Severe seizures that began four years ago were making Kelly Burton’s life so uncertain that he couldn’t leave his home.
A Victoria resident for more than 25 years, Burton had always enjoyed the outdoors and the West Coast lifestyle, and the fact that he could ride his motorcycle year-round.
His troubles began when he was found unconscious in his work vehicle, the result of a seizure. The effects were so bad that he bit off part of his tongue.
The diagnosis was epilepsy, a central-nervous system disorder. Things had built up over the previous year, Burton said.
“I was just constantly fighting to stay conscious.”
On top of having epilepsy, it was later determined that Burton had an inoperable brain aneurysm and a malignant tumour. It was all very overwhelming, he said.
Burton said he is “beyond grateful” for the treatment he received.
His experience with the health-care system has made him a strong supporter of the Victoria Hospitals Foundation’s Emerge Stronger Campaign, which aims to raise $10 million for more than 200 pieces of vital medical equipment for Royal Jubilee, Victoria General and Gorge Road hospitals.
“It’s so important that they have the equipment and that they’re able to do the surgeries they do,” Burton said.
He said he sees connections to his epilepsy from the past.
“I kind of think I was dealing with it my entire life because I had times as a young child where I thought I was a sleepwalker,” he said. “There were times I would wake up in different places in the house.”
Dr. Roy Cheung removed the tumour, which was near one of Burton’s temples — a scary thing to contemplate made bearable by Cheung’s calming presence.
“He’s a fantastic surgeon and doctor,” Burton said. “I’ve seen him a couple of times since, and it’s always such a pleasure to see him and very reassuring.
“He’s my favourite person in the world, right now.”
A key to Burton’s cancer treatment was a nerve-monitoring system, the sort of advanced equipment that is provided through the Emerge Stronger Campaign — so-named because it will help hospitals “emerge stronger” from the COVID-19 pandemic.
The nerve-monitoring system helped prevent permanent damage or paralysis from Burton’s delicate surgery.
Cheung was there when he woke up from the surgery to assure him that things had gone well.
“It’s made my life so much better,” Burton said of the procedure, adding that he has just had his second three-month evaluation of being cancer-free.
“Now, they’re not going to check me for six months this time,” he said. “Knowing that the tumour’s gone is all that matters.”
His seizures have stopped and he continues to take medication to control them. He can now get out of the house.
Burton, 57, said his life has been a challenge since the epilepsy diagnosis and he has had to give up his job as a truck driver. One of the toughest things, though, was having to stop riding his motorcycle for some time.
“My whole life is motorcycles since I’ve been five years old,” Burton said. “I just got my licence back at the end of last summer. I do drive a very small amount now, usually just to get groceries.”
Whenever he goes out, his cat, Randy, goes with him.
“He goes everywhere with me in a cat backpack.”
With under $3 million to go, the Emerge Stronger Campaign is being buoyed by Peninsula Co-op, which has committed $100,000 as a matching gift to bring in more donations from the public. Donations to the matching-gift effort must be received by March 31.
Contributions to the campaign can be made through the Victoria Hospitals Foundation website at victoriahf.ca or by calling 250-519-1750.
