Help Albert Fournier Through His Cancer Struggle

Hi, I'm Natasha! I'm fundraising for my step dad Albert Fournier on his journey through Colon Cancer.

Albert came into my life 6 years ago when my mom Lisa Savage (Fournier) reconnected with him through Facebook. Growing up on the West End of Montreal, their friendship blossomed into a romance during their teen years. Life, having separated them for 35 years, brought them back together through the simple search on the internet. Their love rekindled, they were married two years after they were reunited. Thus, bringing together the Fournier family with the Savage and Arsenault family.

Having Albert in our lives has been very special. His selfless acts of service and loving embrace of the extended family has been very touching. Accepting the extended family as we move in and out of the spare bedroom during times of duress (like Covid when there were 2 of us living at home!) is just one example of the care he takes after the people he cares about. He always helps out his parents and his mother-in-law when needed and anytime anyone needs a little bit of wisdom or aid, Albert is there.

Those who know him knows he works hard at his job as a Diesel Mechanic and then spends as much free time on his motorcycle with his wife, Lisa, as possible. Tinkering on the the bikes of his daughters (biological and step), the wisdom being passed down through generations, is bonding time that we cherish.

Albert is not one to complain. So after some physical difficulties over a few months, he began having so much discomfort that it finally brought him to the ER on December 21, 2023. That day changed our lives. And his. He was operated on immediately and was told once he woke up that he had Stage 3 Colon Cancer. Attached to him was a colostomy bag, a new and permanent part of his life. To continue on the track of treatment, next up was radiation and chemotherapy to shrink the mass of the tumour in order to operate for removal, which he is currently in middle of.

Of course, due to the dramatic physical toll on his body, Albert is unable to work. Additionally, my mom, Lisa, has had to take time off work as well in order to care for Albert. Having their financial income slashed drastically has begun to take an additional toll on the family. We can carry our loved ones with support and babysitting the animals, doing chores around the house, etc. But the additional weight of medical bills, like the colostomy bag changes, have already began to take up a large amount of the remaining household income. Savings have been depleted and other sources of income have been explored and gone. This is your call to action!

We know so many friends and extended family through Lisa's work at the Skin Within Tattoo shop and through the local community who love both Albert and Lisa.

I would like to ask, from the bottom of my heart, that you contribute in any way that you can to this cause:

Your donations would cover things like:

Colostomy bags

Medical equipment

Medications

Gas and Parking to/from Ottawa Hospitals for Treatment

Basic Essentials (ie: food, hygiene products, pet food, etc.)

Other Household Expenses

As our current state of health care and financial aid isn't really set up for long term illnesses like Cancer, it is important to rely on the community of loving and caring people like yourselves. Anything helps.