Spokesperson for the Dover Community Association. We have became a registered society and had our first Annual General Meeting April 2024. Our next AGM will be April 2025. Let us know how we can help you. Check out the DOVER link.
As an avid photographer, I have uploaded some of my PHOTOS. In 2017, Nanaimo City Council wanted to build a multiplex or EVENT CENTRE. I was opposed to the Event Centre and co-founded the NOVOTE2017 Society. Some of the information about the NOVOTE2017 and the success of the referendum with 80.4% opposed is here.
If you have any comments or questions you can CONTACT me.