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Paula Pestrin reclaiming her life with CCS 

[On a backdrop of interior house decorations, The Canadian Cancer Society logo and the words “It takes a society” appear on screen.] 

[Paula Pestrin sitting on an armchair in her home, looking straight ahead.] 

Paula Pestrin: My name is Paula and I am a cancer thriver. 

[Close-up of tree ornament with the word “home” drawn on it.] 

Words on screen: Paula Pestrin. Cancer thriver. 

[Paula sitting on an armchair, speaking directly to the camera.] 

Paula: 10 years ago this month, I was diagnosed with thyroid cancer of the right side, very minor. They told me not to worry about it, they'll remove it, everything will be good. 

[Montage of Paula and her caregiver, Sandra De Haan, sitting on a couch and looking at family photos from a keepsake box.] 

Paula: I had my tests every six months for 10 years and then it will be two years coming up that I was diagnosed with it coming back and it was in the lymph nodes. And this was a shock to my doctors, to me, because I was guaranteed it would never come back because it was the type of cancer it doesn’t grow often. When you get that call that says you need to come in for a biopsy, we’re concerned is every cancer person’s nightmare. And I heard about it until I had that time happen. I did not understand the effect it had. And that’s the start of the whole new journey for me. 

Voice-over (VO): It must have been really difficult. 

Paula: It was. 

[Paula and Sandra sit side by side against a photoshoot backdrop.] 

Sandra De Haan: Paula to me, is like the sister I never had. 

Words on screen: Sandra De Haan. Paula’s caregiver. 

[Sandra sitting on an armchair, speaking directly to the camera.] 

Sandra: We’re always having fun. Even through challenges we can appreciate that there’s blessings in there as well. 

[Sandra laughing on a rocking chair.] 

[Paula sitting on an armchair and speaking directly to the camera.] 

Paula: Sandra is my best friend and she is my caregiver. She is the one that asked for help at the cancer clinic. She is the one reason why I’m still here. We were told we had to travel and there was no other option to save my life. That was it. I asked my doctors if I could postpone my surgery for six months, give me time to save up and I was told there’s no chance. You will die if you stay here. 

[Paula and Sandra sitting side by side in the living room, reading a book together.] 

Paula: Flights were soaring up in price. No matter how much saving, no matter what I did, it would not be enough to cover the trip. 

[Paula and Sandra sitting side by side in the living room, reading a book as Paula gently holds Sandra’s arm.] 

Sandra: It seems so futile that someone would have to die just because you didn’t have money. We have to somehow make this the best last couple months of your life. We have to cherish every moment together. 

[Paula and Sandra sitting side by side in the living room, reading a book titled “Joy of Cooking”.] 

Paula: I looked at everything that I loved doing and I just took it off my list. I wasn’t going to be able to do it. Just cross it all out and just wait. I’m going to live my life until I am full of cancer. And then I’m just going to die. And Air Daffodil came into my life. 

[Paula and Sandra sitting side by side against a photoshoot background while image fades to black.] 

Words on screen: The Canadian Cancer Society’s Air Daffodil and Travel Treatment Fund provide people like Paula with the transportation services they need to access life-saving treatment. 

[Paula and Sandra sharing a side hug against the photoshoot background.] 

Paula: Relief, peace. Some tranquility to know that I can have the surgery. I was going to see this doctor. This was the beginning of saving my life, because I wasn’t ready to leave, this world, anytime soon. 

[Paula and Sandra laughing and looking at each other in the living room.] 

Paula: I applied through the Canadian Cancer Society. And before I knew it, the first phone call, everything got planned. I sat there after and I was crying. I just cannot believe how easy this was. I had wasted so much time worrying. 

[Sandra sitting on an armchair, speaking directly to the camera.] 

Sandra: We just both felt peace. We realized we’d come to the other side of the surgery. She was healing well. She was doing well. Everything we had feared did not materialize, and we just kind of sat there in silence for a while and all those what ifs we didn’t have to worry about them anymore. We knew we had many more moments and gifts to come. 

[Close-up of a phone’s camera roll, focusing on a photo of Paula in the hospital.] 

Paula: I didn’t think there was help for me. And I still feel sad that I accepted that. 

[Paula and Sandra smile and reminisce while looking at photos on a phone.] 

Paula: Every moment for me is a gift, because I’m able to be here and enjoy it. Healthy and cancer free. And Air Daffodil was there every step of the way. 

[Paula sitting on an armchair and speaking directly to the camera.] 

Words on screen: EVERY MOMENT IS A GIFT. Fund life-saving cancer research. 

Paula: If you’re not sure if your donation makes a difference, look at me. I wouldn’t have been here today. The Canadian Cancer Society gave me my life back. 

Words on screen: DONATE NOW. CANCER.CA/HOLIDAY 

[The Canadian Cancer Society logo and the words “It takes a society” appear on screen.]