lives changed

These true stories demonstrate how support of the GCWCC is truly creating hope and changing lives across the country.

André and Analisa

Win

Mike
Using creative expression to increase confidence From loneliness to engagement Homelessness doesn’t always have a face
 

Mrs. Annie Campbell

Ms CJ McCaffrey

Ms Marie-Eve Chainey
Canadian Cancer Society Alzheimer Society of Canada The Kidney Foundation of Canada

 

AndrÉ and Analisa - Using creative expression to increase confidence

Adults with developmental disabilities may have unique challenges, but they all share a desire to belong — and to contribute to their community.

One unique art and literacy program is helping to boost the confidence of more than 40 adult participants. Daily activities include a group discussion of the weekly theme, journal writing, drawing and painting. The program’s literacy component encourages participants to express their ideas and emotions in ‘word art.’

Analisa, who has Down syndrome, loves this component of the program. Using words artistically helps her express her thoughts, feelings and emotions. “The program gives me inspiration,” she says, “and I have met many other artists and instructors.”

André, who is autistic and suffers from depression, becomes anxious easily and has trouble focusing. He likes to paint clouds, trees, mountains, polar bears and other types of animals. Spending time studying a subject and then making that subject as real as possible on canvas is a skill that he is eager to master. While he’s perfecting his technique, he is finding a focus and a purpose to his days: “The program has helped me discover my inner artist. It also gets me out of the house, distracts me and gives me a focus.”

Participants in the program exhibit and sell their works of art through galleries, restaurants and other small businesses. This gives them an opportunity to showcase their work — to be recognized as individuals and artists in their own right — and, more importantly, to participate as full contributing members of the community.

Mike - Homelessness doesn’t always have a face

He wears a tie with a tie clip. His long-sleeved shirt is always buttoned at the cuffs. His clothes are clean, his fingernails trimmed, his demeanour confident and positive. But look more closely at his face and you know there’s a story or two there.

Most days you can find Mike helping out in the kitchen of a daytime drop-in centre that serves homeless and transient populations. He’s giving back to the place that was there for him when he needed help the most. He is also a volunteer on the centre’s program advisory committee and, as a formal advocate for the people he has come to know and appreciate, is happy to speak on behalf of all those he knows and sees daily.

“Many of us are just one paycheque away being homeless,” he says.

British-born and raised, Mike began his career in the British Navy. On a sojourn to Canada during the FLQ crisis, he fell in love with a French Canadian and made the country his home in 1973, working in the shipyards in Saint John, New Brunswick and then Sorel, Quebec City and Montreal as a naval architect. When the shipyards closed, he became a chef, usually working the night shift at different restaurants.

A divorce set him back financially. Determined to start fresh in a new place, Mike moved to a new city and a new province. He rented a room at a shelter and the very next day began working there in the kitchen. He stayed for almost three years before accepting a job as a superintendent at an apartment building. In 2002, when the company went bankrupt, he became homeless.

“Staying at the shelter at night and walking the streets was a disaster,” he says. Major health challenges that caused him to fall down unexpectedly meant that people thought he was drunk. Through the centre, Mike got help to find the treatment he needed and to rebuild his life — again. When he was eligible to receive disability and government pensions, he moved into a small apartment — a relief now that he’s 60.

And, Mike continues to wear his tie. After all, he says, “You don’t have to look homeless to be homeless.”

Win - From loneliness to engagement

Imagine the stress of moving to a new community and only knowing two people. A widow, Win knows exactly how that feels.

She moved halfway across the country to be closer to her son and daughter-in-law — the only family she has. She set up her new home in the suburbs, but found herself isolated and alone a lot of the time because her family works full-time. She found the long winter days especially difficult.

Lonely and with nothing to do and nowhere to go, Win felt she had no reason to get up during the day. But a local centre that offers programs geared to seniors has changed all that. Win gets to take part in a variety of activities, which include creative arts, social events, and health and exercise programs.

“Sitting alone in my house day after day, feeling alone and sad was terrible. I felt useless and was sure that life was passing me by. I knew there had to be something out there for people like me, and through the Internet I found the centre,” says Win. “I have never looked back. Everything I want is here.”

After finding out about the centre, Win figured out the transit services and now travels across town to take part in activities a couple of times a week. On her very first visit, she became a member. Win used to be a nurse, and she now puts those skills to work at the centre. She also helps with birthday parties and outings, and participates in the choir. 

“Coming here has been a lifeline for me,” beams Win, who no longer feels alone and isolated. “I’m involved in a lot of activities; it makes the days fly by. I’m more engaged in my community than ever.”

Meeting friends with whom she can travel and shop with has added meaning to Win’s life. She also feels energized every time she walks in the door. “I feel vibrant and I am enjoying life here more than I ever thought possible,” she says.

Mrs. Annie Campbell – Canadian Cancer Society

.Annie Campbell was unprepared when her doctor confirmed she had breast cancer in 2001. She never suspected it could happen to her. At that time, she was unaware that breast cancer is the most common cancer among Canadian women and that one in nine women are expected to develop breast cancer during their lifetime.

“I was thrown for a loop. I felt as if I had lost control of my life,” Mrs. Campbell says now. “I thought back then that this could not be happening to me. Thankfully I had my husband and my family close by my side to help me get through it. I was fortunate.”

Today, Mrs. Campbell is a breast cancer survivor. And now she is giving back to the organization that helped her— the Canadian Cancer Society. Mrs. Campbell has been a Cancer canvasser for many years and has participated in the Society’s annual Relay for Life fundraiser. She is also a volunteer driver, helping cancer patients get to and from their cancer treatments and appointments.

“I wouldn’t have become a volunteer if I had not had such wonderful support from the Society. Every experience was so positive that I knew I had to give something back. Being a volunteer helps keep me grounded and reminds me every day of how fortunate I am. Helping others by showing them that there are survivors out there—is really what it is all about, “ adds Mrs. Campbell.

Mrs. Campbell also feels that by showing Canadians that there are survivors, it demonstrates that research into cancer is working, says Mrs. Campbell “It makes it very real to see that their support to the Cancer Society and Healthpartners is truly making a difference. With the resources and research we have now, if breast cancer is caught early, it is not as life threatening as it used to be,” says Mrs. Campbell.

Since her diagnosis, Mrs. Campbell and her husband have made a few changes in their lives. They moved into the city from the country and are now closer to their family and their grandchildren; they spent three months on their boat meandering through the Rideau Canal system, the Trent-Severn Waterway and Georgian Bay; sailed in the British Virgin Islands; and, Mrs. Campbell toured Holland with three friends on their bicycles.

“I have always had a list of things that I wanted to do. After I was diagnosed with breast cancer and survived, I started looking at my list differently. I knew that I had better get going and start ticking off the items on my list—you never know what the future holds,” says Mrs. Campbell.

Ms CJ McCaffrey – Alzheimer Society of Canada

Ms CJ McCaffrey watched her mother die of Alzheimer’s disease but was reluctant to admit that she could also be suffering from the same disease—until she ended up sitting at a red light on her way to teach her ballroom dance class confused and unsure of what she was doing or where she was going. From that point on, Ms McCaffrey knew she needed answers. Alzheimer’s disease is not a normal part of aging. It is a progressive degenerative disease that destroys vital brain cells and can strike adults at any age.

“I was 58 years old when I was diagnosed with Early Onset Alzheimer’s Disease (EOAD). My family physician still has a hard time believing that I have it,” says Ms McCaffrey.

After being diagnosed with Early Onset Alzheimer’s Disease, Ms McCaffrey connected with a monthly support group, through the Alzheimer Society of Ottawa’s ‘First Link Program’; something she found gave her tremendous support. Now she is giving something back to those that helped her. She is an Advisory Board member with the Alzheimer’s Society of Ottawa and was the Society’s local Honorary Chair for this year’s National Alzheimer Awareness Month Campaign. She is also participating in a clinical trial research program funded in part by Healthpartners, which is testing new Alzheimer medications.

“I believe it is important to get involved and educate Canadians about Early Onset Alzheimer’s Disease. I can’t stress enough how important it is to pay attention to any symptoms you feel are just not right. Do not dismiss memory loss or confusion as normal just because your life is busy. Pay attention to your body and ask questions. Early diagnosis is very important to maintaining your quality of life,” says Ms McCaffrey.

Ms Marie-Eve Chainey – The Kidney Foundation of Canada

Ms Marie-Eve Chainey was eighteen years old when she was in Spain participating in track and field competitions where she developed a blood disorder that made her kidneys stop working. Kidney failure can strike anyone at any age. It is estimated that 1.9 million Canadians have chronic kidney disease.

“I was always very healthy and in good shape so I didn’t pay much attention to the fact I was gaining quite a bit of weight. I never thought that it was because my kidneys were not working properly— I just thought it was because I was in a different country, eating later than usual and eating different kinds of food, ” explains Ms Chainey.

Today, Ms Chainey is working towards a university degree in nursing sciences and working part-time as a trainer helping others to stay fit and healthy. She is also a volunteer with The Kidney Foundation of Canada’s peer support program and Healthpartners Speakers’ Bureau, educating and informing Canadians about kidney disease and life on dialysis. She is able to do all of this because she is participating in a unique home nocturnal hemodialysis program.

“Nocturnal hemodialysis has given me my life back. Without donations to support this program I wouldn’t be able to live a normal life. I sleep with it on for eight to nine hours a night, six nights a week and I don’t have as many side effects as conventional hemodialysis. I am very grateful I have had the opportunity to be part of this unique program and hope that more donations will go towards supporting this program so others suffering from kidney failure will be able to live as normal a life as possible,” says Ms Chainey.