Caboolture grandfather lives his bucket list dreams after shattering cancer diagnosis

A Caboolture grandfather is living out his bucket list dreams after being given just months to live following a shock cancer diagnosis. WATCH THE VIDEO

Peter van Eysden’s smile beamed as he waved to his family, just minutes away from taking flight on his first bucket list item.

The Caboolture grandfather is committed to embracing life wholeheartedly after receiving a shock cancer diagnosis giving him just months to live.

A large pancreatic tumour was discovered in the 65-year-old a year ago after repeated visits to the doctor.

His loving wife Helen has been by his side the whole time.

“He had been ill throughout the year and the doctor hadn’t really come up with anything, just told him to lose weight, exercise and meditate,” she said.

Peter van Eysden is ticking off his bucket list after he was diagnosed with Pancreatic cancer. Picture: Contributed.

The pair changed doctors and saw various specialists but it wasn’t until a physio suggested a new set of scans that Peter’s tumour was uncovered.

“We’d gone in there expecting it to be kidney related and me being a nurse I had done research. I thought worse case scenario he’ll lose a kidney and that’s alright,” she said

“So when the doctor said ‘no it’s pancreatic cancer’ … I didn’t know much about it.

“He followed the diagnosis up by saying unfortunately there’s only a five per cent chance of getting to five years and because it’s so advanced.

“Then being told he had an aggressive one (tumour), which there isn’t a lot you can do, it floored us.”

Pancreatic cancer is one of Australia’s deadliest diseases with more than 3300 people dying each year.

The average time from diagnosis to death is just a short five months.

Mrs van Eysden has been married to Peter for eight years and together for more than a decade.

Between them the couple has four children and five grandchildren.

Peter’s children, Anthony and Louisa, are both based in the UK, with the couple fearing they may not get to say goodbye to their dad due to Covid restrictions.

The 59-year-old nurse decided to step away from her trade 12 months ago to help care for her husband.

She said the past few months has been “a real rollercoaster”.

“The not knowing part of it is the worst part, it’s like having this big black cloud over you,” Mrs van Eysden said.

“Nobody wants to give you a prognosis, the oncologist tries to stay as positive as he can.

“He was given six to 12 months about a year ago.

“He is in the advanced state of the disease now but he’s coping quite well.”

Bucket list dreams take flight after shock cancer diagnosis

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Mr van Eysden has drafted himself a wish list, something his wife says keeps him motivated and gives him something to look forward to instead of focusing on his “limited time left”.

“Organising these wishes is often a challenge as Peter’s roller coaster health issues and Covid restrictions can often make for last minute changes,” she said.

The grandfather ticked off one of his wishes at the weekend, taking to the skies with the Caboolture Aero Club.

“We had an amazing day and the club members were awesome accommodating Peter’s wishes,” his wife said.

“He had two flights, one doing acrobatics and another gliding the sky ways for an hour which he said was surreal.

“We took our grandsons Tyrone and Wyatt and the eldest Tyrone was so enamoured by everything he got to fly and is now keen to join Australian air force Cadets with a goal to further flying in future.

“We are thrilled that this adventure has ignited an interest in a future which will be character building for him.”

The couple said they are both so grateful to pilots Garrett Russell and Barry Collins for making his dream come true.

Peter’s other wish list items include driving in a v8 on a racetrack, swimming with the dolphins and sitting in a Leopard army tank.

His last wish holds special significance as Mr van Eysden used to drive tanks in Dutch army in 1970s.

Mr van Eysden’s family, friends and colleagues recently gathered to pay tribute to the beloved father.

“I threw a big party for Peter at Royal Pines Resort Gold Coast as a celebration of Peter's life,” Mrs van Eysden said.

“(It) was an opportunity for people to say goodbye.

“As pancreatic cancer can be a sudden deterioration at end, I wanted Peter to be well enough to enjoy the celebration.

“Everyone had an amazing night and made some wonderful memories which for me is my aim in these final few months.”

She said the pair also wanted to highlight the devastating disease.

“It sadly doesn't get the recognition it deserves,” she said.

“There’s not a lot of information out there, it would be good to see more out there that people can access.

“Knowledge is they key, when you’re in a situation where you are confronted with this, learning as much as you can about it and what’s available.”

In an Australian first, PanKind, Australia’s only foundation dedicated to pancreatic cancer, is partnering with QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute to trial a new service that aims to support carers through the impact of the disease.

The PRoCESS (Pancreatic cancer Relatives Counselling and Education Support Service) Trial, aims to determine whether having a nurse provide structured counselling and education to carers of people with pancreatic cancer helps them cope with the challenges they are facing.

PanKind CEO Michelle Stewart said carers of loved ones are twice as likely to experience clinical anxiety than the people they are caring for.

“In addition to carers being immediately confronted with the need to assist in the management of complex physical symptoms and provide emotional, financial, legal and spiritual support, they also face the impending loss of their loved one,” she said.

“It is a brutal diagnosis and a huge weight to bear.”

For now though, the van Eysden’s are staying positive and looking forward to ticking off that bucket list.