Vol. 26 No. 78 i t y r Yo ur
N
year
aper
Your community. Your newspaper.
inc. H.S.T.
un
sp
$1.25
m
ew
COMOX VALLEY RECORD
m
A division of
Co
September 30, 2011
Yo ur
FRIDAY
ANNIVERSARY
SI
NCE 1986
www.comoxvalleyrecord.com
PGA BOUND?
Local golfer Riley Wheeldon has his sights set high. ■ B12
FIDDLING ABOUT
JUST’N TYME GREENHOUSE & Hydroponic Supply was destroyed by fire Tuesday. More, A2.
PHOTO BY RON POGUE
Stricken toddler has Tour team on his side Record Staff
The sound was familiar yet fresh and innovative. It stirred musical memories and made me want to hear more. Did I really recognize the distinctive sound of that fiddle? I checked the credits on Paul Keim’s new CD ranunculus. Yes, it was Trent Freeman. I remembered him as a youngster fiddling up a storm in the Comox Valley. Now he’s in Vancouver finding his path as a fulltime musician.
...Full story on page ■ B1
FINDER ■ Weather
A2
■ Lottery
A6
■ Ferry Schedule
A6
■ Editorial
A24
■ Opinion
A25
■ Arts
B1
■ Sports
B12
■ Classified
B23
Griffyn clings to his mother amidst a crowd of adults, uttering an occasional sound as he gazes around the decorated hall. The wide-eyed toddler is like any other infant struggling to get the words out at the pre-walking stage of life. Except for one unfortunate difference: He has already undergone several rounds of chemotherapy to treat a rare form of childhood cancer called neuroblastoma. Griffyn, video-online born Dec. 4, 2010, was front www.comoxvalleyrecord.com and centre Wednesday evening at the Crown Isle Wheels Up for Tour de Rock cocktail fundraiser. His mother, Comox Valley RCMP member Misty Dmytar, shared some emotional words with the crowd. “As a new mom. I asked myself typical questions: What’s he going to be when he grows up? Will he be athletic? Will he be funny? Smart? Will he get along with his older sister?” said Dmytar, accompanied by partner and fel-
DL8379
BRIAN C
M LEAN
$)&730-&5 t #6*$, t (.$
CONST. STEVE TREVOR holds Griffyn, who inspired him to ride the Tour de Rock. PHOTO BY SCOTT STANFIELD
2011
MODEL YEAR WRAP UP
0
low Mountie Cari Lougheed. Just three days after giving birth, Dmytar received the shocking news that Griffyn was born with cancer. “Hearing the words cancer and neuroblastoma was absolutely unbelievable to us,” she said. “How could this be? Has he been misdiagnosed? What did I do wrong? Is he going to die? So many unanswered questions. It was all so overwhelming. Cari and I cried all day and all night.” Neuroblastoma is the most common and deadly solid tumour that occurs in children outside the brain, typically originating in nerve tissue of adrenal glands. There are about 50 to 75 cases in Canada each year. From Dec. 14 to 20, Griffyn underwent tests at BC Children’s Hospital to determine the location and size of the tumours. On Dec. 21, he had a tumour the size of a baseball removed from his right adrenal gland. Then in March, doctors found another mass on the other adrenal gland, and six spots on his liver. “In 25 years of being an oncologist, our oncologist said that he
... see TODDLER ■ A3
%
PURCHASE FINANCING S ON MANY MODEL
Offer available to retail customers in Canada between September 1, 2011 & October 31, 2011. Limited quantities of 2011 models avaiable. See dealer for details. 0% purchase financing offered on approved credit by Ally Credit for 48 months on 2011 Chevrolet/GMC/Buick Aveo, Equinox, Terrain, Traverse, Acadia, Enclave, 24 months on Cruze, 72 months on Malibu and 60 months on Impala. Rates from other lenders will vary. See dealer for details.
Scott Stanfield
2145 21 45 Cliffe Avenue • Courtenay • 250-334-2 250-334-2425 2425 • www.brianmclean.ca