Video by Amanda and Brittany van Frankfoort / Photos by @nixaov via Timeout with the Twins
As the last breaths of daylight escape “Stuntman” Stu Schwartz’s hospital room on Feb. 15, 2016, he types a Facebook video caption: “I have some news to share with all of you.” He sends a shockwave through the Ottawa community when he presses ‘share.’
Schwartz’s career as an Ottawa radio host is decorated with several high profile gigs including being the PA announcer at Ottawa Senators’ home games, co-hosting one of the city’s most popular radio morning shows on MAJIC 100 and working the Olympics in 2010 and 2014.
Throughout the two decades listeners welcomed Schwartz’s voice into their vehicles, homes and workplaces, the 44-year-old remained dedicated to ensuring the wellbeing and entertainment of the Ottawa community.
In addition to raising money for numerous charitable causes and emceeing community events, Schwartz pioneered an anti-bullying campaign, “#NoMoreBullies,” with Angie Poirier and Trisha Owens at MAJIC 100 in September 2011. Over the course of five years he spoke to more than 10,000 Ottawa students.
Schwartz says, “You have one life and you have to do something with it. I chose at that time to make that my message and obviously that changed in 2016.”
Shortly after receiving his diagnosis, from within the four walls of his indefinite new home Schwartz invited the Ottawa and hockey communities into his nightmare. He had Leukemia.
Schwartz underwent 18-months of treatment including chemotherapy and a bone marrow transplant. He documented his entire battle through Facebook videos and Instagram updates that simultaneously educated, informed and entertained his hundreds-of-thousands of viewers.
The city and hockey community rallied around the Schwartz family sending messages, cards, books, handmade quilts and other gifts. From the hockey community Schwartz received pictures, messages and videos of encouragement from NHL players, coaches, reporters and Hockey Night In Canada’s Don Cherry and Ron Maclean.
Schwartz says, having participated in countless charity events, being on the receiving end of support was a surreal, humbling experience.
“It’s not something I can ever repay people for but I’m so grateful,” Schwartz says. “A lot of people think that doesn’t mean anything or I don’t read those messages but I did and I do.”
His campaign, #StuStrong, raised over $315,000 for Leukemia and stem cell research at The Ottawa Hospital.
“I’ve suddenly become ‘the cancer guy,’” Schwartz says. “Not a game goes by where somebody doesn’t stop me. People feel relatable to me and I like that. I love that.”
In January 2017 Schwartz returned prematurely to his seat at center ice in the Canadian Tire Centre.
“I was struggling that night…it was just brutal,” Schwartz says.
During the second intermission of a game between the Senators and the Calgary Flames, his boss pulled him like a goaltender would be pulled.
“I bawled my eyes out the whole way home…I beat this thing, I’m trying to get used to the new donor in me and I can’t do a frigging game? What’s wrong with me?”
Schwartz limited his activities to grocery shopping and picking up his kids from school until hockey playoffs began in April.
Now, two years after receiving the devastating diagnosis, Schwartz smiles when saying he feels 75 per cent. He works about half of the Senators’ home games.
“It’s kind of like a player who gets injured then comes back from injury. It takes time. I just need time.”
This coming Monday, March 19, Schwartz begins another unexpected but this time welcomed chapter of his cancer journey—meeting his bone marrow donor, the man who saved his life.
