Revelstoke Mayor Gary Sulz got an early Christmas present with the news he is now cancer free. 

In a video post to the city鈥檚 YouTube channel, Sulz provided an update on his health after being diagnosed with an extremely rare form of cancer back in August. On Nov. 12, he underwent a 15-hour surgery with three surgeons working on him. 

鈥淭he next day, Nov. 13, the anesthesiologist came in, just a wonderful lady, to tell me 鈥楪ary, we got it all鈥�,鈥� he said through emotion. 

He then spent a total of 10 days in hospital and is very grateful to the team at Vancouver General Hospital for his care, particularly the staff who told him 鈥淚 think we can kick you loose now, it鈥檚 time for you to go home.鈥�

Sulz also expressed gratitude to the community for support he received throughout his battle with cancer.

鈥淭o be able to come home to... all the support given, and extremely emotional for me to come home and find posters in most of your business windows,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hat really buoyed me up, to come home to something that said 鈥楽tay Strong Mayor Sulz鈥�. I cannnot thank you enough.鈥�

Sulz also reported that he won鈥檛 need to undergo chemotherapy but will still be checking in regularly with his doctors, and is facing a recovery of about two to three months to regain his strength.

Proving his sense of humour remains intact, he joked of his weight loss being a result of 鈥渁ll the parts they took out,鈥� and also the 鈥渋ncredible diet in hospital of ice chips for six days.鈥�

Sulz ended the clip with a sincere thanks to the community of Revelstoke for the all the support provided to him and his family. 

鈥淭hank you to all of you. I鈥檓 on the mend, things are good... and looking forward to getting back to work at some point in the early new year.鈥�