Driving home from Wellspring one day, Naomi Van Veen felt overcome with gratitude and a desire to give back to the community that has been her anchor through the difficult days of cancer and health recovery.<\/p>\n
\u201cI decided right then that I would sign up to become a monthly Wellspring donor. I\u2019m so glad I did this! It\u2019s not much; we can\u2019t really afford much right now, but it\u2019s something, and it feels like a good way show my appreciation,\u201d said Naomi, adding, \u201cAfter all, if Wellspring cost money, I would still want to go \u2013 I would find a way to pay out of pocket \u2013 it\u2019s just so worth it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Naomi and her husband Carl first experienced cancer in 1997 when their daughter Lindsay was diagnosed with kidney cancer at just two and a half years old. After surgery and chemotherapy Lindsay\u2019s cancer was successfully treated, but she struggled with a number of other health issues that required her to stay in her parents\u2019 care until 2019, when at the age of 23, she sadly passed away. Naomi and Carl are deeply saddened at the loss of their only child.<\/p>\n
Less than three years later, pain in Naomi\u2019s right lower back, revealed a small but aggressive tumour that was renal cell carcinoma (kidney cancer).<\/p>\n
\u201cMy cancer story is a happy one compared to many others, in that we were able to get the tumour out, but it was a bumpy road getting to that point as doctors didn\u2019t want to do surgery because of other health issues I suffer with. Carl and I felt strongly we wanted it out, so we had to persist until we found a surgeon who would agree to do it. This surgeon, Dr. Desantis was a Godsend, he removed the tumour and part of my kidney,\u201d said Naomi.<\/p>\n
Now, coming up two years later, Naomi says she has never really bounced back after her cancer ordeal, and is currently dealing with other health issues, but one thing that remains constantly helpful and enriching in her world, is Wellspring.<\/p>\n
\u201cBetween the pandemic, cancer, and leaving my job at Bow Valley College, I was in a pretty hard place \u2013 really struggling with my mental health when I started going to Wellspring in 2022. In some ways, I feel that Wellspring saved me. I had a safe place to go; I met people who care; I was welcomed with open arms,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Naomi has taken several programs, including art, yoga, dance, and pole walking.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m not very good at art but the Wellspring program leader is so encouraging, she always makes you feel like you are doing a good job. I started \u2018Dance for Wellness\u2019 and it felt so good to move my body. It helps with balance and coordination and trying to follow the patterns is good for the brain,\u201d said Naomi.<\/p>\n
Carl joined Naomi for some programs, including Qigong, which he really enjoyed. The two of them also attended some evening concerts that welcomed a broader audience.<\/p>\n
\u201cEverything about Wellspring is just incredible; The members, the program leaders, the volunteers, they are all so lovely. I have enjoyed meeting people and getting to know them. They listen and care, offer suggestions and referrals. You really get the feeling they want to do all they can to make you feel comfortable. It\u2019s an amazing community of people caring and sharing,\u201d said Naomi.<\/p>\n
Wishing to show their appreciation, and to ensure that Wellspring can continue to help others, the Van Veens decided to make a long-term commitment to the community that has lifted and sustained them.<\/p>\n
\u201cTo truly show our gratitude, we have included a bequest to Wellspring in our wills. This way we can support Wellspring even long after we are both gone,\u201d said Naomi.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Driving home from Wellspring one day, Naomi Van Veen felt overcome with gratitude and a desire to give back to the community that has been her anchor through the difficult days of cancer and health recovery. \u201cI decided right then that I would sign up to become a monthly Wellspring donor. I\u2019m so glad I […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":11,"featured_media":12501,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[106,7],"tags":[],"location":[],"class_list":["post-12497","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-donors","category-member-story"],"yoast_head":"\n