Watch above: Former Saskatchewan Huskies hockey player Cody Smuk will undergo vaccine therapy in Germany. Jack Haskins looks at how the community is rallying to help and support Smuk and his family.
SASKATOON – Cody Smuk was a warrior on the ice, but the most challenging battles in his life, have been fought in hospitals. In May of 2014, Smuk was diagnosed with testicular cancer, and a tumour present in his lung.
He has battled for his life ever since.
Months of chemotherapy have proved ineffective, leaving Smuk and his family seeking alternative medical options.
On Sunday, Smuk departed for Germany where he will undergo vaccine therapy. On his way to the Saskatoon airport, Cody drove past a swarm of over 100 well-wishers who braved the elements on an unseasonably cold April morning, to show their support for Cody and his family.
“It was emotional, that’s for sure,” said Kabree Howard, a friend of Cody’s fiancée Stephanie Vause. “We just want the best for them, and to know how much they’re loved.”
Amongst the crowd of supporters was Smuk’s former Huskies teammate Matthew Spafford. The two played three seasons together for the U of S. In that time, Spafford got to see how special of a person Smuk was both on and off the ice.
“He’s a little bit of my mentor from across the room,” says Spafford as a smile cracks across his face. “He was my fashion stylist and everything else; he was just a good guy to have in the room.”
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After Cody’s diagnosis last May, his fiancée, Stephanie Vause, created a webpage for Cody on the website gofundme.com. The page is titled “Help Cody Kick This”.
READ MORE: Former Huskies athlete wins dream wedding after cancer diagnosis
The website serves as a platform for people to donate money to charitable causes. The funds raised on Smuk’s “Help Cody Kick This” page will go towards covering the cost of the expensive vaccine therapy that Cody will receive overseas.
According to Stephanie’s most recent post on Smuk’s “Help Cody Kick This” webpage, Cody will undergo vaccine therapy in Germany, and then return to Canada in three weeks, where he will complete the remainder of his treatment.
He will turn 26 before arriving back on Canadian soil, and everyone who has grown to know and love Cody, is hopeful that many more birthday’s will follow.
You can help Cody in his fight against cancer by visiting the “Help Cody Kick This” gofundme page.
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