Tanya Hagel's youngest brother, Rick, is the eternal optimist, even as he battles angiosarcoma, which has resulted in the amputation of part of his foot.
 
Angiosarcoma is a rare type of cancer that forms in the lining of the blood vessels and lymph vessels. When Hagel,40, was diagnosed last June and underwent radiation, as well as chemotherapy, his family was cautiously optimistic that most of the cancer was gone. But the relief was short-lived. 
 
"Last month or so, he had been experiencing really bad back pain and a couple of weeks ago he ended up going into the hospital via ambulance because the back pain was just too much," said Tanya Hagel. "After doing a CT scan, they [doctors] noticed some spots in his spine."
 
The cancer had spread to Hagel's sternum, spine and lungs. Hagel explained that because the form of cancer that her brother has is so exceedingly rare, treatment in Canada is not a viable option.
 
"When we got the diagnosis, some family friends started looking into alternative options for him for treatment, she said. " My sisters and I decided that we wanted to help with expenses because we're looking in sending him to the States for some treatments."
 
Hagel's friends and family banded together for an online auction. The Rick Hagel Benefit Auction has amassed more than 350 items that the public can bid on.
 
"It's been an array of items that we have on there; charcuterie boards to cases of wine, we had three puppies that were donated at the auction," Hagel said.  "We didn't have any expectations going into this."
 
Tanya Hagel who is one of the three sisters that Rick has said she has always had a strong bond with her brother, a brother who is never one to fall into despair.
 
"When we found out last Monday [about the cancer spreading], we were all a mess," Hagel said. "He was consoling us and saying, 'It's just a bump in the road.' He's a fighter and he's determined to fight and we're determined to fight along with him."
 
Hagel is planning to travel down to the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center as soon as possible, which means that Tanya and her other sisters Patrice and Shannon may not be able to spend the holidays with their little brother and his wife and daughter. No matter where Rick will be, Tanya said that thinking back on previous Christmases, family is what stands out most.
 
"It's spending the time together, whether we're on the farm we grew up on or at someone's house," Hagel said. "Whether it's going for a sleigh ride, or going tobaggnaning or sitting around and playing a board game. It's family time. and just connecting."
 
Although Rick Hagel was not available for an interview, he provided a written statement. 
 
"No words can explain the generosity that this community is putting together! This goes to show that small towns and the agricultural community will look after each other at the drop of a hat. We are so proud, fortunate, overwhelmed and lucky that there are so many good people out here and great to see social media doing so much good at this time."
 
Tanya Hagel echoed those sentiments.
 
"It's a reminder of how we're all busy in our day-to-day lives and then one of us needs each other, we all are there at the drop of a hat. There are no words for the community." 
 

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