The power of words…Within not even a minute in time, the world changes forever as the word CANCER is pronounced by the doctor being consulted by a patient, sometimes, for what may have been thought of as an insignificant malaise.
For more than 30 years, Cedars CanSupport has been offering emotional, practical and financial support to cancer patients and their caregivers. Thousand have benefitted from Cedars CanSupport volunteers and staff interaction whether it be in the out-patient clinics, on hospitals units or in the community at large. This is no different during this pandemic.
All of us at Cedars CanSupport are witness on a daily basis to the power of that word. Anxiety is high at all times when dealing with cancer. This is even more so during these difficult times.
Covid-19 or not, CANCER DOES NOT TAKE A PAUSE…
Always, the requests we receive, when on site or on line, are sometimes mind blowing. We help by offering support groups where patients, caregivers, the bereaved, survivors, young adults feel secure to share their innermost feelings; we offer grocery vouchers to a young single parent of five diagnosed with lymphoma; we offer emotional support to patients living with terminal illness; we meet an elderly father alone to come for his treatment at the Cedars Cancer Centre; we offer music therapy to a young pregnant mother diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer; we offer company to a hospitalized patient from Abitibi; we answer the call to help a refugee family of four from Africa; I could go on and on but I believe you understand and you will realize that Cedars CanSupport needs your help.
Cancer is and continues to be a life-threatening mysterious disease that spreads its tentacles to many families, maybe someone you know. Oblivious to social status, age, race, culture, it is sly and baffling.
As I sit here today, I celebrate a special anniversary for which I am extremely grateful. Forty-seven years ago, on this day, my life changed drastically. Major mutilating unavoidable surgery, due to a third recurrence of fibrosarcoma, would leave me without my right arm, shoulder and part of my rib cage. I was twenty-four. I am alive today, grateful and feeling extremely lucky to have had, and to still have, that lucky star over my head! I was fortunate to have unwavering support from family and exceptional care from an outstanding medical team. Why not me? Why would I have been so much different that I would have been spared? We are all vulnerable. I know the power of that word. I am proud to say that I am now seventy-one…what a miracle!
A life time career in oncology and palliative care in not-for-profit local, provincial and national organizations, has enabled me to be who I am. I am one of these fortunate individuals who has lived to tell the story. AS Interim Director of Cedars CanSupport, I am grateful and proud to be part of this amazing team of volunteers, staff and complementary therapists who work for those we meet at the Cedars Cancer Centre and, now, for those we meet virtually.
Please help us help them! We cannot do this alone. Your financial support, whatever it may be, is without a doubt, crucial to allowing us to pursue our mission and achieve our goal by helping cancer patients and their family, one person at a time…
God bless and be well!
Helen Rossiter
