For newly engaged 30 year old Renfrew resident Alison Kean (now FERGUSON), April 14th, 2025 was a day that would change not only the course of her life forever…but the lives of all of those around her.
Plagued with persistent symptoms and feelings that something just wasn’t “right”, Ali would find out that she was suffering from a rare and aggressive form of cancer known as Small Cell Neuroendocrine Carcinoma of the cervix and began aggressive therapy in Ottawa two days later, on April 16th. Cervical SCNEC is a rare and highly malignant invasive tumor, accounting for only up to 2% of all invasive cervical cancers worldwide. As a result of this, Ali’s treatment and her team of specialists are in Ottawa; making the process even more arduous and tiring as she travels for daily radiation and future chemotherapy cycles. Both cannot be done at the same time. To date, Ali has gone back and forth from Renfrew to Ottawa daily for over 30 days. With the exception of ten days in the hospital for kidney issues (where tubes were placed inside the kidneys to assist with functionality during treatment) and weekends, Ali’s days are spent in a car and in a treatment room. It’s exhausting, it’s debilitating and the time has come to reach out to the community for help.
Alison is currently at stage 3 in her battle with this terrible disease. Since her diagnosis, she married the love of her life, Joel Ferguson (before her hair fell out…in true Alison fashion!) in May and has done her best to maintain some form of normalcy in her life. Being with her new husband as much as possible is of the utmost importance to Ali. The time has come to make Alison’s daily routine more comfortable for her during this phase of treatment. Alison’s daily travel is taking its toll on not only her mental and physical health…but also the mental health and physical health of the friends and family that have been taking turns with the driving; often taking time off from their own jobs to be there for her unconditionally. Construction and lane reductions on the Queensway in Ottawa has made the trips longer and more stressful by the day. Short term accommodations such as ROTEL and the RESIDENCE CORPORATION are available at reduced rates for families that must travel to Ottawa for treatment. Our goal is to raise funds to allow for some days of peace in Ottawa after treatment(s) for Alison and Joel; a place to rest, relax and reconnect during this most terrible phase of their lives. Even one day a week where Ali does not have to make the journey back to Renfrew would make all the difference in the world.
Funds raised are expected to be used in the following ways:
-Securing temporary lodging in Ottawa during daily treatments
-Assistance with household expenses
-Assistance with any travel expenses including gas and parking
-Unexpected hospital charges not covered by OHIP or work benefits
-A wig.
News of Alison’s cancer has been devastating to all that know and love her. The diagnosis has rocked her world and that of her close-knit family that now includes a young nephew and niece…and new in-laws that love her deeply. The concern and worry is far reaching. Please consider helping to make the upcoming weeks more manageable for Alison while she fights to navigate through the choppy waters of Stage 3 cancer with her tribe by her side. There are no words to express the thanks and gratitude for any and all help received.
