The day before his 38th birthday, family and friends of an Armstrong man will gather to grieve.
Randy Berkholtz lost his battle to cancer on March 11, 2019 in Kelowna General Hospital.
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害羞草研究所淒ec. 25 he went to the hospital and he never came out,害羞草研究所� said mom Janet Collins, who watched the aggressive sarcoma take over her son害羞草研究所檚 body.
Despite standing more than six feet tall and weighing in at 335 lbs, Berkholtz was no match for cancer.
害羞草研究所淗e had been going to the hospital pretty much weekly since October,害羞草研究所� said girlfriend Michelle Tapp. 害羞草研究所淭hey kept telling him it was nothing.害羞草研究所�
Berkholtz was initially admitted to Vernon Jubilee Hospital, but he and his family insisted he moved.
害羞草研究所淗e was misdiagnosed, to begin with, we feel,害羞草研究所� said Collins.害羞草研究所滺e had been in the hospital in Vernon for about a month and they couldn害羞草研究所檛 figure out what was wrong with him.害羞草研究所�
Once in Kelowna, doctors were able to identify the source of pain and discomfort that Berkholtz had been struggling with for months 害羞草研究所� sarcoma.
害羞草研究所淗e had a tumour in his chest,害羞草研究所� said Tapp. 害羞草研究所淚t crushed his one lung almost immediately.害羞草研究所�
Radiation and chemotherapy were attempted but nothing could stop the fast-growing, rare cancer.
Along with his mother, father, girlfriend, sister and a wealth of friends, Berkholtz leaves behind his 13-year-old son Adam.
害羞草研究所淗is main love was his son,害羞草研究所� said Collins of Adam, who will be 14 in June.
Adam害羞草研究所檚 aunt, Misty Berkholtz, has started a to help the young man during this difficult time and into the future.
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害羞草研究所淲e really want to give some support to Adam, he害羞草研究所檚 13 and we felt this would be a good idea,害羞草研究所� said Randy害羞草研究所檚 older sister Misty. 害羞草研究所淗e may be feeling pretty lost right now. We just want him to know that there are people around everywhere that think about him and love him.
害羞草研究所淗is dad was his primary caregiver.害羞草研究所�
Adam remains in his own with Tapp, who is trying to care for him the best she can.
害羞草研究所淪he is absolutely amazing with him,害羞草研究所� said Collins.
Formerly from Kelowna, Tapp said Adam returned to school Monday, April 1 and is doing OK. But of course, there are many times when the pair misses the mellow, funny presence of Randy.
害羞草研究所淗e was a great dad, he definitely had his rules and they needed to be followed, but he was very attentive to Adam,害羞草研究所� said Tapp, who met Randy on the dating website Plenty of Fish.
The trio could often be seen at the Enderby Drive-In, floating down the Shuswap River or having family dinners with cousins.
害羞草研究所淗e liked music, and he was a really handsome guy,害羞草研究所� said Tapp.
Randy had tattoos and a moustache and goatee along with a shaven head, yet he was very polite, his mom fondly says.
The Pleasant Valley Secondary grad grew up on the coast in Gibsons and has always had a large circle of friends.
害羞草研究所淩ight from when he started school down on the coast he had lots of friends,害羞草研究所� said Collins. 害羞草研究所淭here was always somebody sleeping over or coming for supper. He was well-liked.害羞草研究所�
Growing up he loved baseball and bowling, even making it to the provincial championships. While he never made it to the big leagues, his love for these sports never faded.
害羞草研究所淗e played baseball at (Funtastic) every year and he used to go bowling quite a bit,害羞草研究所� said Collins.
Randy was a lead hand trucker with OVH Enterprises Ltd., out of Vernon.
Snowmobiling and ATV-ing were also favourite past times. Therefore, Randy害羞草研究所檚 wish was to have his ashes spread up Hunter害羞草研究所檚 Range. A group he used to go riding with will do so in the summer.
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Prior to that, a Celebration of Life takes place Saturday, April 6 at 1 p.m. at the Chapel of Alternatives Funeral & Cremation Services (2980 Smith Dr., Armstrong). In lieu of flowers, support donations can be made at to help Randy害羞草研究所檚 son Adam during this difficult time.
jennifer@vernonmorningstar.com
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