Paying It Forward
In 2020, Thomas DeCiccio (Tom) received a devastating diagnosis. After a standard screening test flagged something as abnormal, he went in for a colonoscopy, where they found cancer in his colon and liver. It was determined that his treatment would be a combination of surgery at the Juravinski Hospital in Hamilton and chemotherapy at the Walker Family Cancer Centre at the St. Catharines Site. “The chemo started in May 2021,” explained Tom, “and it went on for three months.” Once that cycle was completed, Tom underwent two surgeries before returning to chemotherapy in February 2022.
“The people who work at the Walker Family Cancer Centre and supported me through my chemotherapy are just wonderful,” said Tom, whose body is showing no more signs of cancer today. “The staff there are seeing people at the worst possible time and they handle it so well and that helps. It helped me get through a devastating time.”
The people who work at the Walker Family Cancer Centre and supported me through my chemotherapy are just wonderful.
When Tom started coming to the St. Catharines Site for his treatments, his wife Janis learned about the Niagara Health Foundation’s Community Lottery. “We decided that buying tickets is one small thing we can do to support local healthcare,” says Janis, who adds that she is grateful that they could stay in Niagara for the chemotherapy. “It’s nice that cancer patients can have treatments done here. You can stay here for the chemotherapy and have your CAT scans and MRIs all in the Niagara region. It is nice that you don’t have to travel all the time. It makes it easier.”
Janis says she didn’t buy the tickets to win but to support local healthcare. “I thought if we win, that’s just a bonus!” So when Janis picked up the phone earlier this month, and we got to tell her that she had just won our Grand Prize of $17,170, she could hardly believe it. “I kept saying, ‘Oh my gosh, oh my gosh,’” Janis laughed. “As soon as I told Tom, he said: ‘well, that’s our chance to give back.’”
“I really feel like I owe,” Tom explained their decision to donate back some of their winnings. “Niagara Health saved my life.” The Welland couple is looking forward to spending the rest of their winnings on some much-needed landscaping now that spring is just around the corner.
As far as the Community Lottery goes, they encourage others to get involved as well. “Buying lottery tickets is such a small thing everyone can do. Supporting local healthcare means the services will be here when you need them.”
We are incredibly grateful to you, Janis and Tom, for donating a big portion of your winnings back to the Niagara Health Foundation.
Paying It Forward
In 2020, Thomas DeCiccio (Tom) received a devastating diagnosis. After a standard screening test flagged something as abnormal, he went in for a colonoscopy, where they found cancer in his colon and liver. It was determined that his treatment would be a combination of surgery at the Juravinski Hospital in Hamilton and chemotherapy at the Walker Family Cancer Centre at the St. Catharines Site. “The chemo started in May 2021,” explained Tom, “and it went on for three months.” Once that cycle was completed, Tom underwent two surgeries before returning to chemotherapy in February 2022.
“The people who work at the Walker Family Cancer Centre and supported me through my chemotherapy are just wonderful,” said Tom, whose body is showing no more signs of cancer today. “The staff there are seeing people at the worst possible time and they handle it so well and that helps. It helped me get through a devastating time.”
The people who work at the Walker Family Cancer Centre and supported me through my chemotherapy are just wonderful.
When Tom started coming to the St. Catharines Site for his treatments, his wife Janis learned about the Niagara Health Foundation’s Community Lottery. “We decided that buying tickets is one small thing we can do to support local healthcare,” says Janis, who adds that she is grateful that they could stay in Niagara for the chemotherapy. “It’s nice that cancer patients can have treatments done here. You can stay here for the chemotherapy and have your CAT scans and MRIs all in the Niagara region. It is nice that you don’t have to travel all the time. It makes it easier.”
Janis says she didn’t buy the tickets to win but to support local healthcare. “I thought if we win, that’s just a bonus!” So when Janis picked up the phone earlier this month, and we got to tell her that she had just won our Grand Prize of $17,170, she could hardly believe it. “I kept saying, ‘Oh my gosh, oh my gosh,’” Janis laughed. “As soon as I told Tom, he said: ‘well, that’s our chance to give back.’”
“I really feel like I owe,” Tom explained their decision to donate back some of their winnings. “Niagara Health saved my life.” The Welland couple is looking forward to spending the rest of their winnings on some much-needed landscaping now that spring is just around the corner.
As far as the Community Lottery goes, they encourage others to get involved as well. “Buying lottery tickets is such a small thing everyone can do. Supporting local healthcare means the services will be here when you need them.”
We are incredibly grateful to you, Janis and Tom, for donating a big portion of your winnings back to the Niagara Health Foundation.
