If you ask Mohamed Jaffer to share what he likes most about Wellspring Alberta, he grins, as if to demonstrate his answer.
“At Wellspring, you enter the building with a smile … and you leave with a smile. Now that says a lot about a place that’s for people with cancer,” he said.
A Colourful Past
Mohamed and his wife Nassim, now retired for over a decade, have an interesting back story. Both are of Indian origin and were born in Dar es Salaam, the largest city in Tanzania. Ironically though, they shared the same surname at birth, they were not related, and they did not meet each other in Dar es Salaam, but found each other several years later in Canada.
Mohamed, first educated in England, found his way to Calgary, where his brother had settled, and with a background in the utility industry, he enjoyed a long, prosperous career with ENMAX. Nassim left Tanzania as a young adult to work as an au pair and then as a secretary in Paris, France. Eventually, she too made her way to Canada, first taking an administrative role in Montreal, and later landing in Calgary, where she worked in the transportation industry.
By sheer and happy coincidence, and thanks to family ties, the pair met and were married in Montreal in 1983, where both their families resided.
When Nassim was 41, she fulfilled a lifelong dream of going to university, where she obtained a sociology degree and went on to work in marketing till her retirement.
Topping both their lists of Calgary highlights … the 1988 Winter Olympics. Nassim volunteered as a National Olympic Committee (NOC) Host for the French-speaking Moroccan team, while Mohamed participated in the Alberta segment of the Opening Ceremony. Then, in recognition of Nassim’s hard work for the Moroccan team, Mohamed was given the NOC Guest status by the Moroccan IOC Member.
The Rest is History
Now, well into their 70s, Mohamed talks about the good life they’ve had, working, travelling, and being active in their faith and cultural community.
After retirement, they relocated to Edmonton to enjoy the added bonus of being close to their only daughter and their two precious granddaughters.
Then cancer came into their lives.
“First, it was Nassim. She was diagnosed with Stage 3 aggressive breast cancer in December 2022. Then her first chemo treatment landed her a week’s stay at the U of A Hospital. Just after she was discharged, the following May in 2023, while she was still undergoing her treatments, I was diagnosed with high-risk prostate cancer,” said Mohamed.
Amid all the turmoil, Mohamed and Nassim are overwhelmed with compassion for others.
“What really breaks our hearts is seeing the young people with cancer at the hospital. We have lived such good and full lives already, but they are in their prime. It makes us feel very sad for them,” he said.
For Nassim, the diagnosis led to two surgeries, five rounds of chemotherapy, and 20 rounds of radiation. She will be undergoing hormonal treatment for another three years, so she is often overcome with fatigue. For Mohamed, the best course of treatment was deemed to be 25 sessions of radiation followed by 18 months of hormone treatment. Since the completion of the treatments, he too struggles with fatigue as well as some brain fog, or he says that’s his excuse when he does not recall what Nassim has told him.
In November 2025, Mohamed was diagnosed with basal cell carcinoma. While this is the most common and least dangerous type of skin cancer, it is very uncommon for people with dark skin. It was removed, and he will continue to be observed.
Despite all of that, nothing stops this couple from enjoying their granddaughters.
“We attend most, if not all, of their outdoor and indoor performances and activities all year round, in the vain attempt to enable them to use up their bottomless well of energy. Of course, there are sleepovers and occasional babysitting too,” he said. The whole family has also gone on holidays together.
Wellspring Alberta Hits the Spot
For Mohamed and Nassim, Wellspring has served as a place of activity, kindness, and joy. They were first introduced to it through ACE (Alberta Cancer Exercise), which is operated out of Wellspring, and they soon found themselves sampling some Wellspring programs, including Discovery through Writing, Qigong, Tai Chi, Pole Walking, and Improve Your Breathing.
Nassim especially enjoys the spirit of community, noting that after the sessions are over, she always heads over to the coffee space to meet up with other people and share stories about their lives.
“We’ve met so many wonderful people at Wellspring, and all the programs are amazing. We especially like the ones you don’t have to get up too early for,” said Nassim, laughing, adding, “With this fatigue, neither of us functions well in the morning, or maybe we are getting old!”
Mohamed has shared and heard other people’s experiences in the Men’s Group sessions, and Nassim found good information in the Nourish program. Both are grateful they can pick and choose programs that suit their schedule and meet their needs.
“We feel quite lucky that we have such an amazing place to go to lift our spirits. It’s a really good and welcoming community at Wellspring, and you always leave feeling happy and re-energized,” said Mohamed.
28 Responses
Dear Mohamed and Nassim. Thank you so much for mutually sharing your stories. You’ve both lived such wonderful, colourful lives with so many beautiful experiences. By sharing this with Wellspring Alberta you give strength and awareness to so many others. Scott
Thank you Scott for your very kind words. There are many others, especially the young ones, who have got equally if not more inspiring stories. I am sure they also will get the opportunity of relating their brave journeys.
Nassim and I have to acknowledge the author of this article Pat Fream, the Writer-Consultant at Wellsprings. Out of the blue she asked us if we would like to share our cancer journey. From our ramblings and babblings on the Zoom call, she weaved this amazing narrative which, truth be told, paints us with much more glory than we deserve.
So thank you Pat.
Mohamed and Nassim – thank you for sharing your story – you are an inspiration to members and obviously to your family too! Happy holidays and have a great new year.
Thank you Ena for your comments. I hope others who are facing or have faced similar diagnoses, realize that there is light at the end of the tunnel.
Thank you so much for sharing.
Wishing you both continuing improvement in your health and continued happiness and long life.
Thank you Anil. All the best to you as well.
Mohamed and Nasim, you are the brave soldiers walking with a baton of surgery, chemotherapy and radiation and yet marching on with a smile on your face. How many of us could do it? when the Almighty Lord takes something from our grasp, He is not punishing you but merely opening your hands to receive something better. Following is a quote that I read a long time ago
“Everything that happens is a vital part of the divine, even the most terrible events contain certain hidden blessings which only the great minds and the Masters understand for they know the Truth and so they remain undisturbed by events, whilst those of lower “Wisdom” swing from elation to depression”
Nassim and Mohamed your enthusiasm and energy in navigating your present medical condition certainly defines you as strong role models to all those battling with similar ailments or worse. Stay strong and thank you for paving the way for all of us by being such good examples.
Mary Hassanali
Mary, you have always been such a wonderful “cheerleader” to us right from the very first time we met you so many decades ago. Your heartfelt and thoughtful comments really reflect your values and we really appreciate them. There are so many others undergoing treatment, who have been our role models and from whom we gained so much strength and courage to go through it.
Thank you very much for you wonderful comments
What an amazing article. You two have been in our hearts and prayers throughout your ordeal and reading this article we in London, UK are comforted to know there are people, places and kindness all around you. Thank you Wellspring for giving our two very precious people the hope and comfort they needed during a very stressful and difficult time in their lives xx
Jasmine, thank you for your and everyone else’s prayers and encouragement throughout our journey. You too are a very precious soul and such a wonderful and loving cousin.
Thank you Nassim and Mohamed for sharing your incredible story with me.
Having known you both since 1981 I am not surprised to hear of the positive
attitude that you have both displayed in fighting this terrible disease.
As you say, the smile that you get when entering and leaving the Wellspring
building gives you strength and resolve to be cured.
Keep up the good work !
Bill, thank you for your wonderful comments.
I first met you in November 1981, at Alberta House in London UK, when you offered me a job in Calgary. The move to Calgary completely changed my life for the better, both professionally and personally. I have said this to you before that I am greatly indebted to you for everything that you have done for me. Had you not offered me the job, I can’t imagine what my life would have been like in the Oxford, even though I had a wonderful job in a delightful place.
Thank you from from the bottom of our hearts from Nassim and me.
Mohamed and Nasim, you are the brave soldiers walking with a baton of surgery, chemotherapy and radiation and yet marching on with a smile on your face. How many of us could do that? when the Almighty Lord takes something from our grasp, remember He is not punishing you but merely opening your hands to receive something better. Following is a quote that I read a long time ago
“Everything that happens is a vital part of the divine, even the most terrible events contain certain hidden blessings which only the great minds and the Masters understand for they know the Truth and so they remain undisturbed by events, whilst those of lower “Wisdom” swing from elation to depression”
Nassim and Mohamed your enthusiasm and energy in navigating your present medical condition certainly defines you as strong role models to all those battling with similar ailments or worse. Stay strong and we thank you for paving the way for all of us by being such good examples.
Mary Hassanali
Mohamed and Nasim – all the best and may your recovery be fats and smooth- ameen.
Thank you Nasim and Amin
Great to see they are recovering from their illnesses. May God help them to keep healing and get their live completely back to normal before getting diagnosed with cancer. May Gods blessings ve upon them.
Thank you Ali for your thoughts and prayers.
Shukar. Mowla Bless you both with good health. Praying that Mowla be by your side. Holding your hand during your surgery. Amen.
Thank you Yasmin for your thoughts and prayers.
Dear Nassim and .Mohamed, I am thrilled to read your survival story. We were classmates until the very end, we landed up in different continents and both became engineers. I willl make this short..Nassim and Mohamed I wish you a speedy recovery as much as this is possible. Keep up your spirits high and let our paths cross again in this world. God bless you both. Amen
Yes Bahadur. The last time I saw you must have been December 1965 before we went our different ways, you to West Germany before unification) and me to the UK.
Well hopefully we both can make it to our next 1965 School reunion.
Thank you for your thoughts and prayers.
What a sad story but also very encouraging for the rest of us. Allah bless you both.
Thank you Amin for your thoughts and prayers
Thank you for sharing your tough but beautiful story and being an inspiration to many others.
Wellspring is lucky to have you as well as vice versa!
Thank you for sharing your tough but beautiful story and being an inspiration to many others.
Wellspring is lucky to have you as well as vice versa!
Thank you Ena.
I must say that we have been very lucky to have met so many wonderful people, patients and medical staff, both at the Edmonton Cross Cancer Institute and Wellsprings. So really it has been us who have been blessed being in their presence.
Nasim and Mohammed, what an amazing and inspiring story. Prayers for good health, inner peace, love and happiness. Prayers for success in all your treatments and to always stay so so positive. The strength you get from your kindness, to help lift other people’s spirits and your faith is remarkable. Wish you many years of good health to enjoy your grandchildren.
Love Mohamud and Parviz Zaver
Thank you Parviz and Mahmud for your thoughts, prayers and such kind words. As I have said earlier, we have been truly blessed to be surrounded and supported by everyone we have been fortunate to meet.