Capt Ed Reyes, DU1ERV, was a former Secretary General of PARA from 1997 to 1998. For more than 2 years now, he had been suffering from prostate cancer. When told about his condition, he was  devastated especially when he learned that it is on its 4th stage and considering he used to undergo stringent semi-annual medical examinations in his many years as a veteran commercial airline pilot.

       Subsequently, he underwent radiation treatment not in the hope of killing the cancer cells but only to prolong his being. Early last year he went to the United States, hoping to find alternative medication such as  herbal treatment. When he came back in the 3rd quarter of last year, the once darkened bone structures in his X-rays (the whiter images of the bones are the healthy ones) showed that he had apparently responded well to the medication.

        Last November 2006, Captain Ed felt some discomfort in his back and knees so he underwent another X-ray scan to check specifically his spinal column and whether he was having a relapse. Finding the results to be good he was just cautioned by his doctor to refrain from carrying heavy objects and stressful activities. He was encouraged to continue his wholesome lifestyle.

       However, before the 74^th PARA Convention last December 9, 2006, he was starting to feel some discomfort again but managed to fulfil – for the love of the hobby - his commitment to deliver a lecture on antenna homebrewing. That he was doing his best to appear normal but was in pain while delivering his lecture was obvious. Acceding to the request of his fellow hams to take some rest, he decided to rest overnight at a hotel in Clarkfield.

                           Happier times at the Convention                                        Resting afterwards with Ramon, Butch and Mayet

       Apparently he was doing well until last month. He was brought and confined in Sta. Teresita General Hospital on January 26, 2007 due to his complaints of terrible pain in his back and head. To arrest and stabilize his dropping haemoglobin levels, he underwent blood transfusion. His condition stabilized after 6 days and the pain was practically gone so he was discharged.

       Less than a week after his discharge from the hospital, on February 6 2007, he was rushed to FEU Hospital in Fairview, Q.C. when he started to complain again of excruciating pain. During this time, he lost his appetite and frequently vomited. A bone scan procedure was immediately performed the next day and the results were very bad. The cancer cells had metastasized rapidly, spread to his shoulder blades, pelvic bones, knees, ankles, ribs and part of his skull causing the unbearable pain.

       Early morning of February 9, 2007 while coming from the restroom on his way back to his bed, Captain Ed vomited. After vomiting, he went back to sleep. He did not wake up anymore. An MRI scan revealed that cancer cells have already invaded his brain. In the afternoon of the same day, he stopped breathing on his own. He was revived two times in less than an hour. On the third time that he was revived, the family decided to put Captain Ed on artificial life support system. Boydel, DU3BBY was at the scene that afternoon.

       The condition of Captain Ed has led doctors to advise the family that his deterioration is now irreversible and only a miracle can change his condition. The members of the immediate family present are just waiting for the others from abroad to arrive this Thursday, February 15 2007 before a decision is made when to discontinue providing artificial life support systems for Capt. Ed Reyes so he can finally rest.

                            – by DV1RP, Butch