A vibrant member of the Powell River community, who thought nothing of giving her time and herself since moving here, has been diagnosed with terminal cancer.
Lori Hansen, program manager of group homes run by Powell River inclusion Society, was told by doctors that she had two months to live and is expected to die within the week.
She is leaving behind a husband and three teenaged boys who are struggling emotionally and financially in the wake of her sudden illness, according to her husband of 23 years, Hans.
“Some days I just look at her and cry because she is in so much pain,” said Hans. “It’s all I can do to keep things going for all of us.”
Parents to Jonathon, 16, and Daniel, 17, Hans said he and Lori were proud to add nephew Kaij, 17, to their family last year.
“It’s hard on the boys,” he said. “I see the tears in their eyes because they know how hard she is struggling.”
Hans described Lori as selfless individual who thought nothing of going out of her way to help people; even driving an 80-year-old man to Vancouver after hearing he had never visited the city.
Lori’s deep and caring nature was noted by the Peak in 2013, when as a care worker she helped one of her clients meet his extended family.
“I tell her, ‘Lori, you did so much for others, now it’s your turn to get help,’” said Hans. “It bothers her so bad that people have to do things for her.”
Hans said he noticed something was different with Lori last Spring when she didn’t plant her vegetable garden. But, given her workload, he said they both thought it was fatigue.
In September, when Lori’s symptoms progressed from tiredness to exhaustion, Hans said they finally sought medical help.
“The doctors said if they had found the cancer last year they would have been able to do something,” said Hans. “But the cancer was in her gallbladder and it had burned through that into her liver and stomach.”
Given the advanced nature of her cancer, Hans said the family opted to enjoy what time Lori had left and forgo chemotherapy. That was just two short months ago.
“This is it; she probably won’t live out the week,” he said. “I’m in denial about it, so I just keep moving forward and try not to think about it.”
It is the end of a long journey for the couple who met almost 30 years ago in Vanderhoof. Hans recalled how they both worked as line cooks in a truck stop restaurant.
“Lori worked the breakfast shift and she used to shoo me out of the kitchen,” he laughed, “but I think we did alright.”
Hans said he’s grateful for the help of Powell River Hospice Society, and that so many of Lori’s friends have stopped by to see her in recent weeks.
Executive director of inclusion Powell River Lilla Tipton said a trust account has been set up for Lori’s family at First Credit Union on Joyce Avenue. She said anyone wanting to help by donating money just needs to visit the bank and ask.
“Lori’s illness happened so suddenly,” said Tipton. “We’re trying to make it easier on her by letting her now that her family doesn’t have to worry about money.”
