A Calgary man who has incurable cancer has been given an early Christmas gift. Kim De Gagne told Global News in November he really wanted to take his wife Alana on a trip to Hawaii while he still can.
De Gagne was diagnosed with terminal bone and blood cancer three years ago. He has been selling Christmas trees in Mackenzie Towne for the past 11 years, and recently this has become his only source of income.
Kim told Global News about his dream to take his wife Alana to Hawaii, “she works 12, 14 hours a day, then comes home, takes care of me…she deserves this trip more than I do.”
Last year, De Gagne had 350 trees leftover at his lot and took a hit he said, he could not afford.
This year, Global News shared his story, and he sold out of trees weeks before he normally does.
WATCH BELOW: Christmas tree shoppers help make Calgary cancer patient’s dream come true
After his story first aired, De Gagne said it seemed to go viral. Not only were people coming to buy trees, they were also coming in to make donations.
His first big surprise came after a woman came in to tell De Gagne her family had decided to donate their condo in Maui to help make his dream come true.
The next big surprise came in the form of a letter.
De Gagne said Tuesday he had invited his dad for dinner Sunday but what happened next was unimaginable.
De Gagne’s father showed up with a guest who wishes to remain anonymous, who handed De Gagne an envelope.
Inside was a letter saying, “Merry Christmas! Congratulations Kim & Alanna DeGangne! You have been granted your WISH to travel to Hawaii. Your trip will include roundtrip airfare from Calgary to Maui, 7-10 nights accommodation and car rental. Your trip has a value of up to $6500.00. Courtesy of your Calgarian Friends!”
Also inside the envelope were five prepaid Visa cards worth $2,500.
“I am just so amazed and humbled. I have no words for people coming together to help make my dreams come true.”
De Gagne has a very small window to travel to Maui at the beginning of April before he has stem cell treatment. Kim and Alana plan to renew their vows there. The couple have been married for 11 years.
“I don’t know how long I have. With the cancer I have they cannot give me a tomorrow. They cannot give me anything.”
De Gagne said he is planning to donate any extra money from the tree lot to the Tom Baker Cancer Centre.
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