Tributes paid to 'truly sensitive soul', cancer victim Calvin Brincat

A former reality TV star who was diagnosed with pancreatic and liver cancer at the end of last year has died, his family announced Monday.

Thirty-two-year-old Calvin Brincat from Birkirkara, who took part in the TV show Hazzzard two years ago, was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and cholangiocarcinoma, a rare and aggressive cancer, in December.

The deliveryman and event planner’s struggle against the diseases attracted a flood of support, with a fundraising campaign to help with medical treatment and living costs raising over €38,000.

Writing on Facebook, his sister Naomi said: “It is with heavy hearts and profound pain that our family shares the news of Calvin’s passing today”.

Describing the past three months as “the hardest of our lives”, she said her brother “endured so much, yet you kept your humour alive until the very end. You were a truly sensitive soul with an extraordinary gift for kindness, and the world feels so much dimmer without your light”.

“How much we sang, how much we laughed, and how much you loved dressing up stylishly and enjoying life”, she wrote.

“We feel incredibly lucky to have been part of your journey. While our hearts are broken, we find comfort in knowing you are finally resting pain-free... We will forever carry your memory and the joy of our best days in everything we do.”

She thanked all those who had supported the family.

Her post attracted an outpouring of condolences from social media users.

Brincat's partner, Casey Helena Borg, described the months since his diagnosis as the "hardest months of my life" in a separate post on Monday.

"Rest in peace, my love you were in so much pain, and you didn’t deserve that."

Valletta FC president and former PN MP Claudio Grech, recounting gifting Brincat a team kit signed by the players, saying he would "never forget the expression on Calvin’s face".

"Rest in peace, my friend. The Valletta community salutes you from the heart."

Diagnosis

Speaking to Times of Malta in January, Calvin Brincat said his health troubles started around three years ago, when he began to experience intense stomach pain after discovering a hernia on his left side.

Despite undergoing an operation, he continued to experience pain for two years, including while shooting Hazzzard.

He said that despite being taken to hospital more than 10 times, he was “told it was nothing”. But in December, he experienced a “huge pain” in his stomach, attributed at the time to a possible kidney infection.

Brincat continued to experience pain during a trip to Budapest, however, and described being unable to keep down food, while passing brown urine and throwing up frequently.

Speaking to Times of Malta in January, Brincat thanked those who had supported him throughout his treatment.

He was admitted to Mater Dei Hospital, where, following a week of tests and an MRI scan, he was diagnosed with early-stage cancer.

Brincat had told Times of Malta that the most difficult moment was not the diagnosis itself, but its impact on his family.

“The hardest part was seeing my mum crying,” he said. “My family gives me a lot of love, support and courage”.

Sharing that the fundraiser had “reminded me how lucky I am to be surrounded by such amazing people,” he said, “Every donation, message and share meant the world to me. Thank you for believing in me and supporting me through this journey.”