The day before his 38th birthday, family and friends of an Armstrong man will gather to grieve.
Randy Berkholtz lost his battle to cancer on March 11, 2019 in Kelowna General Hospital.
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sa国际传媒淒ec. 25 he went to the hospital and he never came out,sa国际传媒� said mom Janet Collins, who watched the aggressive sarcoma take over her sonsa国际传媒檚 body.
Despite standing more than six feet tall and weighing in at 335 lbs, Berkholtz was no match for cancer.
sa国际传媒淗e had been going to the hospital pretty much weekly since October,sa国际传媒� said girlfriend Michelle Tapp. sa国际传媒淭hey kept telling him it was nothing.sa国际传媒�
Berkholtz was initially admitted to Vernon Jubilee Hospital, but he and his family insisted he moved.
sa国际传媒淗e was misdiagnosed, to begin with, we feel,sa国际传媒� said Collins.sa国际传媒滺e had been in the hospital in Vernon for about a month and they couldnsa国际传媒檛 figure out what was wrong with him.sa国际传媒�
Once in Kelowna, doctors were able to identify the source of pain and discomfort that Berkholtz had been struggling with for months sa国际传媒� sarcoma.
sa国际传媒淗e had a tumour in his chest,sa国际传媒� said Tapp. sa国际传媒淚t crushed his one lung almost immediately.sa国际传媒�
Radiation and chemotherapy were attempted but nothing could stop the fast-growing, rare cancer.
Along with his mother, father, girlfriend, sister and a wealth of friends, Berkholtz leaves behind his 13-year-old son Adam.
sa国际传媒淗is main love was his son,sa国际传媒� said Collins of Adam, who will be 14 in June.
Adamsa国际传媒檚 aunt, Misty Berkholtz, has started a to help the young man during this difficult time and into the future.
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sa国际传媒淲e really want to give some support to Adam, hesa国际传媒檚 13 and we felt this would be a good idea,sa国际传媒� said Randysa国际传媒檚 older sister Misty. sa国际传媒淗e may be feeling pretty lost right now. We just want him to know that there are people around everywhere that think about him and love him.
sa国际传媒淗is dad was his primary caregiver.sa国际传媒�
Adam remains in his own with Tapp, who is trying to care for him the best she can.
sa国际传媒淪he is absolutely amazing with him,sa国际传媒� said Collins.
Formerly from Kelowna, Tapp said Adam returned to school Monday, April 1 and is doing OK. But of course, there are many times when the pair misses the mellow, funny presence of Randy.
sa国际传媒淗e was a great dad, he definitely had his rules and they needed to be followed, but he was very attentive to Adam,sa国际传媒� said Tapp, who met Randy on the dating website Plenty of Fish.
The trio could often be seen at the Enderby Drive-In, floating down the Shuswap River or having family dinners with cousins.
sa国际传媒淗e liked music, and he was a really handsome guy,sa国际传媒� said Tapp.
Randy had tattoos and a moustache and goatee along with a shaven head, yet he was very polite, his mom fondly says.
The Pleasant Valley Secondary grad grew up on the coast in Gibsons and has always had a large circle of friends.
sa国际传媒淩ight from when he started school down on the coast he had lots of friends,sa国际传媒� said Collins. sa国际传媒淭here was always somebody sleeping over or coming for supper. He was well-liked.sa国际传媒�
Growing up he loved baseball and bowling, even making it to the provincial championships. While he never made it to the big leagues, his love for these sports never faded.
sa国际传媒淗e played baseball at (Funtastic) every year and he used to go bowling quite a bit,sa国际传媒� said Collins.
Randy was a lead hand trucker with OVH Enterprises Ltd., out of Vernon.
Snowmobiling and ATV-ing were also favourite past times. Therefore, Randysa国际传媒檚 wish was to have his ashes spread up Huntersa国际传媒檚 Range. A group he used to go riding with will do so in the summer.
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Prior to that, a Celebration of Life takes place Saturday, April 6 at 1 p.m. at the Chapel of Alternatives Funeral & Cremation Services (2980 Smith Dr., Armstrong). In lieu of flowers, support donations can be made at to help Randysa国际传媒檚 son Adam during this difficult time.
jennifer@vernonmorningstar.com
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