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1 1 | Friday A ugust 2 5 , 2 0 1 7 | OAKVILLE BEAVER | w w w .insidehalton.com Experimental surgery could extend man's life by five years continued from p. 1 he also sings in the choir. "Making music with your body, using your body as a musical instrument is a real cathar tic experience," said Cross. "Just having sound come out and having people enjoy it. It is really soul satisfying." The married father of two, who called Bronte home until recently, first realized something was wrong back in May when he began experiencing a strange pain in his back. On June 19, his doctor said Cross had stage four pancreatic cancer, which they described as terminal and inoperable. Cross said he was handed a death sentence on that day and given a prognosis of around eight months to live. "I think I went into shock," he said. "You almost feel like you are in a dream. `Is this really happening? Did I hear her correct ly?' Then you go over it and over it in your mind and you say, `Yep.'" The Canadian Cancer Society says pancre atic cancer usually grows quickly and is of ten not found until it is at an advanced stage, where the tumour has spread or cannot be removed with surgery. They also noted that in Canada on average only about 8 per cent of people diagnosed with pancreatic cancer survive five years. Cross said his only hope is for an experi mental cancer surgery called IRE (Irrevers ible Electroporation/NanoKnife), which uses electrical impulses to shrink tumours with out damaging surrounding tissue. In February the Province announced a $2.1 million pilot project to study this treat ment, however, because any help from the study will come too late to help Cross he is looking to England where NanoKnife surgery is already being done. The only problem with this option is the procedure costs a lot of money. As a result Cross has set up a gofundme. com account with the goal of raising $60,000. The music teacher emphasized that while NanoKnife treatment is not a cure for his cancer it could extend his life by another five years if successful. His plea has been heard loud and clear in Oakville where friends and members of Wal ton United Church' s congregation are rally ing to his support with a flood of donations. As of Aug. 21, just 10 days after his gofundme account was set up, supporters have donated nearly $ 32,000. Walton United Church congregation mem ber Suzanne Whiteley was so moved when she learned of Cross' diagnosis that she cir culated flyers asking her fellow church goers for help. "He is the most charismatic person. He would do anything for anybody," said W hiteley. "W hen he sings at our church you can hear England home later this month as he pre pares to undergo the NanoKnife treatment, which is currently scheduled for Aug. 29. "The response from my church, my friends, my past colleagues from the shows I've been in has been amazing," said Cross. "It overwhelms me. At times it brings me to tears because I can't believe it. There are even anonymous people who have been sup porting me. It' s just really amazing." Cross said if the treatment works he plans to use the new time he will have to raise awareness about pancreatic cancer to hope fully spare other families what his is currently going through. He said news of his diagnosis hit his wife Em m a and children Adam, 20, and Nicola, 15, hard. The entire family is now availing them selves of counseling services in their com munity because while Cross is hoping for the best with the NanoKnife treatment he must also prepare for the worst. "If you know your death is immanent what do you do? W ho do you talk to? W hat is on your bucket list? That' s what we have here," said Cross. "I'm trying to fit 10 years of love and laugh ter into eight months. Hopefully it will be more than that." Anyone interested in donating to Cross' treatment can do so at his gofundme account at gofundme.com. Gregory Cross is hoping to raise $60,000 for cancer surgery. | g o fu n d m e .c o m p h o to him right down on Bronte Pier. It is so power ful.. .He is music personified. He is a fantastic guy. We just have to save this guy." Walton United Church Rev. James Gill said Cross has been an active and dedicated mem ber of the church for many years. He noted Cross entertained both the church and the community using his many musical and dramatic abilities at concerts, shows and socials. "Members and staff have prayerfully sup ported Greg in so many ways in his medical journey," said Gill. "A small group of Walton people has per sonally helped in Greg' s social media gofundme campaign. Dozens and dozens of Walton members have also personally donated gener ously to help fund the NanoKnife operation." 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