You know that feeling when the rink lights shine bright, or the smell of fresh-baked cookies drifts through your house, and you just feel at home?

That’s the feeling I treasure most – especially now, after everything my family and I have been through.

I’m a mom to two energetic boys, Mason (12) and Max (8), and our days move at full speed. Between early mornings, hockey practices, baseball games, and juggling work, our home is always buzzing with energy. When I’m not cheering from the stands, you’ll find me baking something from scratch, kayaking on the lake, or playing volleyball with friends. I’ve always loved the outdoors, staying busy, and filling our lives with simple joys. I’m independent, determined, and maybe a little stubborn, but that’s what keeps me moving forward and showing my kids what strength looks like.

So when I decided to have a breast reduction at 37, it felt like a practical choice for someone always on the go. The surgery went smoothly, and I felt great – healthy, strong, and ready to get back to our routine.

And then, the phone rang.

Lab tests from the tissue they removed showed stage 2 invasive ductal carcinoma – breast cancer.

It was a complete fluke. I had no symptoms, no warning signs, nothing. Just a chance finding that changed everything.

Those first few days were surreal. I’m someone who likes to plan, solve problems, and stay in motion. Suddenly, everything slowed. I had to sit with fear, uncertainty, and the reality that I couldn’t simply push through this on my own.

What frightened me most wasn’t the chemo or the surgeries, it was how this would affect my boys. I kept wondering how to tell them, how to shield them from the hardest parts, and how to hold on to a sense of normal when our world was about to be upside down. I only told them once I knew chemo was starting, because losing my hair and having a PICC line weren’t things I could easily hide. They were worried and full of questions. Losing my hair was especially hard for my youngest.

Within weeks, I faced a double mastectomy and reconstruction, followed by 18 weeks of chemotherapy, 25 radiation treatments, and several additional surgeries. My body and my spirit were tested in ways I never could have imagined. It reminded me that none of us are immune to life’s unexpected turns. You never know when you might find yourself walking through the hospital doors, hoping for good news or holding on to courage.

My boys kept me fighting, but I didn’t do it alone.

The North Bay Regional Health Centre (NBRHC) made it possible to keep being ‘Mom,’ even in the toughest moments. Because my care was close to home, I could stay present for my family instead of spending hours on the highway or nights away from my kids.

The kindness I experienced lifted me up more than I could ever express. Friends organized meals. My care team scheduled treatments around the boys’ games. Every gesture reminded me that I was part of a community that cared. That support gave me strength, hope, and the ability to keep showing up for my children through every stage of treatment.

I’m so grateful for the care I received at NBRHC. Access to surgery, cancer treatment, and follow-up care right here in our community meant I could be there for my boys – celebrating their victories, witnessing their milestones, and tucking them in each night.

It meant hope.

It meant family.

It meant life.

Having access to life-changing treatment close to home allowed me to stay connected to my family and my community during a time when everything felt uncertain. I never expected to need our hospital in this way, and now I can’t imagine what my journey would have looked like without it.

This holiday season, I hope you’ll join me in supporting the NBRHC Foundation. Your gift stays in our community, helping provide the specialists, equipment, and resources that patients like me rely on, so no one has to leave home for care or miss out on life’s most important moments.

I am living proof of the impact your generosity can have. I’m here today, healthy and home with my boys, because care was available in our community. When you make a gift, you help ensure that another family has that same chance close to home.

From the bottom of my heart, thank you for considering a donation this season.

Wishing you and your loved ones a joyful holiday and a new year filled with love, laughter, health and hope.