The countdown to the annual St. Joseph's Hospital Foundation Radiothon, this year happening on April 18th, is on. On Wednesday, the Foundation revealed the faces and story that will be spread to raise awareness for the needs that are still prevalent in the hospital in Estevan.

Stacy Marcotte's husband, Jeff, was diagnosed with stage 4 Glioblastoma multiforme brain cancer in February of 2015. Unfortunately, a large portion of his treatment had to happen out of country or out of province due to local unavailability, until hospital Executive Director Greg Hoffart and Tara Daoust stepped in early in 2016 and went above and beyond to bring the needed treatment to home. Equipment was obtained and staff trained to specially treat Jeff's cancer, to much expense and entailed things that were never done in a satellite clinic before. 

As of now, he no longer receives treatment, except with a naturopath in Regina and consultation with a doctor in Tijuana, Mexico. However, the family is exceedingly grateful for the extra mile put in by the St. Joseph's Hospital.

"We're very thankful," Stacy expressed, "(We have) three kids, it was once a week, and it would have been tough, especially in the winter, to make it to Regina some days."

Jeff added that they experienced an extra level comfort as soon as that became available. Before, it was trips to the States, Calgary, and surgery in Tijuana, Mexico.

"To be at home in your own bed, friends and family around, it was huge."

They are also happy to give back to those who have helped them along the way. They already have been major supporters of the Foundation, and hope that this year's Radiothon and their story can help bring the needed services, like Jeff required, permanently to Estevan so others don't have to go through the same issues.

"It's an honor to be asked. We'd just like to get this story out there for everybody, and St. Joseph's has played a big part in it. Whether our regular GP Dr. Davies, who's been really good in supporting us, and obviously the chemo department," Jeff said, also giving a nod to Telehealth.

"Some of those doctor appointments are only less than five minutes, so to drive for two hours for a two minute doctor appointment if you can just drive to Estevan, it makes a big difference," his wife added.

Jeff and Stacy share their story...

"The Radiothon for Life is a fantastic event that the St. Joseph's Hospital Foundation has put on for the last 6 years," said interim Director Travis Frank, "It's a great way to bring awareness to some of the healthcare needs and successes in our community, some of the great things that our hospital staff are doing, and that's the biggest part of it."

"Jeff and Stacy's story is a great example of some ways that our team has worked really hard to make things better for people in their situation."

The event on the 18th will be a day of stories, from staff and patients alike, of how the hospital and it's differences have made a difference in the community, and to raise funds to bring improvements and a new level of service provided.