A new chapter of Strength
‘AWESOME’ in capital letters is how Alice describes her time at Hotel Dieu Shaver.
Alice’s journey began with what seemed like a simple health concern – gallstones that required gallbladder surgery. But when the pain and symptoms lingered, more testing followed. In late July 2023, she was diagnosed with Cholangiocarcinoma, a rare form of bile duct cancer. But unfortunately, that wasn’t all for Alice. Additional scans revealed breast cancer and a cancerous tumour in her lymph nodes. In one extensive 10.5-hour surgery, half of her liver was removed, along with 14 lymph nodes, and a full mastectomy on her left side. This intensive surgery was just the beginning…
In the months that followed, Alice’s strength and resilience was tested again and again. She completed 15 rounds of radiation, faced sepsis three separate times, contracted COVID-19 twice, and had RSV. Alice also underwent cataract surgery and developed a hernia at the surgical incision which still awaits to be removed. After enduring “a multitude of everything”, she arrived at the Rankin Family Cancer Rehab Program in early 2025. When she arrived, she couldn’t even lift her right arm - something that used to be second nature. Following radiation and surgery, Alice experienced challenges with mobility, but her new focus was becoming stronger each and every day
“Everything up until this point had been decided for me (diagnoses & surgery details)”, Alice shares. “But joining the Rankin Family Cancer Rehab Program was the first positive choice I made for my own recovery”.
Alice shared that starting the program was a bit nerve-racking. “Starting the program, everyone feels anxious. But within 15 minutes, the staff have this way of making you feel completely at home".
"After everything I had been through, it felt refreshing to be a part of a support system that uplifts you - where your success is their success. The staff’s number one priority is the outcome of their patients. That shows in everything they do. Where else do you find that?”
At first, Alice had limited mobility in her upper body. But slowly, with the help of the program, she rebuilt strength and is now able to lift her arm fully. “This program truly jumpstarted my life again. I am so grateful to each and every member of the rehabilitation team. Not only did my mobility go from 0-100, but I used to dislike exercise and now I look forward to it, especially the pool time, and the team helped make that possible.” The pool was a standout moment of the program for Alice. The warmth of the pool removed strain and added comfort, aiding in her recovery. Alice loved her time at the Rankin Family Cancer Rehab Program, it was a safe and supportive environment that was critical for the next stage in her recovery. “It is so nice to be surrounded by people who understand what you have been through. It becomes this camaraderie – this comfort nest, where we all uplift each other”. Now, following the program, Alice is preparing for her next surgery—to repair the hernia that evolved after her first operation. But this time, she is taking it on with even more strength, because of her time at Hotel Dieu Shaver. “I love this program, it changed everything.”