‘I am so grateful:’ Langley community comes together for cancer care
When Candy Foster’s massage therapist noticed swelling in her abdomen, her family doctor quickly booked an ultrasound, suspecting appendicitis. Not long after, Foster was admitted for surgery at Langley Memorial Hospital amid a whirlwind of fear and confusion.
“Dr. Steve Hansen’s words still ring in my ears: ‘We’re going to get to the bottom of this, and we’re going to figure it out,” Foster recalls. “That’s exactly what I needed to hear.”
That experience began a long ordeal with two bouts of cancer. First diagnosed and treated for colon cancer, Foster was about to be released from the care of her oncologist when they discovered she had breast cancer. “In the end, it was a tougher haul than my first experience, but I am proud to say my last treatment for breast cancer was in June 2019,” she says.
This fall, Foster joins the Langley Community Health & Hospital Foundation to raise funds for the hospital’s areas of greatest need - including vital equipment medical staff use to diagnose and treat patients living with cancer.
“This journey taught me so much about resilience, about faith, and the power of the love of my family and friends. But most of all, my experiences over the following year opened my eyes to the dedication and compassion of the doctors and nurses at Langley Memorial Hospital,” Foster says.
Fort Langley Lions double your donation
Beyond needing up-to-date equipment to deliver the best possible care, medical tools also wear down after continual use, especially as the population and number of procedures continue to increase. To help meet that need, the Fort Langley Lions are matching every dollar donated this season up to $40,000, ensuring local medical teams get the essential tools they need, as quickly as possible.
With support from survivors like Foster, local medical teams and the Fort Langley Lions, the community is coming together so every patient receives the best care possible when they need it most, here in Langley.
“A decade later, when I look back at the whirlwind journey of my health and recovery, I’m so grateful that I was able to receive care here, close to home,” says Foster, who was born and raised in Langley, as was her husband and their children.
“I am so grateful that the nurses, doctors and all the caregivers at Langley Memorial were by my side every step of the way. When you join me and the Fort Langley Lions in supporting the purchase of medical tools used in cancer surgeries and diagnosis, you’re honouring Langley Memorial Hospital’s medical staff for their hard work.”
This fall, as communities navigate the Canada Post strike, the impact can cost charities at the most significant fundraising time of the year. For the Foundation, that equates to medical equipment, programs, patient comfort items and medical staff education that can’t be provided. To ensure your gift makes it to the Foundation, donate securely online at LCHHFoundation.com/donate. Donors will also receive a tax receipt for the 2025 tax year.