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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91裸聊视频淒ec. 25 he went to the hospital and he never came out,91裸聊视频� said mom Janet Collins, who watched the aggressive sarcoma take over her son91裸聊视频檚 body.
Despite standing more than six feet tall and weighing in at 335 lbs, Berkholtz was no match for cancer.
91裸聊视频淗e had been going to the hospital pretty much weekly since October,91裸聊视频� said girlfriend Michelle Tapp. 91裸聊视频淭hey kept telling him it was nothing.91裸聊视频�
Berkholtz was initially admitted to Vernon Jubilee Hospital, but he and his family insisted he moved.
91裸聊视频淗e was misdiagnosed, to begin with, we feel,91裸聊视频� said Collins.91裸聊视频滺e had been in the hospital in Vernon for about a month and they couldn91裸聊视频檛 figure out what was wrong with him.91裸聊视频�
Once in Kelowna, doctors were able to identify the source of pain and discomfort that Berkholtz had been struggling with for months 91裸聊视频� sarcoma.
91裸聊视频淗e had a tumour in his chest,91裸聊视频� said Tapp. 91裸聊视频淚t crushed his one lung almost immediately.91裸聊视频�
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.
91裸聊视频淗is main love was his son,91裸聊视频� said Collins of Adam, who will be 14 in June.
Adam91裸聊视频檚 aunt, Misty Berkholtz, has started a to help the young man during this difficult time and into the future.
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91裸聊视频淲e really want to give some support to Adam, he91裸聊视频檚 13 and we felt this would be a good idea,91裸聊视频� said Randy91裸聊视频檚 older sister Misty. 91裸聊视频淗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.
91裸聊视频淗is dad was his primary caregiver.91裸聊视频�
Adam remains in his own with Tapp, who is trying to care for him the best she can.
91裸聊视频淪he is absolutely amazing with him,91裸聊视频� 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.
91裸聊视频淗e was a great dad, he definitely had his rules and they needed to be followed, but he was very attentive to Adam,91裸聊视频� 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.
91裸聊视频淗e liked music, and he was a really handsome guy,91裸聊视频� 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.
91裸聊视频淩ight from when he started school down on the coast he had lots of friends,91裸聊视频� said Collins. 91裸聊视频淭here was always somebody sleeping over or coming for supper. He was well-liked.91裸聊视频�
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.
91裸聊视频淗e played baseball at (Funtastic) every year and he used to go bowling quite a bit,91裸聊视频� 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, Randy91裸聊视频檚 wish was to have his ashes spread up Hunter91裸聊视频檚 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 Randy91裸聊视频檚 son Adam during this difficult time.
jennifer@vernonmorningstar.com
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