Cancer patient’s last wish granted

A dying cancer patient’s final wish has been granted after thousands of dollars was raised for a trip to the South Island, including a small grant from the local district health board.

After undergoing tests and scans, Richard (Ric) Coleman – pictured – was told in December last year he didn’t have cancer.

But six months later, he was called back in by a Hawke’s Bay District Health Board specialist and told a mistake had been made. He had liver cancer and was given just six months to live.

Coleman originally wanted to visit England, but his passport was out of date and time wasn’t on his side. He started a Givealittle page in a bid to raise $5000 for one last trip with his two daughters.

‘‘Considering what’s happened, I told them (the DHB) they should come to the party and help with costs – I didn’t make any demands, just merely suggested that there was something they could do to help. It certainly wouldn’t go amiss for the trip. I think I received nearly a thousand dollars or close to that.’’

A DHB spokesperson said the ‘‘small discretionary contribution was provided on the basis that it was an exceptional and rare case’’.

Coleman might only have a few months left but his nature to put others before himself is still at the forefront of his mind.

‘‘I went to the Hawke’s Bay A&P Show at the weekend and my friend had to push me around in a wheelchair. I’ll probably have to take one to the South Island but I don’t want to be a nuisance to anyone,’’ he said.

Coleman leaves for the South Island in two weeks time, planning to spend seven days there.

‘‘I love trains and I’m so happy I can go on the Tranz Alpine crossing. It will be wonderful.

‘‘It’s a little worrying, the date we go is dangerously close to my six-month mark. If I go before then, I’ve told my daughters to go for me and enjoy. But I’m fairly certain I can hold on.’’

Cancer also took Coleman’s wife 16 years ago on December 2.

‘‘If I could pass away at any date, it would be then. I’m not religious, but I’m sure she’s waiting for me. It would be like an anniversary.’’

Coleman reiterated that he didn’t want his situation happening to anyone else.

‘‘I’ve accepted this, there’s nothing more that I can do but it doesn’t mean that it’s OK. It’s not OK for this to happen to anyone.’’