A cancer diagnosis hasn91裸聊视频檛 diminished Rob Froud91裸聊视频檚 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.

91裸聊视频淎fter eight weeks I went back to my doctor because I91裸聊视频檇 lost just under 100 lbs. I went from a size 44 waist to a 34, and he didn91裸聊视频檛 even recognize me,91裸聊视频� said Froud. 91裸聊视频淪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.91裸聊视频�

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 Froud91裸聊视频檚 focus right now is spending time with family and friends 91裸聊视频� while endeavouring to stay positive.

91裸聊视频淚t helps to talk about it91裸聊视频� I like to put a positive on it so people aren91裸聊视频檛 so bummed about it,91裸聊视频� said Froud. 91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 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.91裸聊视频�

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.

91裸聊视频淎s of May 1, I91裸聊视频檝e actually gone back to work because sitting at home by myself, because my wife works, wasn91裸聊视频檛 very good for my brain,91裸聊视频� said Froud. 91裸聊视频淚91裸聊视频檇 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, they91裸聊视频檝e been good, they treat me like family, they91裸聊视频檝e offered to do whatever needs to be done for me.91裸聊视频�

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

91裸聊视频淚 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,91裸聊视频� said Froud. 91裸聊视频淚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 I91裸聊视频檝e been volunteering, just going and helping.91裸聊视频�

Froud91裸聊视频檚 commitment to the Silver Creek Fire Department is exemplified by a new tattoo of the department91裸聊视频檚 logo on his right forearm.

91裸聊视频淚 just got it 91裸聊视频� I was told not to do it because of the chemo,91裸聊视频� said Froud, proceeding to show a second tattoo on his shoulder with the name Susan. 91裸聊视频淭he other one I have is for my wife.91裸聊视频�

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.

91裸聊视频淪helter in place 91裸聊视频� it91裸聊视频檚 something you never want to hear,91裸聊视频� said Froud. 91裸聊视频淭hat91裸聊视频檚 when the fire is coming and you don91裸聊视频檛 have enough time to outrun it, so we circle91裸聊视频� 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.

91裸聊视频淲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 wasn91裸聊视频檛 the scariest day.91裸聊视频�

Froud admitted his commitment to firefighting is due in part to him being an 91裸聊视频渁drenaline junkie,91裸聊视频� but he explained how it has become about more than that.

91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 taught me so much more91裸聊视频� it91裸聊视频檚 taught me how to give to the community and how to give back to others,91裸聊视频� said Froud. 91裸聊视频淚91裸聊视频檇 never stopped at accident scenes my entire life but now I stop at accident scenes.

91裸聊视频淭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, that91裸聊视频檚 what it instilled in me, the motto of the fire department of, serve something greater than yourself. And it really just stuck into me.91裸聊视频�

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.

91裸聊视频淩iley and Sarah, I can91裸聊视频檛 say enough about them; they started a GoFundMe and Sarah makes me soups91裸聊视频�,91裸聊视频� said Froud. 91裸聊视频淚91裸聊视频檓 a proud person. I91裸聊视频檇 never ask for help; I91裸聊视频檝e always got it done by myself91裸聊视频� I91裸聊视频檝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.

91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 more that it gives my wife and I some more time to spend together, so we91裸聊视频檙e not both having to work the whole year and not seeing each other. I91裸聊视频檓 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. It91裸聊视频檚 what you91裸聊视频檝e got to do, right.91裸聊视频�

Asked about esophageal cancer being one of the occupational risks of firefighting, Froud said he asked his medical professionals, 91裸聊视频渨hat is this from, why do I have it?91裸聊视频�

91裸聊视频淏ut no one can answer that, and I can91裸聊视频檛 say it91裸聊视频檚 from firefighting91裸聊视频�,91裸聊视频� said Froud, who doesn91裸聊视频檛 wish his experience to deter anyone from joining their local fire departments. 91裸聊视频淭here91裸聊视频檚 no proof what I have has come from firefighting91裸聊视频� and we need our volunteers, now more than ever.91裸聊视频�

Fire Chief Darcy Blair recently used the Silver Creek Fire Department91裸聊视频檚 Facebook page to rally support for Froud.

91裸聊视频淩ob is a strong individual and will continue to give all he can for our department and the community of Silver Creek,91裸聊视频� said Blair. 91裸聊视频淧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.91裸聊视频�

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