A Calgary family’s life has been turned upside down after one of them was diagnosed with Glioblastoma, an aggressive form of cancer.

Derrick Ciok was diagnosed in June.

“"Things were good,” says Derrick. “I had a good career. A good job. I was happy.”

“It was completely normal,” says his wife Joanne. “Then in one day everything changed.”

Derrick knew something wasn’t right.

“I started losing my balance. I couldn’t tie my shoes and it was a rather long search for a medical issue,” says Derrick.

Eventually the 48 year old father of four had surgery and a six centimetre tumour was removed from his brain.

The Cioks hoped it was just a big cyst but it turned out to be Glioblastoma, an aggressive form of cancer, and Derrick began radiation immediately.

"I think I have two more radiations to go,” says Derrek. “I’m fighting the best I can and I’m getting great support.”

Two of the family’s children at in their 20s but the youngest two are just seven and nine years old and Derrick’s parents are visiting from Poland and everyone is helping out.

Derrick has also been accepted into a treatment program in Houston where genetically targeted drugs are built to tight the tumour and he says patients have had very promising results.

His employer, Cargill, has helped out financially and so has Calgary’s Polish community, but the family needs a little more financial assistance.

A gofundme campaign has raised almost $12,000.00 but much more is needed.

Glioblastoma is the same form of cancer The Tragically Hip’s Gord Downie is battling.

(With files from Bill Macfarlane