A cancer diagnosis hasn害羞草研究所檛 diminished Rob Froud害羞草研究所檚 passion for firefighting and giving back to community.

The Silver Creek firefighter of seven years has been undergoing palliative chemotherapy since February, when he learned he has cancer in his esophagus, stomach and lymph nodes.

Froud said last August, around when he was deployed by the Columbia Shuswap Regional District (CSRD) to support the Scotch Creek Fire Department with the Bush Creek East wildfire, he began experiencing problems swallowing food. He said the condition continued to worsen and around mid-October, his doctor arranged for him to see a specialist in 12 weeks.

害羞草研究所淎fter eight weeks I went back to my doctor because I害羞草研究所檇 lost just under 100 lbs. I went from a size 44 waist to a 34, and he didn害羞草研究所檛 even recognize me,害羞草研究所� said Froud. 害羞草研究所淪o then the specialist happened straight away and then come January 26, they did a scope down my esophagus and found a large tumour at the bottom of my esophagus. They took biopsies in my stomach and in February the diagnosis came back.害羞草研究所�

Froud, who currently has a stent in his lower esophagus that allows him to swallow, was told he has a year to 14 months to live. He is hopeful the chemotherapy will extend that.

A husband and father of three young adults in their 20s, a big part of Froud害羞草研究所檚 focus right now is spending time with family and friends 害羞草研究所� while endeavouring to stay positive.

害羞草研究所淚t helps to talk about it害羞草研究所� I like to put a positive on it so people aren害羞草研究所檛 so bummed about it,害羞草研究所� said Froud. 害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 a hard thing for people to go through and for my friends and my family especially. The more I stay positive, the more it helps them.害羞草研究所�

A commercial electrician, Froud said he recently went back to work with Horizon Electric of Kelowna, which allows him to spend more time with his son who is an apprentice electrician.

害羞草研究所淎s of May 1, I害羞草研究所檝e actually gone back to work because sitting at home by myself, because my wife works, wasn害羞草研究所檛 very good for my brain,害羞草研究所� said Froud. 害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檇 rather be a positive person so I have chemo for a week and then I go to work for a week. And my company who I work for, Horizon Electric, they害羞草研究所檝e been good, they treat me like family, they害羞草研究所檝e offered to do whatever needs to be done for me.害羞草研究所�

Another way Froud is keeping busy is by remaining an active member of the Silver Creek Fire Department.

害羞草研究所淚 notified the fire department and said I would like to keep coming and volunteering and mentoring the junior firefighters and the younger guys and still come into fire calls,害羞草研究所� said Froud. 害羞草研究所淚nstead of being on the nozzle, I can be the guy handing out water and I can be another pair of safety eyes on fire scenes. The CSRD was gracious enough to let me do that. Since then I害羞草研究所檝e been volunteering, just going and helping.害羞草研究所�

Froud害羞草研究所檚 commitment to the Silver Creek Fire Department is exemplified by a new tattoo of the department害羞草研究所檚 logo on his right forearm.

害羞草研究所淚 just got it 害羞草研究所� I was told not to do it because of the chemo,害羞草研究所� said Froud, proceeding to show a second tattoo on his shoulder with the name Susan. 害羞草研究所淭he other one I have is for my wife.害羞草研究所�

Froud has also signed up for deployment through CSRD fire services, despite having faced some of the most frightening moments of his firefighting career last August when the wildfire rolled into Scotch Creek.

害羞草研究所淪helter in place 害羞草研究所� it害羞草研究所檚 something you never want to hear,害羞草研究所� said Froud. 害羞草研究所淭hat害羞草研究所檚 when the fire is coming and you don害羞草研究所檛 have enough time to outrun it, so we circle害羞草研究所� all the fire trucks, you put the sprinklers out, you turn your vehicles on, your AC, you get in it in your firefighting gear and the fire rolls over top of you. That was my first day there. Then the fire rolls over top of you and you make a run for it on the road and hope nothing is down.

害羞草研究所淲e were driving by and seeing the Squilax gas station blow up, driving through all the fire that night, that was my first day there. And that wasn害羞草研究所檛 the scariest day.害羞草研究所�

Froud admitted his commitment to firefighting is due in part to him being an 害羞草研究所渁drenaline junkie,害羞草研究所� but he explained how it has become about more than that.

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 taught me so much more害羞草研究所� it害羞草研究所檚 taught me how to give to the community and how to give back to others,害羞草研究所� said Froud. 害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檇 never stopped at accident scenes my entire life but now I stop at accident scenes.

害羞草研究所淭his weekend there was a motorbike accident we drove by and I had to stop. I told my wife I have to stop. The poor guy was sitting there with a broken ankle, waiting hours for someone to come get him from West Kelowna to take him to the hospital. So we drove him to Vernon Jubilee. Helping others, that害羞草研究所檚 what it instilled in me, the motto of the fire department of, serve something greater than yourself. And it really just stuck into me.害羞草研究所�

To support his uncle Rob, Riley Boudreau and spouse Sarah recently launched an online , seeking donations to help Froud and his family through this difficult time.

害羞草研究所淩iley and Sarah, I can害羞草研究所檛 say enough about them; they started a GoFundMe and Sarah makes me soups害羞草研究所�,害羞草研究所� said Froud. 害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檓 a proud person. I害羞草研究所檇 never ask for help; I害羞草研究所檝e always got it done by myself害羞草研究所� I害羞草研究所檝e been doing some surgeries in Kelowna where my wife has to stay too, and there are chemotherapy drugs and the costs are getting up there.

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 more that it gives my wife and I some more time to spend together, so we害羞草研究所檙e not both having to work the whole year and not seeing each other. I害羞草研究所檓 staying available to my family. My mom is here right now and my sister is coming in another week. They want to spend time with me. So they need the emotional support that I can give them. It害羞草研究所檚 what you害羞草研究所檝e got to do, right.害羞草研究所�

Asked about esophageal cancer being one of the occupational risks of firefighting, Froud said he asked his medical professionals, 害羞草研究所渨hat is this from, why do I have it?害羞草研究所�

害羞草研究所淏ut no one can answer that, and I can害羞草研究所檛 say it害羞草研究所檚 from firefighting害羞草研究所�,害羞草研究所� said Froud, who doesn害羞草研究所檛 wish his experience to deter anyone from joining their local fire departments. 害羞草研究所淭here害羞草研究所檚 no proof what I have has come from firefighting害羞草研究所� and we need our volunteers, now more than ever.害羞草研究所�

Fire Chief Darcy Blair recently used the Silver Creek Fire Department害羞草研究所檚 Facebook page to rally support for Froud.

害羞草研究所淩ob is a strong individual and will continue to give all he can for our department and the community of Silver Creek,害羞草研究所� said Blair. 害羞草研究所淧lease help us support him and his family as he will support us. Please feel free to reach out to me or the fire department at anytime. I want to say thanks to everyone that has him in your prayers at this difficult time.害羞草研究所�

Read more:

Read more: