Rowena's Healing Journey

Rowena’s Healing Journey

For as long as we’ve known Rowena, she has always been a joyful person filled with gratitude, light and love. She readily shows kindness and compassion for others. She is also undoubtedly the strongest woman we know. Rowena has faced many health issues throughout her life, including managing lupus and other health challenges since the young age of 7 and now she is fighting her greatest challenge yet as she battles cancer. Despite everything that she has been through, she has never chosen to be defined by illness or her obstacles.

Rowena has given so much of her life to helping others and has served in many different countries, offering her time and love to those most in need.  We believe that it is her deep commitment to serving others and making an impact that keeps her going and motivates her to do whatever it takes to be healed. She is looking forward to getting back to making a difference in the world and especially to the children in Haiti through Help Heal Humanity, a charity she has been involved with since its inception. This is just one example of Rowena's heart and her deep compassion for others.

Now she is the one in need of your help and support. This past July, Rowena found out that she has a rare form of cancer (that represents only 0.6% of all gynaecological cancers). Understandably, it has been a challenging time for Rowena both physically and emotionally. Her positive outlook has helped her to work through the pain and diagnosis. Her life has radically changed these last few months as she has had to make her health her number one priority which means she has been unable to work full time. As a result of her compromised immune system, Rowena has opted to undergo numerous Integrative Cancer Treatments the past 4 months including Hyperthermia, Oxygen Therapy, Ozone Blood Irradiation, Dendritic Stem Cell Therapy and Immunotherapy. These treatments are crucial for eliminating the cancer, however, they are not currently covered in Canada under OHIP or in the US under health insurance. The most recent scan showed that the tumour has grown and Rowena will require additional therapies such as low-dose chemo (Insulin Therapy) to support her healing journey.

So far costs have exceeded $70,000 USD and the cost of low dose chemotherapy can be up to $3,000 USD per treatment alone. Asking for help is very difficult for Rowena as she’d much sooner be the one helping others. This experience is proving to be a long and difficult one and the truth is, we are stronger when we come together and when we come together, anything is possible. If you would like to help support Rowena, please contribute to Rowena's Healing Fund.

Rowena has been deeply touched by the love, prayers and early donations. In keeping with Rowena’s heart to be a light to others, she has requested that any funds that are raised beyond the cost of her treatments, be gifted to another who is fighting illness.   

When we heal ourselves, we heal the world.” (Mark Nepo)

With deepest gratitude and love,

Row’s Tribe (Byron, Claris, Lyn + Gail)