This is our dear son Markus. On February 26, 2021, he was diagnosed with Ewing sarcoma, an aggressive form of bone cancer. After 20 rounds of chemotherapy, 25 rounds of radiation and numerous surgeries, including the replacement of his entire upper right arm with an internal prosthetic, we made the decision with Markus and his doctors to end treatment for cure and focus on quality of life.
Markus’ care was then transferred from BC Children’s Hospital to Canuck Place Children’s Hospice. The palliative and hospice care Markus received at our home was focused on addressing his suffering and valuing his dignity. The doctors and nurses knew his days would be short, and their efforts ensured that the days he had left were lived well.
Markus wanted to die at home, surrounded by his family, but he also didn’t want to experience the intense pain and suffering that he knew would come as his lungs filled with tumours.
On what turned out to be his last Friday, nurse Shana assessed Markus and said, “His time is short.” She advised us to take the window we still had for Markus to be transported to Canuck Place Hospice in Vancouver. With the increased intensity of his care, we agreed. Our whole family was together at the hospice, and as we entered the evening, it appeared that Markus would last only a few more hours. As each of his siblings said goodnight to Markus, he told them he loved them and said, “See you in paradise.”
Mike and I didn’t sleep at all but took turns sitting beside Markus. The nurses maintained his medication, and Markus assured us that he was very comfortable and not in any pain. At one point he said to me, “This is how I hoped it would be.”
As dawn arrived, we realized that God had another day in store for Markus. Early that morning Markus’ friends arrived at the hospice, and together they cried, laughed and prayed. That afternoon both of Markus’ sets of grandparents also came to say goodbye. By early Sunday morning, Markus was non-responsive and his breathing had become a lot more shallow. Just before 2:30 that afternoon, Markus’ breathing slowed and with all of us around his bedside, he took his final, peaceful breaths.