{"id":14528,"date":"2025-12-01T09:23:09","date_gmt":"2025-12-01T09:23:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wellspring.ca\/alberta\/?p=14528"},"modified":"2026-01-29T23:39:00","modified_gmt":"2026-01-29T23:39:00","slug":"michelles-story-uncharted-waters","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wellspring.ca\/alberta\/blog\/2025\/12\/01\/michelles-story-uncharted-waters\/","title":{"rendered":"Michelle\u2019s Story: Uncharted Waters"},"content":{"rendered":"

For the McKechnie family, cancer\u00a0descended on\u00a0their lives in unrelenting waves, each one surfacing before they had a chance to recover from the last.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

It began in May 2021, when\u00a0Michelle\u2019s\u00a0father\u00a0\u2014\u00a0a man she shared an unshakable bond with\u00a0\u2014\u00a0was diagnosed with stage 4 colorectal cancer and died\u00a0less than\u00a0six months\u00a0later.\u00a0Then, before\u00a0Michelle\u00a0and her husband Tim and son Jackson\u00a0had\u00a0absorbed\u00a0that painful\u00a0loss, the following\u00a0April of 2022\u00a0brought another\u00a0torrent of sadness when\u00a0Tim\u2019s mother\u00a0was diagnosed with blood cancer and passed away\u00a0five weeks\u00a0later on\u00a0May 17.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

On the day her mother-in-law passed, Michelle received a phone call she would have never expected: \u201cYou have triple negative breast cancer.\u201d\u00a0It was a relentless cascade of grief and trauma that would test\u00a0the family\u00a0in\u00a0ways few could imagine.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe felt blindsided\u00a0on every\u00a0level,\u201d said Michelle.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Because of the aggressive nature of her cancer, treatment\u00a0for Michelle\u00a0began quickly. On June 9, 2022, just weeks after diagnosis,\u00a0she\u00a0underwent a bilateral mastectomy,\u00a0and in July,\u00a0she began multiple rounds of\u00a0gruelling chemotherapy.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The physical and emotional toll was immense. Fatigue, hair loss, and the\u00a0stripping away of her once strong and fit\u00a0self\u00a0left\u00a0her feeling almost unrecognizable. She completed her final chemotherapy in January 2023, but the side effects\u00a0lingered\u00a0and\u00a0still do.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The Wellspring\u00a0Alberta\u00a0Calm<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h4>\n

Michelle first discovered Wellspring\u00a0Alberta\u00a0after completing her cancer treatment. Like many newly diagnosed patients, she had received\u00a0the brochure, buried in\u00a0a large package of information early on, but in those first overwhelming weeks,\u00a0she\u00a0says she\u00a0was\u00a0\u201cin fight-or-flight mode\u201d\u00a0and\u00a0couldn\u2019t\u00a0process it all. It\u00a0wasn\u2019t\u00a0until she was recovering from chemotherapy that she came across Wellspring and\u00a0summoned the will\u00a0to walk through\u00a0the\u00a0doors.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cEven though I was going through a terrible time and I felt very vulnerable,\u00a0I\u00a0immediately\u00a0felt safe at Wellspring.\u00a0I had no breasts, no eyebrows, no hair. It was such\u00a0a difficult time\u00a0in my life, and yet I walked into a room full of others,\u00a0and I\u00a0immediately\u00a0felt safe. When I had a hot flash,\u00a0a\u00a0side effect of chemo, I took my beanie off,\u00a0knowing\u00a0I could just be my bald self without anyone staring or questioning. It has been my favourite place ever since,\u201d\u00a0she said.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Michelle\u2019s\u00a0first program was\u00a0Exercise and Educate<\/a>, designed to meet cancer survivors exactly where they are in their recovery. Whether it was stretching on a mat, lifting light weights, or\u00a0participating\u00a0in\u00a0chair exercises, she\u00a0and others in the program\u00a0were\u00a0encouraged to move forward at\u00a0their\u00a0own pace.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Next,\u00a0she signed up for a gardening workshop\u00a0where participants\u00a0were guided in the creation of\u00a0floral bouquets. \u201cI\u00a0don\u2019t\u00a0consider myself very artistic or creative, but that\u00a0isn\u2019t\u00a0what Wellspring\u00a0Alberta\u00a0is about. In all the classes I have attended, I have made wonderful new friends who\u00a0truly understand\u00a0the challenges\u00a0cancer creates,\u201d\u00a0she said.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Yoga<\/a> was an unexpected gift\u00a0for Michelle. As a runner and high-energy person,\u00a0she\u00a0had never considered\u00a0that\u00a0yoga\u00a0would be\u00a0\u201cenough\u201d of a workout. But through\u00a0Wellspring\u2019s\u00a0Yoga for Well-Being, she discovered\u00a0just\u00a0how much she needed the mental stillness it offered.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt was a really challenging\u00a0practice\u00a0for me because I\u00a0hadn\u2019t\u00a0known how to slow down, how to calm my mind and just be present.\u00a0Now I realize how much I need it for my mental and emotional health,\u00a0and I do everything I can to get\u00a0to\u00a0this class.\u00a0It\u2019s\u00a0my favourite hour and a half of my week,\u201d she said.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Another\u00a0Turn in the Tides<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h4>\n

In\u00a0Spring 2023, Michelle was beginning to feel stronger,\u00a0and life started to feel normal again for the family, but unfortunately,\u00a0not for long. In May, the\u00a0McKechnies\u00a0received the toughest wave yet,\u00a0a tsunami that washed away their dreams for this family\u2019s\u00a0future plans. Tim was diagnosed with intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma,\u00a0bile duct cancer that had already metastasized throughout his body.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m\u00a0a nurturer and want to fix things, but I\u00a0couldn\u2019t\u00a0fix this. I went from having\u00a0a very involved\u00a0husband on every front to desperately trying to care for him, be there for our son, look after domestic and house things, and still cope with my own chemo side\u00a0effects,\u201d said Michelle.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The next 11 months were inconceivably difficult for the family.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAlthough Tim showed such bravery and continued to make people laugh with his infectious sense of humour, he suffered a lot. He had major surgery, many rounds of chemotherapy, battled infections, and struggled\u00a0through the effects of radiation. Even through the suffering and on days he felt awful, Tim continued to make his family and his close friends a priority,\u201d said Michelle<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

On May 9, 2024, Jackson and Michelle said their final goodbye to their amazing Tim.\u00a0He was just 64.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Wellspring Through\u00a0Caregiving and\u00a0Grief<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h4>\n

Throughout Tim\u2019s illness, Michelle leaned on Wellspring for both practical tools and emotional support.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWellspring\u00a0definitely carried\u00a0me through my own cancer journey,\u00a0and then,\u00a0as a caregiver, there\u00a0were programs<\/a> that helped me\u00a0bear the unbearable.\u00a0After losing Tim, I have very much\u00a0benefitted\u00a0from the Reflections, Grief and Loss<\/a> sessions,\u00a0a\u00a0safe place to\u00a0go and\u00a0share those experiences with people who unfortunately have similar experiences,\u201d she said.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Today, Michelle\u00a0remains\u00a0on\u00a0long-term disability\u00a0as she continues to deal with the damage chemotherapy has caused her body and as she faces the emotional and physical pain that grief causes.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cJackson and I have lost so much in\u00a0a short period\u00a0of time, but we carry on. I am taking this time for self-care,\u00a0and Jackson is working full-time for a company Tim loved. We know his dad is\u00a0very proud\u00a0of his courage and resilience,\u201d she said.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

As difficult as each day can be, Michelle\u00a0reflects on the steady current that carries them forward.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe sun\u00a0rises and sets every day, even though our world was forever changed the moment we lost Tim. My bond with Jackson is deeper than ever,\u00a0and Wellspring provides me with opportunities to prioritize self-care so that I can continue to be strong for him,\u201d she said.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The Tim McKechnie Memorial Golf Tournament<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h4>\n

Tim McKechnie was a\u00a0devoted\u00a0family man, a successful entrepreneur in the trucking industry, and\u00a0a\u00a0friend to many. After years of\u00a0hard work,\u00a0just as he was scaling back and had decided to\u00a0make time\u00a0for a membership at McKenzie Meadows Golf Club, cancer turned his life upside down.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Following his passing, two of his friends from the golf league,\u00a0men who had spent Wednesdays on the course with him,\u00a0approached Michelle with an idea\u00a0of\u00a0a charity tournament in Tim\u2019s honour.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

On May 23, 2025,\u00a0the\u00a0<\/span>Tim McKechnie Memorial Golf Tournament<\/span><\/a>\u00a0took place at McKenzie Meadows. Forty-four golfers,\u00a0friends, family, co-workers, and industry peers,\u00a0came together to play, remember, and give back\u00a0to the community that sustained the\u00a0McKechnies\u00a0in their darkest days.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Their generosity raised\u00a0over\u00a0$10,000 for Wellspring Alberta. Special thanks went to\u00a0Warren Jack\u00a0for his role in organizing the event, and\u00a0to\u00a0the McKenzie Meadows Golf Club\u00a0for\u00a0donating the tournament fees back to the cause.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Many hope the tournament will become an annual tradition, honouring Tim\u2019s memory while ensuring other families can access the life-changing support that Wellspring provides.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Create Your Own Fundraiser<\/span><\/b><\/h4>\n

We invite our Wellspring Alberta members, families, and supporters to consider creating their own meaningful fundraisers. Whether it\u2019s a golf day, a birthday tribute, a workplace challenge, or a heartfelt gathering in honour of someone you love, these community-led efforts make a profound difference. Every fundraiser, big or small, helps ensure that individuals facing cancer can access the care, connection, and compassion they deserve. If you feel inspired to turn your gratitude, hope, or memories into impact, starting a fundraiser is simple, and Wellspring offers tools and guidance to support you every step of the way. Learn more or begin your own tribute today at <\/span>give.wellspring.ca\/home<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

The Human Side of Cancer Can\u2019t Wait<\/b><\/h4>\n

Cancer doesn\u2019t stay in the hospital. It affects emotions, identity, relationships, finances, and everyday life. That\u2019s exactly why Wellspring Alberta exists. Wellspring Alberta supports the human side of cancer by providing the emotional, social, and practical support \u2014 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.<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

For the McKechnie family, cancer\u00a0descended on\u00a0their lives in unrelenting waves, each one surfacing before they had a chance to recover from the last.\u00a0 It began in May 2021, when\u00a0Michelle\u2019s\u00a0father\u00a0\u2014\u00a0a man she shared an unshakable bond with\u00a0\u2014\u00a0was diagnosed with stage 4 colorectal cancer and died\u00a0less than\u00a0six months\u00a0later.\u00a0Then, before\u00a0Michelle\u00a0and her husband Tim and son Jackson\u00a0had\u00a0absorbed\u00a0that painful\u00a0loss, the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":34,"featured_media":14530,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"location":[],"class_list":["post-14528","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-member-story"],"yoast_head":"\nMichelle\u2019s Story: Uncharted Waters - Wellspring Alberta<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" 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