Sam Jaber may experience hesitation when searching for just the right words, given that English is not his first language, but when it comes to describing Wellspring Alberta, his message is clear.
“I tell the team at Wellspring, I feel that this is a club, not only a centre for people with cancer. Because at Wellspring, they have exercise, they have art, they have yoga, programs for nutrition, and breathwork. To me, it feels like a club,” said Sam with a chuckle.
Sam and his wife and two young sons immigrated to Canada in 2005. An electrical engineer by trade, Sam said he and his wife were motivated to come to Canada to give their sons a better life.
“By the time we left Kuwait, it was peaceful there, but we wanted our kids to have freedom, safety, and the best education,” said Sam.
In Edmonton, Sam’s wife, a teacher, was able to secure work in her profession, but aside from his first job early on at an engineering tool company, Sam found it difficult to find work as an engineer, and after taking an ESL program, he mostly worked in inventory, security, and a longer-term job at Edmonton’s Shell AeroCentre.
To his delight, though, Sam’s sons excelled in school and went on to university, one graduating and becoming a high school teacher, and his second son becoming a pharmacist.
“We are very proud of them. They worked hard, studied hard, and achieved great things. They are both very proficient and professional in their lives in Canada,” said Sam.
In 2016, Sam says he had a string of bad luck. He had a series of auto mishaps, the first was an accident that was not his fault but left him with injuries that took several months to heal. After that, he had two more car incidents, where his vehicle was damaged, but he was not hurt. These incidents, coupled with the pandemic, made life challenging for Sam.
Then came health issues, which Sam feels might have been related to the stress he endured — he was diagnosed first with Type 2 diabetes, and then in 2023, he was diagnosed with leukemia.
Quickly referred to the Cross Cancer Institute, Sam was prescribed oral treatment and ongoing tests to monitor his illness. It was during this time that Sam was introduced to Wellspring.
Wellspring Alberta — A Place to Belong
“They said I should go to Wellspring for exercise classes and to get some help with nutrition. They said Wellspring would be able to help with my leukemia and diabetes,” said Sam. “And it has — it has helped me a lot.”
At Wellspring, Sam was warmly welcomed, and since he doesn’t have a computer at home, volunteers helped him enroll in programs such as ACE (Alberta Cancer Research), Nourish, and Improve Your Breathing. When Sam found himself comfortable at the centre, volunteers also encouraged him to try other programs such as art and yoga.
“I like to come to Wellspring most days when I am not at my part-time job. It’s a good place for me — when my wife is away at work, and my two sons are now gone, I have a place to go so I am not bored at home. My health has improved because of Wellspring, and they support me here. I come even when I am not in a program. I bring something to read, I drink my hot water, and I enjoy talking to the people here.”