Well it's been Two months since I've updated. It weren't great. To follow up with the last post, dad degenerated very quickly after the party. He was never re-evaluated. He was hospitalized right after my last post because he was not eating or drinking. The idea was to see if they could rehydrate him, build up his strength and get him taking care of himself again. Unfortunately that didn't happen. Around 19 April he was re-admitted and re-intubated. This time to stabilize him for palliative care.
He was still fighting though, he tried to escape (to go home) anytime anyone wasn't watching. 23 April he was moved to a palliative facility. He was attended by one of us around the clock. It's only mom and me, but my aunts uncles and cousins came up in waves from Vancouver and two from Winnipeg. He never spent one second alone. We slept at his bedside. He deteriorated. The cancer was obviously growing rapidly in his brain, as his higher functions became more and more impaired. All that he did was try to get home, even though he was too weak to stand.
Even now it's difficult to write this, and it's long, but he so deserved it, so:
"It is with shattered hearts that the family announces the passing of Brian Thomas Cannon on May 19, 2009, after a one year battle with cancer. Born in Winnipeg, Manitoba on December 5, 1943, Brian was the first child and only son of the late Harry James Cannon and his wife, Iris Graham Smith. Raised as the child of a military family, Brian took to heart the life lessons of loyalty, integrity, and honour things he practiced every day of his life.
Brian's entire adult career was spent in service to his country - first as a member of the Royal Canadian Air Force, serving across Canada and in Europe and later as a civilian member of National Defense Headquarters in Ottawa. Brian served with pride, honour and a belief that service to one's country was both a duty and a privilege.
Brian was an athlete, playing as many sports as he possibly could in his youth. When sports injuries and the pains of middle age caught up to him, he could be seen walking the streets of Merritt in an attempt to stay active and fit. He was determined and diligent in his pursuit of fitness, continuing his regime well into his cancer treatments. He was truly an example of strength and internal fortitude.
In 1969, Brian married the former Norma-Estelle Harrison of Nanaimo, B. C. Throughout their many relocations, Brian and Norma faced the world together, bonded by a love which did not fade over time. As different from one another as night is to day, Brian and Norma formed a partnership from which they loved and nourished each other. With the arrival of their son, Brian Corey, they became a family. Throughout the years, this core group of three became inseparable a true testament to all that is good about families. Brian and Norma instilled in their son the love of family, the pride of country, and the importance of loyalty, compassion and integrity. Brian considered his son, Corey, and his forty year marriage to Norma, to have been his greatest accomplishments.
Within his family, Brian was renowned for his great love of children. He believed in their right to a happy and loving childhood. He was an exceptional father to his own son, Corey, and a favourite uncle to his many nieces and nephews. Unfazed by his own lack of grandchildren, Brian expanded his flock to include the children of his nieces, nephews, friends and across-the-fence neighbours. Brian had a special place in his heart for those children in his life who faced special challenges Barbara, Richard, Lilly, Kyra, Audrey and Liam he made it his mission in life to focus the considerable power of his personality on these children. He loved them unconditionally and they knew it.
Brian leaves to grieve his passing his devoted wife, Norma; his loving son, Corey; his adoring sisters Gail Burfoot (Winnipeg) and Brenda Cannon (Winnipeg); his brothers-and-sisters-in-law, Sandra and Loren Berg (Aldergrove), Maureen and Rob Sanderson (Merritt), Philip Harrison (Nanaimo), Pauline Tortorelli (Courtenay), Ken Burfoot (Winnipeg) and Martin Munsters (Winnipeg); his aunt and uncle, Ray and Madeline Brown (Langley); his uncle, Roy Cannon (Winnipeg); his nieces, nephews and cousins; his coffee friends at the A&W and Mandolins; and his many friends across Canada, the USA and Mexico, both civilian and military.
Norma and Corey express their deep love and gratitude to their family both sides - for all the days and nights at the bedside; to Dr. Bester, who exemplifies all that is wonderful about a family doctor; to the Cancer Clinic doctors and nurses for their unswerving efforts during Brian's treatment; to the staff at Gillis House for their patience and loving support during the final days; to the people in Merritt for the visits and words of encouragement. A special thank you to Brian's two dearest air force friends Ted Richardson (Bea) and David Coyne (Brenda) - for the years of love and friendship and for the recent support, which was above and beyond the call of duty.
A memorial service will be held for Brian at 2:00 P.M. on Saturday, May 30, 2009, at the Crossroads Community Church, 2990 Voght Street, Merritt, B. C. A reception will held in the Coldwater Hotel Heritage Room immediately after the service. No flowers, by request of the family. Instead, donations can be made to Brian's team (Family Ties) in the B.C. Cancer Society Relay for Life, or in Brian's memory to the Canadian Cancer Society.
Brianie. The measure of a life is the love given and received. Go now, knowing that you were loved, treasured and adored by all of us. Our cup runneth over.
Brian Thomas Cannon"
Obituary written by Norma Estelle Cannon.
Good bye dad. You are the best man I've ever known.
He was still fighting though, he tried to escape (to go home) anytime anyone wasn't watching. 23 April he was moved to a palliative facility. He was attended by one of us around the clock. It's only mom and me, but my aunts uncles and cousins came up in waves from Vancouver and two from Winnipeg. He never spent one second alone. We slept at his bedside. He deteriorated. The cancer was obviously growing rapidly in his brain, as his higher functions became more and more impaired. All that he did was try to get home, even though he was too weak to stand.
Even now it's difficult to write this, and it's long, but he so deserved it, so:
"It is with shattered hearts that the family announces the passing of Brian Thomas Cannon on May 19, 2009, after a one year battle with cancer. Born in Winnipeg, Manitoba on December 5, 1943, Brian was the first child and only son of the late Harry James Cannon and his wife, Iris Graham Smith. Raised as the child of a military family, Brian took to heart the life lessons of loyalty, integrity, and honour things he practiced every day of his life.
Brian's entire adult career was spent in service to his country - first as a member of the Royal Canadian Air Force, serving across Canada and in Europe and later as a civilian member of National Defense Headquarters in Ottawa. Brian served with pride, honour and a belief that service to one's country was both a duty and a privilege.
Brian was an athlete, playing as many sports as he possibly could in his youth. When sports injuries and the pains of middle age caught up to him, he could be seen walking the streets of Merritt in an attempt to stay active and fit. He was determined and diligent in his pursuit of fitness, continuing his regime well into his cancer treatments. He was truly an example of strength and internal fortitude.
In 1969, Brian married the former Norma-Estelle Harrison of Nanaimo, B. C. Throughout their many relocations, Brian and Norma faced the world together, bonded by a love which did not fade over time. As different from one another as night is to day, Brian and Norma formed a partnership from which they loved and nourished each other. With the arrival of their son, Brian Corey, they became a family. Throughout the years, this core group of three became inseparable a true testament to all that is good about families. Brian and Norma instilled in their son the love of family, the pride of country, and the importance of loyalty, compassion and integrity. Brian considered his son, Corey, and his forty year marriage to Norma, to have been his greatest accomplishments.
Within his family, Brian was renowned for his great love of children. He believed in their right to a happy and loving childhood. He was an exceptional father to his own son, Corey, and a favourite uncle to his many nieces and nephews. Unfazed by his own lack of grandchildren, Brian expanded his flock to include the children of his nieces, nephews, friends and across-the-fence neighbours. Brian had a special place in his heart for those children in his life who faced special challenges Barbara, Richard, Lilly, Kyra, Audrey and Liam he made it his mission in life to focus the considerable power of his personality on these children. He loved them unconditionally and they knew it.
Brian leaves to grieve his passing his devoted wife, Norma; his loving son, Corey; his adoring sisters Gail Burfoot (Winnipeg) and Brenda Cannon (Winnipeg); his brothers-and-sisters-in-law, Sandra and Loren Berg (Aldergrove), Maureen and Rob Sanderson (Merritt), Philip Harrison (Nanaimo), Pauline Tortorelli (Courtenay), Ken Burfoot (Winnipeg) and Martin Munsters (Winnipeg); his aunt and uncle, Ray and Madeline Brown (Langley); his uncle, Roy Cannon (Winnipeg); his nieces, nephews and cousins; his coffee friends at the A&W and Mandolins; and his many friends across Canada, the USA and Mexico, both civilian and military.
Norma and Corey express their deep love and gratitude to their family both sides - for all the days and nights at the bedside; to Dr. Bester, who exemplifies all that is wonderful about a family doctor; to the Cancer Clinic doctors and nurses for their unswerving efforts during Brian's treatment; to the staff at Gillis House for their patience and loving support during the final days; to the people in Merritt for the visits and words of encouragement. A special thank you to Brian's two dearest air force friends Ted Richardson (Bea) and David Coyne (Brenda) - for the years of love and friendship and for the recent support, which was above and beyond the call of duty.
A memorial service will be held for Brian at 2:00 P.M. on Saturday, May 30, 2009, at the Crossroads Community Church, 2990 Voght Street, Merritt, B. C. A reception will held in the Coldwater Hotel Heritage Room immediately after the service. No flowers, by request of the family. Instead, donations can be made to Brian's team (Family Ties) in the B.C. Cancer Society Relay for Life, or in Brian's memory to the Canadian Cancer Society.
Brianie. The measure of a life is the love given and received. Go now, knowing that you were loved, treasured and adored by all of us. Our cup runneth over.
Brian Thomas Cannon"
Obituary written by Norma Estelle Cannon.
Good bye dad. You are the best man I've ever known.