78-Year Old Sherwood, Oregon Sailor Goes on Final Voyage

Minor surgery has revealed that Hennie Page has inoperable pancreatic and spinal cancer.

Image courtesy: forget-me-not-program.com

(SHERWOOD, Ore.) - Hennie Page had finally settled into a quiet life in Sherwood Oregon. The South African native enjoys looking at his paintings and frequent visits from his daughter Yolanda and two grandsons.

His independence brought Page around the world in years past -- leading chartered cruises in the Caribbean for weddings and weeklong cruises for celebrities. In 1977, he finished Eyola, a unique 2,700 square foot, luxury Brigatine Schooner.

Built with Page's own hands, Eyola has four double cabins, a massive stateroom and lovingly finished with teak, English oak and Italian tile.

But minor surgery in April brought tragic news to Page and daughter Yolanda. What physicians thought was a hernia was in fact, a massive tumor on Page's pancreas. Cancer was also in his spine. The American Medical Association reports that when cancer has spread beyond the pancreas, there is no cure. Page has only weeks to live.

Hennie Page's last wish will be fulfilled at 11:00 AM Wednesday, June 4th by DeVal Henderson owner of the Island Sailing Club, who has volunteered to take Hennie Page and his daughter sailing. They will depart from dock "D," 515 NE Tomahawk Island Drive at Jansen Beach.

While on board, Page will be treated to his favorite lunch, filet mignon (medium rare), beer and pecan pie.

Caryn Meier, who works for the Avamere living facility where Page resides in Sherwood, is a graduate of a statewide Forget-Me-Not program, created by the Oregon Health Care Foundation.

The program teaches caregivers how to fulfill the life wishes of Oregon's senior citizens residing in long-term care facilities. With the blessings of her employer, Meier was able to fulfill Hennie Page's final wish with just one phone call.

After living on yachts and sailboats for most of his life, Page has not sailed in more than eight years. A man of the sea, he deeply desires to bid farewell to the ocean he has loved surrounded by his family. Hennie Page is over six feet tall with a full head of silver hair. While cancer has limited his appetite and slowed him down, he is still mobile and full of stories of his life at sea.

Source: Avamere Living