Pastor fighting for his life

A Kelowna pastor has been diagnosed with stage four liver cancer and while it doesn't look good, the family is praying for a Christmas miracle.

Sean Lalonde is a children's pastor at Kelowna Christian Centre and is a devoted father of five children and husband to Val Lalonde.

After coming home from a family vacation in Hawaii, Sean started experiencing stomach cramps. He didn't think much of the pain, as he had been on a special diet and assumed that was all it was. 

"He went to the hospital two days after coming back from Hawaii and that was when doctors diagnosed him with stage four liver cancer," Val Lalonde said.

There are four different treatments that can help fight the cancer, but Sean isn't a candidate for any of them.

"If he can regain some strength there is a possibility he could go through chemotherapy, but the three other options are off the table, because of how far the cancer has advanced," Val added. 

The family has five children. The youngest is five and the oldest is 16 years old. 

"This weekend we were planning on getting a Christmas tree and making gingerbread, so that changed really fast. The kids miss their dad at home," Val said.

Val says her husband is a fighter, and she believes a miracle is possible.  

"Sean is a fighter. He has probably had this for a couple of years. We can get through this."

Family and friends have put up a GoFundMe page to help with medical expenses and treatment. 

"We are both going on a medical leave, which will impact us financially. We have been so blessed by the outpour of support from everyone," Val said.

"We believe in a God of miracles, this is the perfect time for that. We are calling on Him and we feel a total peace over our home," Val said.