Devon, ALS Warrior

Devon Wood is a daughter, friend, sister, niece, OR Nurse, Educator, and dog mom to her beloved Bastian. It is devastating to all who know her to disclose that she has been diagnosed with ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis), also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease.

Many of you know Devon loved her role as an operating room nurse and it was no secret that her first love is General Surgery. She brought such incredible knowledge and enthusiasm to this role. She is one of the most talented OR nurses I have ever had the privilege to work with and was unwavering in her desire to teach and mentor new nurses in the OR. Devon’s light shone so brightly in this role and her enthusiasm was contagious. When you worked with Devon you knew you were going to have a great day and laugh A LOT.

Devon is a natural educator so it is no surprise that she carried on and just completed her Masters in Education in May all while struggling with symptoms of ALS! She had just been offered her dream job as a full-time professor at Vancouver Island University where she would have been teaching in the nursing program. She was so excited and the future had never looked so bright.

Most importantly anyone who knows Devon knows how very funny she is. Her quick wit and sharp mind are still very much intact. It is an additional cruelty that ALS has already affected her voice and made speech difficult but don’t let that fool you!

Going forward all of our efforts are aimed towards maintaining the highest quality of life for Devon.

This is being written to raise funds, but please know that if you're not in a position to provide financial support, your emotional support and love are just as important. Devon has already said how immensely supported she feels by her friends and family. She knows she is surrounded by love.