Kaitlyn Michaelis took to social media with an unusual request: she wanted friends for her dad.
David sa国际传媒淒avesa国际传媒� Michaelis was diagnosed with sinus cancer in 2007. An invasive surgery resulted in the disfigurement of his nose and palette and the removal of his upper teeth. Shortly after, Dave relapsed with cancer in his lymph nodes, resulting in scarring up his neck.
Later, a bone graft using bones from his ankle aimed to repair his palette, but a post-surgery infection saw more damage to his mouth which prevented the use of dentures and limited the use of his foot.
sa国际传媒淗esa国际传媒檚 just had a really rough go,sa国际传媒� Kaitlyn said. sa国际传媒淗e finds that whenever hesa国际传媒檚 out in public people stare at him. I was out shopping with him the other day heard a little girl run to her mom and say sa国际传媒楳om, I just saw a man without a nose!sa国际传媒檚a国际传媒�
The surgeries have left Dave, 64, with concave cheeks and only the small remnants of a nose. While he can still speak, it takes a bit more effort to understand, and he also cansa国际传媒檛 easily eat in public. He also wears hearing aids after radiation therapy damaged his ears.
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Dave and his family have lived across Canada, and most recently moved from Kamloops to Victoria in 2016.
sa国际传媒淓ver since we moved from Kamloops my dad hasnsa国际传媒檛 found a single friend that wants to hangout,sa国际传媒� Kaitlyn said. sa国际传媒淚tsa国际传媒檚 just so frustrating because my dad is such an interesting person.sa国际传媒�
Before he retired Dave worked the ramps for Air Canada. Being near the planes wasnsa国际传媒檛 enough: he got a pilotsa国际传媒檚 license and even owned his own plane when his family lived in Vancouver.
sa国际传媒淗esa国际传媒檚 an aviator, for sure,sa国际传媒� Kaitlyn said. sa国际传媒淗esa国际传媒檚 a really relaxed, really chill guy.sa国际传媒�
Dave has a passion for working out, watching movies, and going for short walks with his wife. But, his favourite pastime is riding his motorcycle, an FJR Yamaha.
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sa国际传媒淲hat really prompted me is he called me about two weeks ago and he told me this was going to be the last year he was gonna ride, sa国际传媒� Kaitlyn said. sa国际传媒淲hen I asked why, he said sa国际传媒業sa国际传媒檓 tired of doing it alone.sa国际传媒檚a国际传媒�
Dave has tried reaching out to other groups before without much success.
sa国际传媒淣ow hesa国际传媒檚 just like sa国际传媒業s it my face thatsa国际传媒檚 putting people off?sa国际传媒� Itsa国际传媒檚 always the first thing he thinks about.sa国际传媒�
Since Kaitlyn put up her post on , she got many responses with people suggesting organizations like the Legion or the Rotary Club, all which are fairly out of the way from Davesa国际传媒檚 North Saanich home. Nonetheless, several people have reached out with their email addresses, something Kaitlyn hopes will lead to something.
sa国际传媒淪ometimes itsa国际传媒檚 just one person that can lead to someone else, and then a whole group.sa国际传媒�
When Dave found out about Kaitlynsa国际传媒檚 post he was touched, and glad to know his story could get out.
sa国际传媒淗e said that, hopefully if it does get published, other people with facial disfigurements wonsa国际传媒檛 feel so alone,sa国际传媒� Kaitlyn said.
Anyone interested in reaching Dave can email fjrdave15@gmail.com
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