“If I could make going through the chemo process a little better for others, then this was a small thing to do.”
– Terry Osborne
Alice Osborne retired from her dream job, as Teacher Librarian at Kelvin High, at the end of June last year. Sadly, her anticipated retirement alongside her beloved husband Terry was derailed by a diagnosis of pancreatic cancer on August 2nd, 2016.
For seven months Alice received chemotherapy at Victoria Hospital. It was, at times, an isolating experience.
"While Alice was having chemo she said on many occasions that she wished Victoria Hospital was like St. Boniface and had Wi-Fi available," remembers Terry. "It would have made her six and seven hour days in the chemo chair a little more bearable to be able to chat with friends and family. This was so compelling to me that there and then I pledged to donate to that exact cause."
Although she fought valiantly, Alice passed away March 16th, 2017. She was just 64. Surrounded by her husband, their daughter Erin and Alice's brother Lowell, she was in good spirits right up to the evening before she died.
"We were married for 38 years, six months and seven days," says Terry, "and it was not nearly enough time to tell her how much I loved her or tell her enough times what she meant in my life."
Though heavy with grief, Terry has not forgotten his late wife's wish of establishing Wi-Fi for the patients to follow.
"In her obituary we asked for donations to be made to Victoria Hospital for that exact purpose, to help ease the suffering of those undergoing those boring chemo days," says Terry. "If I could make going through the chemo process a little better for others, then this was a small thing to do."
This important gift will allow future patients the healing benefit of communication with loved ones during the most difficult of times.
