Alyson’s Army

I have no shortage of support working through this journey with me.  Thank you for the continued emails, phone calls, gifts, cards and interest in my journey.  Every contact, offer of help, and thought has helped give me the strength to make this journey so successful thus far.  I will continue to rely on all my supporters throughout my ongoing treatment.

It is impossible to mention everyone individually, so I will try to  highlight different people and businesses throughout the upcoming weeks.   Take a look at some of the roles supporters are playing – there are some great people on the list, so if you are looking for a new resource, you may find the resource you are looking for here. 

LOOKING FOR NEW RECRUITS – At times I may need some specific help, that you may be perfect for.  If you are looking for a way to help, check  the below recruiting section and contact me.

RECRUITING

Woloshyn’s Warriors Tour – Participants – see http://alysonwoloshyn.com/get-involved/

Recruitment Positions Filled

Web Support – Wordpress expert
I am using Wordpress for this website.  I have been able to navigate all right, but there are a few formatting things and some problems with posting pictures that seem to be an issue. 

Online Photos Site
There are photos I would like to post.  I am looking for some help posting these to a website where people can upload their own pictures and that ultimately people can view and download pictures themselves. 

Recruit Hired – WordPress and Online Photos
Sean Yo – Battalion- Central – Station - Guelph, On
Sean is a fellow Renegade, Grand River High School Graduate.  He was a couple years older than me, and we know each other through involvement in arts related activities.  I never had the big roles in the few plays I was in – I think I was Girl #1 most of the time – Sean was much more heavily involved and much more talented.  Haven’t spoken to Sean in a really long time.  He heard from a friend about my situation, checked me out on twitter, read my page and saw that I needed help.  He is the technical lead at U of G for webhosting and he’s a partner in a web development company here in Guelph, Resonant Studios and thought he could help, and he has.  Amazing how even after almost 20 years, good people still stand out and stand up.   

Editor  – I am new to the whole writing thing, and proof reading is a step I often miss.  Would love to have a second or third set of eyes that could review new posts and highlight spelling and grammar mistakes or sentences that just don’t make sense. 

Recruits Hired – Editor -
Raynell McDonough – Battalion- Western – Station – Calgary, AB 
Raynell I met in my first 10 km running clinic and we trained for my first (and only) half marathon together.  Her and her husband Chris have Jared and I over for great dinners and movie nights.  We don’t get to seem them often as we like.

Spencer Kyte – Battalion -Western – Station -Kimberley, BC 
Spencer was one of my “FOCERS”, an amazing student leader when I chaired a committee called “FOC” – The Federation Orientation Committee.   He ran some amazing events, and was part of the original Presidents of the UW Superfans – a group a bunch of us started basically to put some organization around our heckling at UW games.  (We actually got kicked out of tennis, although we weren’t heckling.  Curling and cross country loved us.  We cheered for everyone not just the big sports like football.)   It’s been a while since we reconnected, and just realized he is in Kimberley BC, which is so close to a number of ski hills Jared and I go to all the time.  Looks like another reason to reconnect.    

Recruit Hired – Drivers -  Airport Shuttle – Sunday July 5th  at about 7:30 am.  Pick up at my place in West Hillhurst to drive my friend Nicole to the airport for a 9 am flight back to Toronto. 

 Raynell McDonough – Battalion- Western – Station – Calgary, AB 
Raynell is one of those friends you don’t need to see all the time and you can just pick up where you left off.  Her and her husband hold a regular movie night that I have yet to come to, but I know the door is open to come to next one, even though I have missed the last 4 – it doesn’t matter.  I love friends who are so flexible. 

Radiation Partners – Here are some shout outs to the folks who have accompanied to Radiation  

Day 1 – June 3 – Susie Dwyer- The first real friend I made in Calgary. Worked in Residence at U of C with her and have had too many great evenings together since.   Offered to push me in a wheelchair in the Calgary Half Marathon because I couldn’t run it due to my surgery.
Day 2 – June 4 – Claire MacDougall-Met her just over a year ago and can always count on her for a crazy evening out.  During the Junos last year she bailed me out when I forgot to fill get two critical volunteer positions.  She also gives me the best gifts.
Day 3, 4,12, 30 - June 5, 8, 19, and July 17 - Jared Long - My fantastic partner
Day 5, 7 - June 9, 12 - Kathryn Bean (KB) - One of the Baker’s Dozen – my university girlfriends (there are 13 of us).  She came into town for work/personal and rearranged her day twice to take me to radiation and then we went for crave cupcakes (just on Tuesday). 
Day 6- June 10- Angela Wright- Another Baker’s Dozen member and my nutritionist (check out Align Nutrition information listed below).  Ange came out from Kelowna for a week to help me through my first week of treatment and stock my freezer with healthy choices to ensure my body heals.
Day 8, 9 – June 15, 16 – Davis Neable – A third Baker’s Dozen who flew in from Vancouver to assist in my first week.  She cleaned my bathroom and kitchen, did laundry and made amazing Italian meatballs, pasta sauce, chicken and chicken broth for quick and easy meals over the next few weeks. 
Day 10 – June 17 – Shauna and Kingsten Quinn- Shauna was the project manager for the Juno’s.  When she found out about my diagnosis she contacted her network and secured a ton of great gifts for me like free concert tickets for the summer.  She is going to be helping me plan a great event in September to celebrate my birthday and raise some money.  This was the first time I met her new 4 month son Kingsten – he is hugely adorable.
Day 11 - June 18- Went on my own – met some great people in the waiting room going through the same thing as me.  Check out the update for June 18th under “Treatment Updates” for the story of the crashing radiation machine
Day 13, 14, 15, 16 – June 22, 24, 25, 26 – My wonderful Mom, Donna, who came in from Kitchener for the week to travel on transit to radiation, naturopaths and Fleetwood Mac. 
Day 17, 18, 19, 20 - June 29, 30, July 2, 3 - Nicole DeNoble- has known me since Grade 1 and probably knows me better than almost anyone.  Flew in from Kitchener to spend a week helping me out and reminiscing.
Day 23, 24, 25 – July 8, 9, 10 – Cam and Mel Woloshyn- My brother and sister in law.  This is Cam’s second trip out since I have been in the hospital. He came out 4 days after I went in with a headache, stayed through surgery and it’s great to have him back for treatment phase.  This is Mel’s first time to Calgary and can’t wait to take this rookie to the rockies and Stampede.
Day 26, 27 – July 13, 14 – Went on my own.  Needed a couple days independently after all the wonderful visitors.  Had a couple of great days just catching up on errands and reading Anti-Cancer.
Day 28 – July 15 – Vanessa Wood – Vanessa was a former Team Lead for me at Service Stop (my department at U of C).  In October 2008 she left our team to have an adventure at U of C’s Qatar campus.  She had a planned trip home to Canada just after I had been diagnosed, and we were able to spend some great time together.  She is now coming back to Service Stop to help the team in my absence, and I couldn’t be happier to have her back in town. 
Day 29 – July 16 – Myself – Met a 10 year, female survivor of a Grade III malignant brain tumor in the waiting room – She was also diagnosed at 31 – Read about that story in http://alysonwoloshyn.com/treatment-updates/
Day 30 – July 17 – Jared Long – It was great that Jared had this day off from work – Allowed us to do this milestone together.  I made an Anti Cancer Lunch for my radiologisits, oncologists and nurse and also brought thank you gifts of Red Wine and the Book Anti Cancer for my oncologist and nurse.  No more appointments for awhile. 

Nutrionist – Angela Wright with Align Nutirtion - http://www.alignnutrition.com/
Ange is a fantastic nutritionist, who is truly passionate about healing people through proper nutrition.  If you are looking for a great recipe, some advice or a coach to help you reach your health related goals – I would suggest no one other than Align Nutrition.  Here is Ange’s  story   ”In 2003 my father passed away from a secondary occurrence of colorectal cancer; this time it came back in his spine. The six months before he died I was fortunate enough to be able to be at his side; he was bedridden and in a lot of pain. I saw that the allopathic treatments (chemo, drugs) were not helping him improve, and started exploring the world of alternative healing. As I researched into foods that would help build his strength, I realized this may be the career path I was looking for.”

Creative Design and Stylist – Design Junkies, Mark Alousis – www. designjunkies.ca

Mark is the husband of my good friend Heather (I know her as Patty).  He and Patty stepped up when I needed help with two critical things.  First I needed some new business cards, with personal contact information since I was going to be away from work for some time.  He created some great cards, and even sourced out a local printer close to my house so I could pick them up easily.  Additionally, I wanted “uniforms” to wear to radiation.  I had friends sign T-Shirts and he and Patty screened on inspirational messages to the front – things like “We Love Woloshyn” and “Cancer, Kicking it to the Curb since 2009.”  They also screen underwear with “Cancer Can Kiss my Ass” and other cheeky phrases.  Finally they sent me socks so I wouldn’t have to do laundry during my radiation.   My uniform brings me strength everyday and Mark’s design is a huge part of that.  If you need design work done – Check him out. 

Musical Inspiration – Craig Cardiff – www.craigcardiff.com
Gordon Lightfoot has described Craig as “A musician who needs to be heard.”  If you have not heard Craig Cardiff, visit his website immediately and take a listen.  Then take a look at his tour dates, and get to his next concert when he is in your area – He is in Ontario and Alberta in June/July.  He has a unique live show that I never miss when he is in my neck of the woods.  He has been a personal friend since 2000 and has taught me a lot of about what matters most in life.  His music has been the soundtrack to many significant moments in my life, particularly on this journey.  My personal favourites – Grandma Says,  Time After Time, Dig In, When People Go, That Band – but really I could put on his entire collection and be happy for hours. 

Cards and Stationary – Shannon Ksenack-Ashmore - http://www.spoonfulofsugarinvites.com/
If you are looking for a unique, personalized cards or stationary, you need Spoonful of Sugar Invites.  My friend Shannon started this business recently, and her work is amazing.  She has done personalized cards for me that I always get tons of compliments on.  You can also make your cards stand out with your own personalized touch – with mine all my contact information is in the card so people can get in touch with me easily.  Her wedding stuff is unbelievable.   She does all sorts of unique and creative stuff and is SOOOO easy to work with, can do most of stuff through email if that is easiest and I am sure she can ship anywhere.  Check her out if you are in the market for cards, invites, or other stationary type items. 

Naturopathic Doctor(s) - I have two that I am currently working
Anna Falkowski – Vitality for Life – http://vflbarrie.blogspot.com/ - (Ontario)
I have known Anna since Grade 7.   When I was diagnosed she began sending me great advice and research on how to complement my chemo and radiation.  She saught advice from colleagues and helped me find a naturopath in Calgary that I could work with to supplement my treatment.  My ND (listed below) is wonderful and I would never have found him without her.  Her practice in Barrie is amazing, and if I lived closer she would be my ND of choice.

Grassroots Naturopathic – http://www.grassrootsnaturopathic.com/ - (Calgary)
This is my Naturopathic Clinic – I am specifically working with Dr Pyatt on a treatment plan specific for cancer patients.  The clinic has a warm, wholistic approach and I feel all the NDs at the clinic have talents and resources that could benefit anyone interested in taking an active approach to their health.  If you are in Calgary and looking to get proactive with your health, you may want to check out Grassroots Naturopathic Clinic.

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