Eva’s Story: Path to Healing
More than a decade after coming to Canada to build a better life for herself and her son, Eva’s world was shaken by an unexpected cancer diagnosis. What began as unexplained symptoms soon led to life-altering news, filling her with fear and uncertainty. Treatment followed, bringing both physical and emotional challenges. During her recovery, Eva […]
Mohamed and Nassim’s Story: The Long Way to Wellspring
If you ask Mohamed Jaffer to share what he likes most about Wellspring Alberta, he grins, as if to demonstrate his answer. “At Wellspring, you enter the building with a smile … and you leave with a smile. Now that says a lot about a place that’s for people with cancer,” he said. A Colourful […]
Michelle’s Story: Uncharted Waters
For the McKechnie family, cancer descended on their lives in unrelenting waves, each one surfacing before they had a chance to recover from the last. It began in May 2021, when Michelle’s father — a man she shared an unshakable bond with — was diagnosed with stage 4 colorectal cancer and died less than six months later. Then, before Michelle and her husband Tim and son Jackson had absorbed that painful loss, the […]
Pam’s story: hope, healing, and a way forward
Community Healing: Pam’s Journey Pam had plenty on her mind last February, the grief of losing her dad just a few months earlier was still fresh, and she was recovering from oral surgery. Between juggling her work and everyday life, she barely registered the occasional pain in her breast, brushing it off as nothing serious. […]
Sam’s story: Wellspring Alberta: a place to heal, connect, and thrive
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 […]
Dianne’s story: living fully beyond cancer diagnosis
From the moment Dianne was born, cancer cast a long and ominous shadow over her life. It was 1978, and her mother, a 24-year-old medical technologist and young mother of two, was diagnosed with breast cancer just four months after Dianne’s birth. At the time, her youth worked against her; doctors dismissed the possibility of […]
Sarah’s story: opening the door to connection, resilience, and healing
In 2017, at just 41, Sarah’s world was turned upside down by a brain cancer diagnosis. A career-focused single mother raising 10-year-old twins in Medicine Hat, Sarah had just begun a hopeful new chapter in her love life when her world shifted on its axis. In the months that followed, Sarah had a craniotomy to […]
John’s story: you are never alone with Wellspring
For John, being diagnosed with Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) at age 72 was less of a shock and more of an awakening — a path leading to a more intentional way of living. “I know it sounds odd, but I kind of love what cancer did to me. It woke me up and made me […]
Just launched: the ultimate Edmonton challenge is here
We’re going over the edge for cancer support! Join Wellspring Alberta on September 13, 2025, for the first-ever Skyline Rush Challenge — an adrenaline-filled urban rappel down the 27-storey Sandman Signature Edmonton Downtown Hotel. Whether you’re a thrill-seeker, community champion, or just want to support people living with cancer in Alberta, this is your chance […]
Cancer beyond the binary: transgender cancer experiences
In 2024, we introduced our newest speaker series, “Diverse Experiences of Cancer.” The series aims to spotlight the diverse journeys and perspectives of individuals navigating cancer within underrepresented communities. By amplifying these voices, we hope to foster greater understanding, empathy, and support for those facing similar challenges. Our next talk will focus on 2SLGBTQ+ stories […]