Jennifer’s Story: Learning to Let Go

At 42, Jennifer Herbert McCreary held herself to a high standard, and would offer the world nothing less. In her work as a respiratory therapist, she gave 110 percent. To her husband, her sisters, parents, friends, she gave 110 percent. But in the spring of 2022, when cancer blindsided her, all the will, discipline, and devotion she possessed, could not keep Jennifer from catapulting off her path.

“Cancer stopped me dead in my tracks – like slamming into a wall,” said Jennifer. “I had always perceived myself as being independent and in control. This sudden lack of control terrified me. I thought “I can’t do this. I don’t want to do this. Why am I having to go through this?” she said.

At first, she was consumed with anger and disbelief. There was no history of breast cancer in her family. She had always made good choices, followed the rules, maintained a healthy active lifestyle. In her meticulously planned, well organized world, cancer had no business showing up.

“I asked my wonderful oncologist, Dr Webster, how this could happen? He told me sometimes it’s just random. But I didn’t like that answer. I wanted to calculate and figure out the formula so this would never happen to me again. I wanted to understand it, fix it, and get on with things. Logically I knew this wasn’t possible, but I had always measured my successes by productivity. If things were going to get done in my life, it was because of me – I would do what it takes,” she said.

In the days that followed, painstaking enlightenment began to unfold.

Unexpected Gift

Before starting treatment, Jennifer’s mom picked her up for a special outing – a drive to the family’s favourite spots in southern Alberta for some forest and mountain therapy.

“We talked about the opportunity a cancer diagnosis could bring me … this shift in perception … an evolution that I knew was almost inevitable. In a way, I was looking forward to what cancer was offering me. I wanted to be open – to be willing to see what this experience was trying to teach me, or show me, or help me move towards,” she said.

As they talked and drove slowly through an empty campground, Jennifer spotted something that nearly made her bolt out of the moving car. It was a giant morel mushroom rising up from the forest floor.

For years, Jennifer’s family had enjoyed the annual tradition of foraging for mushrooms, setting out together on a spring day to hunt for delicate tasty morels. But this was the offseason, and seeing one this size from the car was unbelievable.

“It was huge and blond in colour, like a golden ray of light. It felt like a beacon of hope telling me to trust, stay open, believe in my body. I drew so much strength from this gift; it just lifted me up. I felt connected to nature, grounded, reassured that I was going to get through this,” said Jennifer.

Chemotherapy

When Jennifer’s biopsy showed Stage 1b – HER-2 positive breast cancer, the recommended course of treatment was 12 rounds of chemotherapy followed by surgery. The decision to do chemotherapy did not come easily for Jennifer. It terrified her. But when she and her husband Dustin weighed the odds and chances for a cure, she felt chemotherapy gave her the best odds, and decided to go that route.

“There was nothing easy about chemo. Emotionally, physically, it drains everything you have and even goes a little further. I was only able to manage day to day, often hour by hour,” she said. “But throughout it all, even when the days were the darkest, I was surrounded by so much love. So many wonderful people lifted me up and carried me through. My husband, my sisters, and my best friend all rotated through taking me to chemo, which I was just so grateful for.

In October of 2022, Jennifer went for her final chemotherapy session and was overjoyed to ring the bell, indicating this part of her journey was over. Then the family celebrated Thanksgiving with an “End of Chemo Party,” with all guests in attendance requested to wear wigs in solidarity with Jennifer.

Next hurdle … surgery.

Surgery

Once again presented treatment options, Jennifer chose to have a mastectomy.

“Losing my breast was so hard. Growing up I had been critical of my body and self-image, but what I once saw as imperfect, now I didn’t want to lose. It’s part of who I am. You want your body to be your own and whole,” she said.

Taking the bandages off at home after her mastectomy was a deeply difficult and moving experience that Jennifer shared with both her sisters and then Dustin. She describes this as one of the most vulnerable moments of her life.

“It was such a deeply saddening experience to remove those bandages. Both my sisters wept with me for my loss and offered me so much strength and support. And my husband was so tender and reassuring that my beauty was so much more than skin deep,” she said.

Good News!

In November came the good news! Clear margins, cancer had not spread, lymph nodes were clear, no malignancy. The relief was beyond immense! Let the journey to wellness begin …

Wellspring Nourishment [In Jennifer’s words]

“It was a few months after surgery, and even though I was told that cancer is gone, I can celebrate and start to live again, I didn’t feel okay. I wondered why I wasn’t more excited and relieved. Is this just me? Is there something wrong with me? Things were not congruent. My emotions and feelings did not match the new reality that I could start living again. That’s when I realized that, as much as my personal support system was amazing, there was something missing. My husband and I talked openly about it, and that’s when I decided to look into Wellspring.

So, I went online, joined Wellspring, and I was overwhelmed! All of this available to me at no cost? It felt like someone opened this beautiful box and set it in front of me and said, anything you need is here for you and it’s going to nourish you. I didn’t know what I was looking for, but I really wanted this way back to living.

After that, I filled my calendar with Wellspring programs. Meditation, Mindfulness Cancer Recovery, Healing Journey, yoga, qigong, Brain Fog, Return to Work … I couldn’t get enough of the support there. The sense of community, camaraderie and understanding is phenomenal. Like someone wrapping you in a blanket of nourishing, healing energy. You want to keep coming back because you feel such a strong sense of belonging.”

All the Right Kinds of Love

For Jennifer, the unrelenting love and support of her family and friends sustained her. She shares how they grounded her and offered guiding wisdom.

“I never had far to fall; I was completely surrounded by love. My husband, my sisters, my mom, my dad, my best friend … they were all such incredible sources of strength for me and I was so fortunate for that.

Dustin and I had only been married for four years when I was diagnosed, and he was there for me every day and in every way. On days when I felt my worst, when my gas tank was empty, he didn’t tell me to stay strong, he told me to stay true … to stay true to myself and my feelings.

My sister repeatedly told me; ‘you don’t have to be strong – we’ve got you. We will be strong for you. If today is not a good day, that’s okay. It’s okay to be not okay.’

My best friend reminded me that I need to let people to be there for me; that they’re willing and able to help carry this heavy load. And I slowly learned to do that. I began asking for help and truly listening to my body and what I needed.

I am so entirely grateful to those who helped carry me through cancer. If I had held myself to my own high standard of functioning during this period of recovery – honestly, it would have broken me. I had to let go. This was hard, but it’s what saved me.”

Gently Forward

It’s been three years and Jennifer is now back to work, but she feels like she’s a different person on a different path. All of her previous ways of viewing and being in the world are forever changed.

“Cancer strips you of so many things, and costs you so much, that to come out the other side, you inevitably have to shift and evolve. For me, my way forward in life was letting go. Rigidity created stress and frustration. I had to accept things and allow life to move freely. Lessons don’t always come easily but I’ve learned that there is always light in the darkness,” she said.

And as for ongoing healing, for Jennifer, there is a formula, and along with love, gratitude, and mindfulness, it includes Wellspring Alberta.

“Wellspring was, and continues to be, an essential part of my healing journey. When you’re diagnosed with cancer and you finally take the time to sit down and emotionally unpack what you’ve experienced – it’s so overwhelming. Wellspring helped me process everything and move forward from cancer. This included everyone I met at Wellspring; the incredible volunteers, compassionate program leaders and amazing members. Whether I attended virtually or in person, there was always this beautifully created safe space there, and I had the opportunity to be open and authentic about my experience, and hear other people’s journeys as well. There was such a connection with everyone and so much growth and peace that came from each interaction. I will be forever grateful for Wellspring; I wouldn’t be where I am in my life without it,” she said.

Falling for Wellspring Alberta

In the Fall of 2025 Jennifer was one of 50 brave individuals who signed up for Wellspring’s inaugural Skyline Rush Challenge – rappel 265 feet from the rooftop of the Sandman Signature Edmonton Downtown Hotel to raise funds for Wellspring Alberta. She raised $1,300 and went for it!

“It was terrifying – but exhilarating at the same time! I wanted to give back … my heart was aching to give back to Wellspring.”

The Human Side of Cancer Can’t Wait

Cancer doesn’t stay in the hospital. It affects emotions, identity, relationships, finances, and everyday life. That’s exactly why Wellspring Alberta exists. Wellspring Alberta supports the human side of cancer by providing the emotional, social, and practical support — working alongside the healthcare system to ensure people are cared for as whole human beings, not just patients. Our programs complement medical treatment and research by addressing needs that extend beyond medical care, helping people feel less alone as they navigate life with and beyond cancer. On World Cancer Day, support the human side of cancer. Donate today.