EDMONTON- A unique and symbolic exhibit opened Saturday, at the Muttart Conservatory.
Thousands of yellow, orange and white daffodils have taken over the conservatory’s feature pyramid to honour those who have lost their lives to cancer, and give hope to those who continue to battle the disease.
“We were absolutely blindsided by the diagnosis and did not expect it. He was a young, fit, healthy young man,” said Christine McCourt, whose husband John was diagnosed with stage four esophageal cancer eight years ago, at the age of 31.
Christine quickly became John’s caregiver, during which time she was pregnant with their second daughter. Christine says she remained optimistic the entire time John was sick.
“The hardest was when we had to come to the realization that he wasn’t going to get better and that we were in fact preparing to say goodbye to him at the same time as we were greeting our newborn daughter,” she said holding back tears.
Christine says John had one goal; to live long enough to meet his little girl.
“He passed away three weeks after she was born,” she said. “He actually only lived for five months from the day of his diagnosis.”
Christine was among a group of about 50 cancer survivors, caregivers and their families at a special opening ceremony at the Muttart Conservatory Saturday morning.
The daffodil exhibit is part of the Canadian Cancer Society’s 75th anniversary. When the society formed in 1938, the cancer survival rate was 25 percent. Now that rate sits at 60 percent.
“We still have some work to go, but eventually we’re hoping for 100 percent survival rate,” said Christy Ravndahl with the Canadian Cancer Society.
The feature pyramid at the Muttart Conservatory is filled with daffodils, a symbol of hope. There is also a memory pond for visitors to place stones dedicated to those who have battled cancer.
“It’s so beautiful in here. It brings up different emotions, remembering those that we’ve lost and those that have survived,” said Ravndahl.
Now a volunteer with the Canadian Cancer Society, Chrisitne says it’s been extremely important to her to give back to those who helped her family through their journey.
“I think there are probably very few words that are worse than hearing ‘you have cancer.’ I think that’s very dreaded and nothing anybody would want to hear. And absolutely, I can’t imagine what any cancer patient would feel like when they hear that,” Christine said.
Christine says the daffodil exhibit is a wonderful way to honour those who have lost their lives, and instill hope in others.
“John is with me in my heart and in our two daughters every single day.”
The featured exhibit runs until May 5.
With files from Shannon Greer.
Follow @CaleyRamsay
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