A Fighter, Lost.

I saw this obituary in the paper on Saturday. James and I had exchanged emails over the past few months about the Young Cancer Canada support group that he helped get off the ground here in Calgary. I never did meet him, but as you can read below, our stories are eerily similar. He sounded like the kind of guy I would have got along with. The world is definitely worse off without him.

James Anthony Henderson
33 years, of Windsor, Ontario, died April 29, 2010 in his childhood home surrounded by his wife and family. Jimmy was diagnosed with stage 4 colorectal cancer in October 2006 and battled until his very last breath with all of the strength, humour, honesty and courage that made him so special to every single person who ever knew him. No matter who he met, he had a positive and profound lifelong impact upon them. Jim graduated from Riverside High School in 1996 as valedictorian and achieved a full scholarship to the University of Windsor, where he attained his Bachelor of Computer Science. He later worked for 2 years in San Diego before moving to Calgary, where he ran his own successful software development business and fell in love with the mountains. Jim loved all things outdoors, especially hiking, camping, kayaking and road-trips. He was also uninhibitedly kind and compassionate to everyone he met, friend or stranger. He cared about the environment, the future of our society and creating beautiful communities. While battling cancer, Jimmy met his future wife, learned how to snowboard, travelled extensively, assisted with young adult cancer patients and survivors, and lived every day to the absolute fullest. He and Deanna were married on a mountain top in the fresh snow via helicopter 4 days before his death. Jim is survived by his wife, Deanna, his step-daughter, Keira of Calgary, AB, his parents, Wanda & Thomas Henderson of Windsor, Ont., his brother Ken and his wife Anna Faulkner of Sydney, Australia. He is also survived by many loving aunts, uncles, cousins, and a mountain of friends. He was a virtual star at the Tom Baker Cancer Centre in Calgary where his electric and genuine personality drew the affections of all the amazing doctors, nurses and staff. A celebration of Jim's amazing life will be held in Waterton Lakes National Park in Alberta on August 7, 2010, the original date of his wedding to Deanna. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to The Alberta Cancer Foundation at albertacancer.ca