Christmas tree salesman with cancer sells out lot before last romantic trip
The dream of one last romantic Hawaiian vacation is now closer to reality after a Calgary Christmas tree salesperson — diagnosed with blood and bone cancer — sold out of trees on Saturday night, almost one month ahead of schedule.
Kim DeGagne was diagnosed with an incurable form of multiple myeloma in 2013.
He dreamed of taking his wife on a final dream vacation to Hawaii — so he had extra motivation to sell enough trees from his lot in McKenzie Towne, where he's sold Christmas trees for the past 11 years.
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"Usually, the man likes to be strong and support and do stuff for his wife and I haven't been able to that and this would allow me to do something," DeGagne told The Calgary Eyeopener.
Sales this season have outpaced previous years because of the increased attention about DeGagne's story online and in the media.
"I've had an amazing amount of traffic. I've been selling an average of twenty trees a night during the week. Last year I sold an average of seven."
Despite optimism about the trip, the couple may not get to travel for six to eight months because of DeGagne's weekly hospital trips for chemo and another stem cell transplant.
"But we're going to go," DeGagne said.
He says he's most looking forward to just relaxing.
"I've never been there. I believe it's very romantic, and my wife and I love each other to death. I just think it would be pretty special for the two of us."
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