Delta mayor caring for dying daughter

By Dan Ferguson - Surrey North Delta Leader - May 13, 2008

Delta Mayor Lois Jackson

THE LEADER

When her oldest daughter Lauri was diagnosed with terminal cancer, Delta Mayor Lois Jackson wanted to quit her job to look after her child full-time.

Lauri said no.

"When I need you, mom, I'll call you," she said.

It was late last year that tests showed Lauri's breast cancer had spread to her liver and spine, despite a full year of chemo, drugs and radiation.

At first, Jackson said she couldn't bring herself to talk out loud about it.

Still, it was an open secret at Delta city hall, where staff and councillors knew why the mayor was sometimes absent from meetings.

She was travelling to Kamloops, where Lauri lives.

At Monday night's council meeting, the secrecy ended when Jackson startled a critical crowd of protesters into sudden silence by revealing why she didn't appear for a weekend demonstration against proposed new overhead power lines in Tsawwassen.

"I have a daughter who has cancer who has four months to live," the mayor said, "and she needed me."

Jackson and Lauri were visiting with another adult daughter who was recovering from bone surgery that weekend.

Lauri is now trying alternative remedies and is still undergoing a form of chemo.

Her family is praying for a miracle, Jackson said.

"We all have a very strong faith and that gives us a lot of comfort," she said. "We live every single day the most happy we can."

She said she decided to go public because it might help other people dealing with the same situation.

And she has warned her staff that there may come a day when she will not be available for any meetings, and someone will have to serve as acting mayor.

dferguson@surreyleader.com

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Delta mayor caring for dying daughter

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