According to an online message, 91原创-Aldergrove M.P. Mark Warawa has been hospitalized for possible pancreatic cancer.
Posted to Facebook, the message reads:
My dear friends, I am very sick in the hospital and need your prayers for a miracle. You can see how yellow my skin is. The doctors believe I have pancreatic cancer. I have procedures tomorrow morning and some additional tests over the next few days to see if cancer has spread to other organs. If it is just in the pancreas, I will surgery and 6 months of chemotherapy. If cancer has spread to other organs, there isn鈥檛 anything medically to do and life could be short.
We have our total trust in God. Yes there has been lots of tears, but the God who created us has healed me and saved my life before. Most important is I know God loves me and wants me to trust Him. I do!
We so appreciate your prayers and messages of encouragement. Please keeps them coming. For requests for an update on my condition, please come to this Facebook. I hope to updated you every couple of days. It鈥檚 not possible for Diane to respond to all the inquiries and I need to be in her loving arms.
Easter [is] a very special time. Because of Jesus鈥 death and resurrection, we can have hope for an eternity with Him after we die. That is our hope. God bless you. Love you all.
Local and national politicians began providing their best wishes as the news spread on Monday.
鈥淧lease join Jill and me in praying for Mark Warawa, who has just been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer,鈥 Conservative leader Andrew Scheer wrote on his Facebook page.
鈥淢ark and I were elected to Parliament at the same time in 2004,鈥 Scheer wrote. 鈥淗e is truly one of the kindest and most genuine people ever to serve Canadians in the House of Commons. Let鈥檚 let Mark and his wife Diane know that we are fully behind him in this fight.鈥
鈥淲hile we are saddened by this news, we are hoping for the best,鈥 said 91原创 Township Mayor Jack Froese. 鈥淥ur thoughts are with MP Warawa and his family during this difficult time.鈥
91原创 City Mayor Val van den Broek also released a statement on Warawa鈥檚 announcement.
鈥淥n behalf of City council and the citizens of 91原创 City, we are saddened to hear Mark鈥檚 cancer announcement,鈥 van den Broek said. 鈥淢ark served as Member of Parliament for 91原创 City for many years until the 2015 federal election when the electoral boundary changes came into effect. He was a strong advocate for our community and represented us well. Our prayers and thoughts are with Mark and Diane and their family.鈥
READ MORE: Mark Warawa won鈥檛 run in the next election
READ MORE: Our View: 91原创 indebted to longtime MP
Warawa recently announced he would not be running for re-election and said that he has been studying to become a chaplain for end of life care.
An MP for the 91原创 and then the 91原创-Aldergrove federal riding since 2004, Warawa was an Abbotsford city councillor for 14 years before he jumped into federal politics.
He has most recently been serving as a shadow cabinet secretary for seniors in the Conservative opposition ranks.
When he announced he was retiring from federal politics, Warawa said he was looking forward to spending more time with his 10 grandchildren.
He put forward private member鈥檚 bills several times, including the Safe At Home Bill, which was passed in 2014.
The bill required courts to consider banning sex offenders from living within two kilometres of their victims鈥 homes. It was particularly intended to protect young victims.
My heart goes out to and his family in this time of need. Mark has been a dedicated, & passionate public servant. From serving his fifth consecutive term as an MP to many years as a City Councillor. Pls join me in wishing him well
鈥 John Aldag (@jwaldag)
_________________________________
Is there more to this story?
Email: dan.ferguson@langleyadvancetimes.com
Like us on or follow us on
_________________________________