Support Group Launches to Serve Need in Fredericton Area
Brenda Garnett, Facilitator and Caroline Walker, Convenor
When Caroline and Julian Walker’s 17-year-old son David received the shocking diagnoses of a brain tumour, their entire family had many concerns and questions. They became intimately involved in his fight by searching for information. Their search led the Walkers to information and education programs offered by Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada. This support gave the family resolve and helped them to deal with David’s diagnosis and treatments. Now, with her family behind her, Caroline is helping to launch the new Fredericton Brain Tumour Support Group.
Today David is 26, living in Vancouver and recovering well from a follow-up brain surgery. Caroline explains one surprisingly positive result of David’s journey with a brain tumour, "Dave’s amazing strength continues to inspire our family and friends, and because of this, I’m able to help in the community." As a result, Caroline is the volunteer convenor to a new support group. Support groups are confidential environments for patients, family members, caregivers and friends to gain reassurance from others in similar situations while also enhancing coping skills. Caroline notes, "One focus for the group is to make certain that family and caregivers know they can attend the support group along with the survivor."
For over 15 years, Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada has been providing a national network of support groups for those affected by this devastating disease. Through discussions with the Fredericton community, including the dedicated fundraising volunteers who organize the annual Fredericton Spring Sprint, it was determined there was a critical need for a brain tumour support group in the greater Fredericton area.
Led by Volunteer Facilitator Brenda Garnett, who works at the Stan Cassidy Centre for Rehabilitation’s Foundation Office, the support group will meet monthly and offer support, information and education to brain tumour survivors and their families. Brenda believes her background in grief support will be beneficial. "This support group will be a safe environment for everyone to be themselves," she explains, "where members can trust each other with their thoughts, feelings and fears."
In 2007, Fredericton City Councillor, David Kelly, was also diagnosed with a brain tumour. He is excited about the launch of this new support group. "Once I began to accept this shocking diagnosis," David says, "I turned to dealing with it and lots of contact with others has been so great for me." Thanks to treatment and support, today David is back to work as an insurance appraiser and is into his tenth year as a Fredericton City Councillor. He is monitored with an MRI every three months. "The ‘not knowing’ feeling is hard to deal with, but being able to attend the monthly support group meetings will help me to cope with this worry," David notes.
For Caroline, Brenda and David, establishing the Fredericton brain tumour support group to help the area’s other brain tumour survivors, families and caregivers get the support, information and education they need, is an important step towards changing the lives of everyone touched by a brain tumour. "Having somewhere to turn for help, really made a difference for us," Caroline explains, "I believe it will do the same for others in the Fredericton area."
For more information, please contact Trishna Wedemire at
1-800-265-5106, ext. 234 or by email at