Cancer has been part of my life for 20 years, since my initial diagnosis of Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma in October 2005.\u00a0 After surgery, chemotherapy and radiation, I was in remission in June 2006.\u00a0 I was aware of Wellspring at the time but I guess not ready to be a member or take part in any programs.\u00a0 Instead, I applied in early 2007 to be a volunteer and have been so to present day.<\/p>\n
I started volunteering to give back and make a difference but over time, volunteering at Wellspring became a program in itself for me. I was not only helping others but they were supporting me as well as I adjusted to my post cancer life living in remission.\u00a0 BG house became a place of comfort and inspiration over the years.<\/p>\n
In the fall of 2021, my life took a shocking change when I happened to find a significant lump in my neck, the site of my previous diagnosis. I knew immediately what it was and after thinking first of my family, thought of Wellspring and how fortunate I was to be involved with such an organization.\u00a0 My years as a volunteer had taught me how beneficial Wellspring could be in the life of a person dealing with a cancer diagnosis.\u00a0 I was suddenly a member and was already thinking about how much I would need the comfort, connection and hope of Wellspring.\u00a0 Test and biopsy results confirmed that the same cancer had returned and I started a treatment with a steroid regimen to reduce the size of the nodes located bilaterally in my neck.\u00a0 I then started nine weeks of chemotherapy on December 27, 2021.\u00a0 After a clear PET scan, it was determined that I was a candidate for a stem cell transplant.\u00a0 In March, I was admitted to the Juravinski Hospital in Hamilton and underwent about 11 hours of high dose chemotherapy at 10 times the normal dose to eliminate my diseased cells.\u00a0 My stem cells were then reintroduced via infusion to produce new blood cells.<\/p>\n
High dose chemotherapy is overwhelming and comes with extreme side effects.\u00a0 When I left the hospital after 3 weeks, I could not envision a way forward for myself.\u00a0 I was very sick, had concentration, memory, balance, digestive and other health issues in addition to debilitating fatigue that was actually painful.\u00a0 I couldn\u2019t look at myself in the mirror and wondered how I would even get back to where I was when I was in remission.\u00a0 At this point, besides being so fatigued, I was afraid of anything physical for fear of injuring myself.\u00a0 I was actually more afraid of that than I was of the cancer. Adding another layer to this was the lack of support programs available through the hospital when discharged.\u00a0 Wellspring fills this void.\u00a0 Once home, I started on line programs such as Relaxation and Visualization and Cancer Related Fatigue.\u00a0 The strategies from the Cancer Fatigue program helped get me going again and the R&V was and still is important in helping me cope with my fear of recurrence, which given my history is a significant ongoing issue for me.<\/p>\n
Of all the Wellspring programs, I was most focused on the physical programs because I desperately needed to recover that part of my life.<\/p>\n
Immunity issues kept me apart physically from Wellspring but from my volunteer experience I knew of the value of the exercise program and I started it in January 2023 when I could safely do so.<\/p>\n
My progression through this program and what I could do afterwards was life changing, not only from a physical perspective but mentally as well. Prior to this, I was struggling with mobility, balance and overall confidence.\u00a0 For example, I gave up driving, I was unable to perform the simplest of day-to-day activities, my memory was shot and I frequently nodded off during the day.\u00a0 This program and others increased my stamina, balance, concentration and of most of all my confidence. These programs gave me back my life. \u00a0Even today, I continue to participate in \u00a0the maintenance program.<\/p>\n
It is sometimes hard to believe how far I have come from that day in March 2022 when I arrived home, so uncertain and desperate about the future.<\/p>\n
I am very proud of how far I have come and how hard I\u2019ve worked to get here.\u00a0 However, I did not do this alone, I needed something to work with. Wellspring is able to provide the resources for that through the generous support of donors such as yourselves. Without that support there is no Wellspring.<\/p>\n
The contribution that Wellspring supporters make to a member\u2019s life and the lives of their family and friends is immeasurable. I think often of everyone involved in my care, including my family, friends, donors, community partners and volunteers who have helped bring me to where I am today.<\/p>\n
I may never know or meet most of them but they have been important in my circle of care.\u00a0 I have been in remission now for just over three years but there is much more of a journey ahead and I am so fortunate to have my Wellspring family on this journey, both as a volunteer and member.<\/p>\n
Thank you so much.<\/p>\n
(Jim is pictured with his wife and Wellspring Program Leader, Shelley DeHay-Turner)<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Cancer has been part of my life for 20 years, since my initial diagnosis of Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma in October 2005.\u00a0 After surgery, chemotherapy and radiation, I was in remission in June 2006.\u00a0 I was aware of Wellspring at the time but I guess not ready to be a member or take part in […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":12859,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7,8],"tags":[],"location":[],"class_list":["post-12832","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-member-story","category-our-inside-stories"],"yoast_head":"\n