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In memory of
Christopher Wayne Hogan
In lieu of flowers
Please consider a contribution to Memorial Fund for Chris Hogan.
$2,060.00
of CAD $10,000 goal
Show your support:
Contribute
Background
Chris Hogan died unexpectedly on July 26th 2023 at home in Highland Grove, Ontario at the age of 39. Chris started becoming increasingly short of breath and began developing swelling in his legs. This past Easter Sunday, we visited the local ER and that night they discovered that his hemoglobin was extremely low and was sent by ambulance to Belleville General Hospital and given multiple blood transfusions.
On Monday April 10th, Chris had a CT scan that showed a thickening in the lower part of his colon. On Tuesday April 11th, Chris had a colonoscopy in which they found and biopsied a large mass. When Chris awoke from the scope, he was immediately informed that he had rectal cancer. Over the next few weeks, we were in and out of the hospital for staging of the cancer. He was finally told that he had a locally advanced rectal cancer, stage 3.
On May 8th, Chris was back at BGH for surgery and had a colostomy that he was told would be permanent due to the location and size of the mass. Not only did he have the shocking and terrifying news of having an advanced cancer at such a young age; but he also now had to navigate a brand new way of living with a colostomy. On top of this, he struggled with excruciating pain as the location of the tumour was in a place surrounded by multiple nerves.
We travelled to Kingston General Hospital for a radiation consult and the radiation oncologist informed us that there was a high chance of not only removal of the tumour and rectum, but also removal of his prostate and bladder. This news caused Chris to swirl into a depression that was difficult to watch.
All so suddenly, he was unable to work, unable to move/walk long distances due to pain, and suffered with body image issues that so many of us will never quite understand. We took a weekend trip to Santa’s Village in Bracebridge just a week before he died, and I have never been so proud of him for coming swimming with Arlan and I when there were others there swimming as well. This took so much courage and we ended up having a blast. That weekend was difficult on him and he had to take many breaks due to the heat and amount of walking, but I’m ever so grateful that we got the chance to have that last family vacation.
Chris had a long road ahead of him but we were both so hopeful and sure that he was going to beat it. After his colostomy surgery, he had high doses of radiation therapy in KGH and had just begun his chemotherapy journey in Belleville every two weeks scheduled until the end of December. After all of that, more imaging tests were to be done to determine how his final surgery would pan out. Chris was a tough and stubborn man; but you could see in his eyes that this was the scariest time of his life.
Chris did not have an easy life to begin with. He lost his sister when he was 21, his Dad when he was 29, and his Mom in 2021, along with multiple other pretty significant losses. He regularly struggled with his own grief, something I sometimes struggled to relate with until now. He deserved a better life.
I managed to get a summer full-time contract position with my work which definitely helped with all the travel/expenses; however, the travel that seemed to feel like here, there and everywhere, raising a two year old, and trying my best to help Chris along with the background fear of him not making it, was the most stressful time of my entire life. I couldn’t sleep, I ate very little and lost a lot of weight. Chris was not only my best friend but also an incredible father to our son Arlan. These past few weeks have been a bit of an emotional rollercoaster and having to celebrate Arlan’s 2nd birthday without Chris felt overwhelming to say the least.
I’ve never experienced a loss like this before and being so sudden and unexpected, I never really thought about the time and expense of it all. He deserves a proper burial with his family and a celebration in memory of his life. I would like to organize a celebration of life for Chris on the potential date of October 15th 2023. I plan to organize a yard sale on the weekend of September 16th-17th where all of the money will be put towards making this happen. In the meantime, I know that times are tough and more expensive than ever, but if you do so have the means to help, any donation would be beyond appreciated. The money raised will be to help with costs for Chris’ celebration of life, headstone for Chris and his entire family, cremation costs, etc. Also, if you knew Chris, I would love to hear stories/any memorial that I can later show to Arlan in the future. Thank you so much for taking the time to read this. Contribute
On Monday April 10th, Chris had a CT scan that showed a thickening in the lower part of his colon. On Tuesday April 11th, Chris had a colonoscopy in which they found and biopsied a large mass. When Chris awoke from the scope, he was immediately informed that he had rectal cancer. Over the next few weeks, we were in and out of the hospital for staging of the cancer. He was finally told that he had a locally advanced rectal cancer, stage 3.
On May 8th, Chris was back at BGH for surgery and had a colostomy that he was told would be permanent due to the location and size of the mass. Not only did he have the shocking and terrifying news of having an advanced cancer at such a young age; but he also now had to navigate a brand new way of living with a colostomy. On top of this, he struggled with excruciating pain as the location of the tumour was in a place surrounded by multiple nerves.
We travelled to Kingston General Hospital for a radiation consult and the radiation oncologist informed us that there was a high chance of not only removal of the tumour and rectum, but also removal of his prostate and bladder. This news caused Chris to swirl into a depression that was difficult to watch.
All so suddenly, he was unable to work, unable to move/walk long distances due to pain, and suffered with body image issues that so many of us will never quite understand. We took a weekend trip to Santa’s Village in Bracebridge just a week before he died, and I have never been so proud of him for coming swimming with Arlan and I when there were others there swimming as well. This took so much courage and we ended up having a blast. That weekend was difficult on him and he had to take many breaks due to the heat and amount of walking, but I’m ever so grateful that we got the chance to have that last family vacation.
Chris had a long road ahead of him but we were both so hopeful and sure that he was going to beat it. After his colostomy surgery, he had high doses of radiation therapy in KGH and had just begun his chemotherapy journey in Belleville every two weeks scheduled until the end of December. After all of that, more imaging tests were to be done to determine how his final surgery would pan out. Chris was a tough and stubborn man; but you could see in his eyes that this was the scariest time of his life.
Chris did not have an easy life to begin with. He lost his sister when he was 21, his Dad when he was 29, and his Mom in 2021, along with multiple other pretty significant losses. He regularly struggled with his own grief, something I sometimes struggled to relate with until now. He deserved a better life.
I managed to get a summer full-time contract position with my work which definitely helped with all the travel/expenses; however, the travel that seemed to feel like here, there and everywhere, raising a two year old, and trying my best to help Chris along with the background fear of him not making it, was the most stressful time of my entire life. I couldn’t sleep, I ate very little and lost a lot of weight. Chris was not only my best friend but also an incredible father to our son Arlan. These past few weeks have been a bit of an emotional rollercoaster and having to celebrate Arlan’s 2nd birthday without Chris felt overwhelming to say the least.
I’ve never experienced a loss like this before and being so sudden and unexpected, I never really thought about the time and expense of it all. He deserves a proper burial with his family and a celebration in memory of his life. I would like to organize a celebration of life for Chris on the potential date of October 15th 2023. I plan to organize a yard sale on the weekend of September 16th-17th where all of the money will be put towards making this happen. In the meantime, I know that times are tough and more expensive than ever, but if you do so have the means to help, any donation would be beyond appreciated. The money raised will be to help with costs for Chris’ celebration of life, headstone for Chris and his entire family, cremation costs, etc. Also, if you knew Chris, I would love to hear stories/any memorial that I can later show to Arlan in the future. Thank you so much for taking the time to read this. Contribute
Funds are being collected and disbursed by Karen Mitchell, Christopher's partner.
Recent contributions
Anonymous
$50.00
Oct. 8, 2023, 5:48 a.m. PDT
$100.00
Sept. 12, 2023, 6:58 a.m. PDT
$100.00
Sept. 1, 2023, 5:44 p.m. PDT
$150.00
Aug. 26, 2023, 11:20 a.m. PDT
$150.00
Aug. 26, 2023, 7:56 a.m. PDT
$100.00
Aug. 23, 2023, 4:20 p.m. PDT
$100.00
Aug. 22, 2023, 4:20 a.m. PDT
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Aug. 21, 2023, 2:25 p.m. PDT
Anonymous
$50.00
Aug. 20, 2023, 3:57 p.m. PDT
$200.00
Aug. 19, 2023, 2:36 p.m. PDT
Anonymous
$100.00
Aug. 18, 2023, 9:37 a.m. PDT
Anonymous
$100.00
Aug. 17, 2023, 3:01 p.m. PDT
$200.00
Aug. 17, 2023, 4:02 a.m. PDT
Ryan and Stacey Mitchell
$300.00
Submitted by The Tiverton Mitchell's on
Aug. 16, 2023, 7:54 p.m. PDT
Anonymous
$30.00
Aug. 15, 2023, 7:57 p.m. PDT
$50.00
Aug. 15, 2023, 3:03 p.m. PDT
$100.00
Aug. 15, 2023, 2:29 p.m. PDT
Anonymous
$100.00
Aug. 15, 2023, 1:48 p.m. PDT
Anonymous
$30.00
Aug. 15, 2023, 1:04 p.m. PDT
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Memories & condolences
Our deepest sympathies to our sister Karen and nephew Arlan. It was very clear Christopher loved you both very much. Lo…
Our deepest sympathies to our sister Karen and nephew Arlan. It was very clear Christopher loved yo…
Our deepest sympathies to our sister Karen and nephew Arlan. It …
In lieu of flowers
Please consider a contribution to Memorial Fund for Chris Hogan.
$2,060.00
of CAD $10,000 goal
Show your support:
Contribute
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Karen Mitchell (Christopher's partner).
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