Support Tonya in Her Battle With Cancer & Journey to Healing

Eight weeks ago Tonya, Vlad and Yeva, our newest Ukrainian family, arrived in Eston. What a pleasure it has been getting to know their family!

Only 24 hours before stepping on a plane to come to Canada, Tonya received her last round of radiation therapy. She arrived on the Prairies with so much on her plate: exhaustion from extensive treatment, the daunting task of adjusting to a new country, all while caring for their four-year-old daughter alone so her husband could begin working.

In Ukraine, Tonya was an assistant university professor of Political Science, while Vlad finished his Masters in Electronic Engineering as well as an education in Welding. Their lives were well-established so nothing could have prepared them for the sudden need to pack their whole world into three suitcases only to begin again from scratch. In 2022, shortly after the attack on Ukraine began, Vlad made the hard decision to leave his family in Kazakhstan and come to Canada so he could begin creating a life for them here and ensure things would be ready and comfortable for their arrival. Vlad's goal was to find a stable career, a safe home, and to increase his English knowledge. Unfortunately, eight months ago Tonya and her family received the terrible news she was diagnosed with Breast Cancer.

Aggressive treatments began immediately beginning with a surgery, two rounds of radiation, and four rounds of chemotherapy. Vlad put their family’s goal of settling in Canada on pause so he could rejoin his wife in Kazakhstan. Thankfully, once treatments were complete, Vlad was able to return to Canada alongside his family. Since arriving here, Tonya has begun additional treatments however she is still waiting for her CT scan to see if further chemotherapy is needed. Her regular appointments in Saskatoon are difficult and expensive for their family. She will have another surgery at an undetermined future date. Although selfishly I would love to have Tonya and her family stay in our community forever, it is possible they may need to move closer to the city to ensure easier access to ongoing medical care. At this point there are still many unknowns.

In terms of cost, some medical bills and prescription medications are not covered for Tonya. She has no insurance for her recommended weekly physiotherapy to help with nerve damage caused by surgery. Additionally, there is the cost of travel to and from medical appointments. All of these expenses, on top of the cost of living and raising a child, are a difficult feat to cover for a single income home, particularly for a new-coming family.

Recently, Tonya reached out to me about helping her find a job. Instantly, I knew I had to come up with another solution. As a result of her treatment, Tonya currently struggles with fatigue, nerve issues, and “chemo brain” which affects concentration, focus, memory, and mood changes. In addition, she experiences debilitating migraines. Tonya's body is exhausted from a combination of treatment, devastation from the war, and moving to a new country. Through this Go-Fund-Me, the hope is to offer Tonya the ability to rest for a while longer before returning to work, and to experience the gift of recovery with minimal stress. Additionally, it will offer her the assurance she can take time to allow her body to heal, without the guilt of feeling like her family will be deprived if she isn't working. Lastly, all of these difficult life transitions have been hard on their young daughter so this would ensure them extra time together before Yeva begins school in the Fall.

Tonya, Vlad and Yeva would like to extend their sincere thanks to everyone who has welcomed them to Canada and their new hometown. They are grateful for those who have supported them in one way or another - whether that be donating, offering household items, spending time to stop and welcome them with conversation, inviting them for a meal, or sending well-wishes. Thank you so much for the many ways you have embraced this family and made them feel at home.

Lastly, Tonya would like to take this opportunity to remind everyone how important regular self exams and annual medical exams are. Tonya had no family history of breast cancer when she was diagnosed at 39 years old. Her only sign something may not be right was a slight pain in her breast. After being assured she was fine, it took advocating for herself to get further exams and a mammogram. Tonya would like to encourage everyone to prioritize their health and to remember: early detection saves lives.

Thank you again for your kindness and support. We will continue updating this page as more information is gathered.