During this time, I joined Wellspring, a wonderful, welcoming community where I can simply be myself, whether I\u2019m having a good day or a bad day. At Wellspring, I feel free to say and feel what I\u2019m feeling; there is both a spoken and unspoken understanding that this is a safe place, because the people there have walked in your shoes. You feel the support in so many ways \u2014 through words, a hug, a knowing look, or someone quietly coming over to sit beside you.<\/p>\n
Wellspring\u2019s programs continue to help me heal, both physically and emotionally. Through programs like Exercise and Educate<\/a>, Yoga<\/a>, Qigong<\/a>, meditation<\/a>, golf, and nutrition<\/a>, I\u2019ve improved my overall well-being, while finding meaningful connections, friendships and support.<\/p>\n It was incredibly hard telling family and friends each time I received more bad news. But it was especially hard sharing the news with our daughters, who were both starting their families and found themselves in the difficult position of juggling what should have been the most joyous time of their lives with the uncertainty of hearing I had another cancer.<\/p>\n During this time, there was also the discovery of a genetic component to all the cancer that had been affecting my family. Only a few months before my first diagnosis, my mom mentioned that some people in our family had a genetic condition called Li-Fraumeni syndrome. This syndrome is caused by a mutation of one of the genes that protects you from cancer. I was tested for this gene mutation and found to be positive, and learned I had inherited this from my mom, who is currently facing her fifth cancer diagnosis.<\/p>\n This was a very frightening time for my entire family, from learning what we could about genetic mutations and wondering who else might have inherited the mutation, to going through genetic testing and waiting for the results. The worry seemed to go on and on, and so did the stress and the uncertainty. There were times when we thought we couldn\u2019t bear much more.<\/p>\n We were later so blessed to find out that our two daughters are negative for the genetic mutation! In a time of such worry and stress, it\u2019s hard to describe how overjoyed we all were in hearing this news and the overwhelming sense of relief we felt knowing our daughters, and therefore, their children would be spared from this syndrome. When I think of the highs I experienced throughout this time, this good news is right near the top!<\/p>\n There\u2019s no greater blessing in life than the arrival of a new baby. So to describe the arrival of three more grandchildren during the time I was sick as one of the highs would be an understatement. We would now have four grandchildren to spoil once I made it through this cancer journey. I still recall the day, while in the hospital, receiving a text from our daughter that she was expecting twins! I felt so blessed and lucky that I would have all these grandchildren to love and watch grow up. I was more determined than ever to push and fight with all the strength I could muster.<\/p>\n It was a long journey packed into a short period of time, and I\u2019m grateful to say that today I\u2019m doing very well. I\u2019m living a full, active life and enjoying the things I love most, including golfing, pickleball, hiking, skiing, and cycling.<\/p>\n Although I\u2019ve always been a positive person, taking life\u2019s ups and downs in stride, this journey has made me truly grateful for every new day I\u2019m given. Of course, it took a lot of inner strength to get to where I am today, but cancer was not an individual fight for me; it affected everyone around me. My husband, Kelly, never wavered in his unconditional love and care for me both physically and emotionally. He was my biggest cheerleader and lifted my spirits when I was feeling down. Our daughters, Carly and Jessica, and their husbands, Shaun and Tyler, were also an-ever-present support through visits, concerning text messages and loving phone calls. It\u2019s hard to describe the utter joy our four grandchildren, Brooklyn, Penny, Jaxon and Lincoln, gave me when I was feeling at my lowest and continue to every day. My mom and siblings, who live quite far away, cheered me on from a distance, with my mom and sister making the long drive from Saskatchewan to Calgary each time I had surgery. I was also very lucky to have many friends and family support me at each step of my journey.<\/p>\n I have found an inner peace and a settled feeling that life will continue to be good, and I can attribute this to the support I received from my family and friends as well as Wellspring.<\/p>\n When I\u2019m not hanging out with my husband or spending time with our girls and grandchildren, you can find me attending classes at Wellspring. In fact, my week practically revolves around my classes at Wellspring – it\u2019s my happy place.<\/p>\n And, it\u2019s a place I want to give back to. My husband and I cycled in the Cancervive Ride for Wellspring the last two years, raising thousands of dollars for Wellspring Alberta. I completed my first ride just four months after my last surgery. The ride events are uplifting and inspiring, with so many riders raising awareness and money for Wellspring Alberta. We plan to ride again this September. For anyone who might wish to join me in supporting Wellspring here is the link to my Cancervive Page.<\/a><\/p>\n People don\u2019t really understand what it\u2019s like to go through cancer unless they\u2019ve been there themselves. It\u2019s about so much more than the diagnosis, treatment, fear, and uncertainty. Cancer affects your whole family, your friends, and your relationships. Yet it can be difficult to talk about because you never know how it will be received. It\u2019s a topic that can make people uncomfortable, so sometimes you feel like you shouldn\u2019t talk about it at all.<\/p>\n Wellspring has given me a space where I can simply be myself, whether I\u2019m having a good day or a bad day. I feel supported, understood, and free to say what I\u2019m feeling and to feel what I\u2019m feeling. There is both a spoken and unspoken understanding that this is a safe place to share whatever is on your mind that day, or even in that moment, because you\u2019re surrounded by people who understand what you\u2019re going through. You feel the support in so many ways, through words, a hug, a knowing look, or someone quietly coming over to sit beside you. It\u2019s incredibly comforting and reassuring.<\/p>\n Some of the programs I\u2019ve participated in include Exercise and Educate<\/a>, Yoga<\/a>, Qigong<\/a>, and Guided iRest Meditation<\/a>. They have all been amazing in supporting my healing, both physically and emotionally, while improving my overall well-being. I\u2019ve also taken part in a golf program, a nutrition program, and several other meditation programs, including sound meditation \u2013 which was amazing.<\/p>\n Wellspring\u2019s programs have helped me heal, both physically and emotionally. Through this community, I\u2019ve found meaningful connections and friendships that I truly cherish. While we all have unique stories, different challenges, and different outcomes, we understand one another because we are travelling a similar journey.<\/p>\n It\u2019s been two years since my last surgery, and Wellspring continues to be a very important part of my journey. I still have rough moments when I think, \u201cI need a Wellspring class today,\u201d and I can always find one that fits. It\u2019s just such a blessing to me. Every time I walk through the doors, I feel calmer, more settled, and at peace.<\/p>\n It\u2019s important to me to participate in the Cancervive Ride for Wellspring for many reasons that benefit both myself personally and the greater Alberta community.<\/p>\n We all know that cancer is about a lot more than a diagnosis and treatment. It\u2019s about how the future might look different, how treatment might need to continue, how healing might look, how the entire family is affected and so on. For me, raising awareness about Wellspring is just as important as raising funds for their amazing free programs, and riding in Cancervive accomplishes both.<\/p>\n Cancer doesn\u2019t just affect the person going through it; family members and caregivers also travel this journey. It\u2019s not just about getting together in our beautiful Banff National Park and riding in nature. It\u2019s also about supporting one another, coming together as a community, all while raising funds for the amazing free programs at Wellspring.<\/p>\n At an event like Cancervive, you realize the magnitude of this community you are a part of. It\u2019s pretty big, and it\u2019s pretty important. Because the truth is, cancer affects all of us.<\/p>\n Together, my husband and I have raised thousands of dollars for Wellspring, and that makes me feel as good as completing the ride itself. It\u2019s so meaningful to know that our contribution through fundraising is making a difference.<\/p>\n Crossing the finish line gives me an immense sense of accomplishment. It\u2019s like saying \u2018nothing can stop me now – not even cancer.\u2019<\/p>\n Let\u2019s spread the word about Wellspring Alberta and raise money for this great cause one kilometre at a time.<\/p>\n \u2013 Raylene H., Wellspring member<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" I was out running errands one day and happened to drive by Wellspring Alberta in Calgary. I was very curious about what went on inside, so I looked it up online and read about the amazing programs Wellspring offers to those living with cancer, their families and caregivers. My dad had passed away from cancer, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":34,"featured_media":15880,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"location":[168],"class_list":["post-15878","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-member-story","location-alberta"],"yoast_head":"\nCancer Affects Family and Friends<\/strong><\/h4>\n
The Highs that Outweigh the Lows<\/strong><\/h4>\n
Making the Best of Today<\/strong><\/h4>\n
![\"image3\"](\"https:\/\/wellspring.ca\/alberta\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/08\/image3-300x225.jpeg\" "\\"image3\\"")
<\/p>\n![\"image4\"](\"https:\/\/wellspring.ca\/alberta\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/08\/image4-225x300.jpeg\" "\\"image4\\"")
<\/p>\nWhy Wellspring<\/strong><\/h4>\n
Why I do the Cancervive Ride<\/strong><\/h4>\n
![\"image1\"](\"https:\/\/wellspring.ca\/alberta\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2026\/08\/image1-225x300.jpeg\" "\\"image1\\"")
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