Rob Ford In Hospital With Family At His Side


To paraphrase Mark Twain, reports of Rob Ford’s death were an exaggeration.

Rumors had been recently rife on social media that former Toronto mayor Rob Ford had passed away after battling a rare and aggressive form of cancer. Rob Ford’s office, however, released a statement March 17, stating that Toronto’s Ward 2 councillor was still very much alive and undergoing treatment.

Rob Ford became famous after admitting – while still Toronto’s mayor – that he had smoked crack cocaine while he was in one of his “drunken stupors.” New York Daily News reported that the Ford family had established a website, www.getwellrobford.com, as a means for Rob Ford’s fans to send get well messages. As of March 17, some 3,000 people had written Rob Ford messages wishing him improved health.

“My husband and I voted for you and loved your time in office,” one person wrote. “We wish you well as many people, leaning over me, want to also say that. Get well Rob we need you back in action!! Do well, we still all miss you babe.”

According to USA Today, Rob Ford has gone through some 10 rounds of chemotherapy so far in an effort to get rid of the tumors that he has been battling since news of his cancer broke back in 2014. The publication reports that efforts are being made to help Rob Ford build his strength back up so that he can resume chemotherapy.

According to Rob Ford’s brother Doug, who launched a failed bid for the Toronto mayor’s chair after his brother had to pull out due to his cancer diagnosis, the hope is that a new “targeted” chemotherapy will help. Under the Panov program at Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto, a sample of Rob Ford’s cancerous tissue is being transplanted into mice, and then the mice will be given a range of chemotherapy treatments to best determine the course of treatment medical professionals should follow in treating Rob Ford’s cancer.

CBC News said that the latest round of cancer treatment is due to the cancerous growths on Rob Ford’s bladder. Ford had been initially diagnosed with liposarcoma, a rare cancer that grows in fat cells.

Rob Ford gained particular notoriety when talk show host Jimmy Kimmel invited him to appear on his talk show. Several CBC.ca readers were not impressed with his decision to appear on the talk show, given it appeared as though Kimmel was ridiculing Ford for the impression he had left on the international community.

At the time, Rob Ford seemed unflappable, noting that when one viewer wrote Kimmel that Ford’s appearance was “a slap to all Torontonians” and made reference to “domestic abuse, drunk driving, racism, homophobia, and inability to tell the truth,” he said that the viewer should have also discussed the money he had saved Torontonians.

Kimmel also suggested to Rob Ford that perhaps he was an addict who required guidance and help in order to get past his issues, which Rob Ford dismissed at the time. He noted that he had been elected to clean up a mess that the previous Toronto mayor had left when he left office, and he said that he was not perfect.

Rob Ford’s supporters are now coming out of the woodwork to support the former mayor in what are undoubtedly challenging times for both him and his family. Councillor Josh Matlow said he believed old arguments needed to be set aside during trying times so that people could support one another and he said that he wished Rob Ford “love, best wishes and strength.” Former Ontario NDP premier Bob Rae also sent Rob Ford his best wishes, saying that his thoughts and prayers were with Rob Ford and his family.

(Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images)

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