People of The Moncton Hospital
People of The Moncton Hospital is a podcast created by the Friends of The Moncton Hospital Foundation to share impactful stories from our donors, hospital staff, community fundraisers, partners and more. Our goal is to share the incredible impact that they are making on our hospital.
People of The Moncton Hospital
Living Better with Cancer: The Wellspring Story, featuring Brenda Delodder
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On this episode of People of The Moncton Hospital, Director of Cancer Support at Wellspring NB, Jacqueline Bloom, sits down with Brenda Delodder, CEO of Wellspring Cancer Support.
Jacqueline and Brenda explore how Wellspring is helping people live better with cancer across Canada. They also talk about an exciting milestone for the organization, the expansion of Wellspring into Atlantic Canada through Wellspring NB, and what it means for people living with cancer and their loved ones.
To learn more about Wellspring NB and how to register for programs, visit Wellspring.ca/NewBrunswick.
P.S. We recorded this episode at Wellspring Bannon House in Moncton, so you may hear the sounds of members coming and going in the background. We think it offers a wonderful glimpse into just how active and welcoming this community has become!
Hello friends, I'm Jacqueline Bloom, Director of Cancer Support at Wellspring, New Brunswick, and I'll be your host for today's episode. This month we're shining a spotlight on Wellspring Cancer Support, a Canada-wide network of charities that offer programs and services at no charge and without referral to anyone living with any type of cancer at any stage of their journey, as well as their caregivers. Wellspring Cancer Support Foundation has affiliates across Canada, including the newest affiliate to join the network, our very own Wellspring, New Brunswick. This is the first affiliate in Atlantic Canada. For those who may know, in 2023, a home near the Moncton Hospital was generously donated to the Friends Foundation. It's named Wellspring Bannon House in honor of its benefactor. And the home has been transformed into a welcoming community space where people living with cancer and their caregivers can connect, learn, and participate in Wellspring New Brunswick programs. Wellspring Cancer Support Foundation provides a national expertise, evidence-based programming and resources, while Wellspring New Brunswick delivers those programs right here in our community. Thanks to funding from the Friends Foundation and the Chou Demont Foundation, these programs are offered at no cost to participants. Joining me today is Brenda De Lauder, CEO of Wellspring Cancer Support Foundation. Since the idea for Wellspring was imagined in 1988, thousands of people across Canada have found strength, community, and hope through its programs. Today, Brenda will share the story behind Wellspring Cancer Support Foundation, how it has grown into a national network, and why these programs are making such a meaningful difference in the lives of people living with cancer. Welcome, Brenda, and thank you so much for joining us.
SPEAKER_01Thank you for having me. It's a pleasure to be here.
SPEAKER_00So I just will start off with a question, Brenda. Let's start from the beginning. Can you tell us a bit about the history of Wellspring Cancer Support Foundation and what inspired its creation? Mm-hmm.
SPEAKER_01Back in 1988, a Canadian by the name of Anne Armstrong Gibson was diagnosed with cancer. She had a family with some children, and she felt severely isolated. And she went through her journey with many struggles, feeling very much alone, and thought there must be a better way. So she is the inspiration behind all of this, and she um derived the idea of building a community of support around the cancer journey. And that's where it all began 30 years ago.
SPEAKER_00What a story. What a story. So when someone hears the word wellspring, what do you hope they think of?
SPEAKER_01Well, trust, um, confidence in their journey. Uh, there are a lot of unknowns. When someone hears the the words, you have been diagnosed, so much races through an individual's mind. Um, and they often think, How am I going to cope? How am I going to tell my children? How do I navigate my work and my career? Just to name a few questions. And so individuals can turn to Wellspring for support to navigate uh their cancer journey. And so it's really about confidence and trust because all of our programs have been developed by professionals. They are anchored on research and evidence, and they have uh proven outcomes uh with uh with health outcomes. So we really are an extension of the health system.
SPEAKER_00Wonderful. For someone hearing about Wellspring for the first time, how would you describe what Wellspring cancer support is and who can access its programs?
SPEAKER_01So anyone uh impacted by cancer can access the programs. You do not need a referral to access the programs. Um, you know, there are a lot of there's a lot of uncertainty uh when when you are diagnosed or impacted by cancer. It might be your partner, your spouse, your child uh with a diagnosis. And um, and so when it comes to you know considering wellspring, it's really about how do you navigate? How do you cope? And uh and and what are the uncertainties. A lot of individuals um require emotional support, uh, physical support. Sometimes they need to understand what what are the financial supports available. And so when someone considers wellspring, we really step in to fill in those gaps. The healthcare system does an extraordinary job of helping the individual manage their medical treatment. Whereas Wellspring really helps with all of those non-medical components. I spoke with an individual, Laura, a a few months ago, and she said to me, the healthcare system put my health back together, but Wellspring helped to put my life back together.
SPEAKER_00We see that here every day here at Wellspring, New Brunswick. So can anybody participate no matter where they are in their journey?
SPEAKER_01Yes, yes. So Wellspring has on-site programs as well as virtual programs and any at any point in someone's journey. So you could be recently diagnosed, you could be navigating your treatment, you could also be post-treatment in many cases. So there are on-site uh programs such as you know the one we're in right now at the Van and House. Uh, and then there are programs that are accessible at some of the hospitals. And then there are online programs as well that anyone can access 24-7. Some individuals, even though there might be a site nearby, their home, they may not be well enough to travel or they may not have access to transportation. So we don't want that to be a barrier. So having the virtual and online programming and that sense of community is also available virtually.
SPEAKER_00That's amazing. We it really does take away barriers, even for people living rurally that aren't close enough for support. Great point. Yeah. Do you offer any French programs?
SPEAKER_01Yes, we do. Yes. And uh we're working uh very closely with the team in in New Brunswick, and uh they're really helping to lead that. So we are bilingual and uh we strive to have more and more programming available in French all the time.
SPEAKER_00Amazing. The Moncton Hospital provides exceptional medical care, while Wellspring provides emotional and social and practical support throughout the cancer journey. How do you see these two kinds of care complement each other?
SPEAKER_01They are very much complementary. And uh, you know, what speaks volumes is the number of referrals that we're we receive directly, or that Wellspring receives directly from the hospital and and hospitals all over the country, um, because the healthcare system and the healthcare providers have trust in the programs and the care that people receive at Wellspring. So we are Wellspring is is is essentially an extension of that healthcare system. And so uh it is completely complementary and we work very, very closely together and putting the patient at the center of the care, whether it's through the hospital or through Wellspring, is is our main priority.
SPEAKER_00We see that here locally. The oncologists are referring and telling people to come over, visit the house right away, and that's trust, but they also see the difference it's made in some of their other patients. So huge. What are some of the most popular programs that are offered through Wellspring and what kinds of needs are designed to help with?
SPEAKER_01I think at the core of all the programs is that sense of community. But I'm sure you say something very similar. Some of the most popular sought-after programs depends on the individual and what the individual's needs are. However, that the peer support sense of community is highly popular. Uh there are also art therapy programs and music programs, all designed and proven to impact health outcomes. And then there are some of the more practical programs and physical programs. So exercise is a core component to our programming. And more and more research has come out about the impact of exercise and disease management. And when it comes to cancer, uh, Wellspring is actually leading the way in and some of the national research around the connection between exercise and treatment outcomes. So we're so proud of that. And we're connected to so many incredible healthcare professionals and researchers to help us guide that. So, what are some of the most popular ones here? The most common ones that you're seeing?
SPEAKER_00We we see the majority of people that come into the house are doing exercise first. Oh, yeah. That seems to be the greatest need. And once they've been in the exercise program and start to learn about the other programs, once they've completed exercise, now it's like, what's next? What else can I do? And they're excited to learn about all the different programs. But I must say every program has some component through of peer support through it. Every one of them, there's people always sharing their story or sharing, did you try this or that? But you know what? Honestly, the majority of the conversations aren't about cancer, they're really not, they're just about living their life and what a safe place to do that, right? And be vulnerable.
SPEAKER_01That's so true. And uh, we were having the the conversation earlier that it takes a lot of courage to come forward. And I think exercise as being, you know, the first uh entry point for individuals to become familiar with with wellspring feels safer. And uh, and sometimes that that element of courage or you know letting someone letting your guard down and asking for help can be very hard. And that's where I where I say courage is a is a key element. So it's it's really interesting that a lot of the Wellspring sites are seeing that that transition from exercise into all of the many other programs, right?
SPEAKER_00We're we're recently doing a video series, and uh we asked the question what's one word that Wellspring um means to you? And one gentleman said easy. And I thought, easy, what does that mean? So I said, Can you explain that to me? And he said, you know what? I'm very anxious type of person, very independent, but lonely. But when I walk through the doors, it was just easy. And I thought that really represents who we are and what we do here. Yeah, yeah, sense of community for sure. Can you talk about how the programs are developed and who facilitates the programs and how how do we get new programming?
SPEAKER_01We have established relationships and and committees with um a diverse uh group of individuals and professionals. So it could be physiotherapists, it could be dietitians, um, it could be researchers, and so we really lean into the expertise of these individuals. Um, so let me back up for a moment. Once we identify a gap, so we're always in tune, we're working so closely, all of the Wellsworths are working closely with the healthcare systems and the hospitals and the oncology departments. And when we identify a gap, um we reach out to these individuals and they help us to identify what the potential possibilities are. We research, we pilot, and we look at outcomes. Everything we do is outcomes-based. Uh and that's where the trust comes in that I mentioned earlier. So we do lean into a very diverse uh group of professionals that help us to develop the programs.
SPEAKER_00One of the newest programs that's just finished the incubation period is now is is going forward is the FORT program. Yes. So, what was the process? Do you know the process?
SPEAKER_01Uh yeah. So we have um a center of innovation, and uh, and that is specifically funded to help us identify what are the new and emerging opportunities and possibilities that individuals need uh to help navigate their their cancer journeys. And so um that was you know partly incubated in the uh in the center of innovation, but also based on on um what we know from from other bodies of research. And four is the fear of reoccurrence, and this is a significant factor, as you know, uh with someone who has finished their treatment and they have been uh declared to be cancer free. But this fear can be very, very debilitating. And so helping individuals to navigate that post-cancer uh journey is absolutely critical.
SPEAKER_00And there's been really positive outcomes for the first couple of courses. Yeah. Something we're looking forward to being able to have that program here. So Wellspring New Brunswick became the first affiliate in Atlantic Canada. And what did that milestone mean for the Cancer Wellspring Cancer Support Foundation? Wellspring is here to serve others.
SPEAKER_01We are here to serve others, we are here to serve community. And the you know, establishment here is just such a milestone for Atlantic Canada. We know that you know some of the virtual programming has been accessible, but having you know a site in presence is really the start of something much bigger. And we are so proud of the work that's been done here, and we're so grateful. I would say we're grateful for the leadership and the guidance, and especially for the individuals who have participated for the first time, because those individuals are leading the path and opening the doors for others to come forward and ask for help and to be a part of this community.
SPEAKER_00Absolutely. And one tells the next, tells the next, and that's how we continue to grow. Is there any sense of growth in other areas of Atlantic Canada?
SPEAKER_01Yes, yeah. The goal is to serve and support every single Canadian that is impacted by cancer. And every year across the country, almost a quarter of a million, uh, more than a quarter of a million are diagnosed. Here in uh in New Brunswick, I think it's 20 per day. And that's just in New Brunswick. And so we know that uh there is definitely a need here, and we are really going to be working closely together with you and working really hard to ensure every Canadian has access to programs.
SPEAKER_00So so there could be some opportunities in PEI and Nova Scotia and Newfoundland as well. Yes. That's amazing. That's that's what we're working towards. Amazing. Uh, what changes do you see in people after they've connected with Wellspring? Is there a story or a moment that illustrates that so many?
SPEAKER_01I was speaking with a gentleman and uh just a few weeks ago, and he said to me that uh after his diagnosis, uh he was very angry. And he said that he didn't feel his family and his friends and his co-workers at the time he he felt really misunderstood. And he said to me, When I walk into the doors of Wellspring, I can just be angry. I can just be angry and it's accepted. And I feel that the programs offered by Wellspring have really helped the he said it helped him to transition from that anger and then it went into mourning. He mourned the loss that he previously that he had prior to the diagnosis. And when I spoke with him just a few weeks ago, he can't say enough about Wellspring. He said he was never one to come forward to ask for help. Very lawyer, very independent uh individual. He said that coming to Wellspring was the single best decision of his life. It changed his in his the trajectory of his diagnosis. He is uh living, you know, healthy and well. And he is now a volunteer and a gracious, very gracious donor.
SPEAKER_00I have goosebumps because we we see the same thing here. People come in very angry, triggered. Yes. They've been encouraged to participate and doing it okay, I will do it. But then within weeks, we see this change. We spoke earlier with um my colleague is saying it was like a wilted flower and coming into Wellsprings just added some water and become vibrant. It's just an amazing transition.
SPEAKER_01Yeah. There's a mom recently diagnosed, and when she was going through her treatment, she wasn't feeling well. And her two young children under the age of six, and um she was really struggling, and her kids came forward and they they they were thinking, why isn't mom playing with me anymore? Why is she so tired? And what we learned was her children thought that they did something wrong. Oh, and so helping the mom uh and uh and and the father in this situation to communicate with your children was such a significant moment in that cancer journey, and uh, and so you know that that has generational impact in in in many ways.
SPEAKER_00Absolutely, yeah, absolutely. We've talked a lot about um people living with cancer, but what about caregivers? Is there programs for caregivers? Yes, yes.
SPEAKER_01Um, caregivers are such a key um key element in the entire process and making sure that caregivers felt understood. Their lives are are also changing, right? And we recognize that. And this is one of the gaps that we recognized uh a while ago that we need to support the entire unit. Uh, and caregivers play a key role, not only because their lives are impacted, they also need support, but they but they also want to understand how they can provide support. So they're they play a really pivotal, pivotal and interesting role in many ways.
SPEAKER_00You're right. And we hear a lot that they're going through their own stress and psychological issues. Oh, yeah. Um, but just just this morning you got to meet one of our members and his wife, and and in six months, the this gentleman's gone from using a wheelchair to walking without a cane, and the impact that's had on how his wife has been able to care. He's more independent now. They just took the chair out of the shower, so now he can stand by himself. So that's huge. The impact his uh his health has had on her, and it's easing that up on her too.
SPEAKER_01And then share that they went to a wedding on the weekend and they danced for the first time. Absolutely so long.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, amazing. So, Brenda, you're actually here in Moncton for the ride for cancer support pedal to PEI event. This week, a group of 30 cyclists have been riding in a relay from Oakville, Ontario to Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, covering more than 3,000 kilometers. Today they'll be stopping by Moncton Wellspring Bannon House and they'll make their final journey to the island tomorrow. Can you tell us a little bit about this event and how people can support it?
SPEAKER_01So a great testament to the commitment of serving others by these 30 riders. There are six teams and they each take a turn of traveling 600 kilometers on a shift. It does not matter what the what the weather is, and they've endured, you know, hardship along the way. So, in addition to to the rain, you know, potholes with um resulting in mechanical issues, uh, there have been injuries, there have been falls, and so they're really enduring and facing the reality of this significant ride so that others can receive the support that they need when they when they need it. Very significant for us to be, you know, stopping here today. Uh, one of the uh riders, the the team captain, Paul Eldridge, he is a director of our board and he's graciously leading this team. And uh stopping by here is really a testament, an acknowledgement of the incredible leadership here uh in the community, acknowledging the incredible work that you're doing. But it's also to raise awareness. So we're raising funds, but also raising awareness so that everyone is aware that they can access Wellspring when they need it at no cost. Um, so really it's a it's a milestone for all of us to come together as a community to serve others.
SPEAKER_00And I understand that there's a participant coming with the uh cyclists, uh, an ambassador. Can you tell us more about that?
SPEAKER_01Yes, and so each team has an individual that they've get dedicated their team ride to, and they've been impacted uh by cancer and uh uh are involved in the Wellspring community. And so this individual is is here, they're they're the inspiration behind each team's ride, and they will be here to represent and to to represent um cancer patients.
SPEAKER_00That's wonderful. Beyond participating in programs, what are some of the other ways people can support Wellspring and its members?
SPEAKER_01Yes. And so, you know, we all need to be you know familiar with Wellspring and and you know having comfortable conversations about Wellspring and asking for support. So we want more and more people to know that Wellspring is available to uh to individuals and and households uh and caregivers when and where they need it. Available online 24-7, but the door is always open uh at any of the Wellspring sites. Volunteership is also really important. Uh, we're always looking for volunteers and we're always looking for financial support. So that's also another way to get involved. That's great. Well, thank you.
SPEAKER_00So um finally, if you're if someone is listening today and has recently received a cancer diagnosis or they're supporting someone who has, what would you want them to know?
SPEAKER_01That there is a team here to support you. You do not have to face this alone. Even though you may not be alone in your own household, there is a sense of isolation sometimes when it comes to receiving a diagnosis and navigating the cancer journey. And so the door is open. Come in, have a conversation with us, learn about what might fit for you and your needs. Everyone is different with where they begin. Uh, and we are here to serve and support you.
SPEAKER_00That's wonderful. Thank you. Here at Wellspring Bandon House, we are here Monday to Friday, 8 to 4, and the door is always open. We encourage anybody to stop by and see who we are and what we do. So, Brenda, thank you so much for joining us today and for sharing the story behind Wellspring Cancer Support Foundation and the incredible impact it's had on so many people who are living with cancer and their families. Every day at new at Wellspring, New Brunswick, we see firsthand the difference these programs make. Thanks to our partnership with Wellspring Cancer Support Foundation, the generous support of the Friends Foundation and the Shudima Foundation, people in our community now have access to evidence-based cancer support programs close to home at no cost. Special thank you, special thank you to Sheila Bannon for this house. To learn more about Wellspring New Brunswick and the programs available, visit wellspring.cash New Brunswick. Thank you for listening to another episode of the People of the Moncton Hospital podcast. We'll see you next time.