November 1, 2017
Rebecca and daughter Virginia enjoy a boat ride with dad Will at the wheel.
Story by Kristin Whitworth
Hearing the words "you have cancer" knocks the wind right out of your sails. As a diagnosis, it’s devastating — and it changes everything.
Turning such a diagnosis into the kind of positive energy and drive it takes to change the cancer system can only come with an attitude of courage and hope, and Rebecca Morlidge had all of the above in spades.
Her cancer journey began in December 2007 with a diagnosis of metastatic breast cancer, an advanced form of breast cancer that had spread to other parts of her body. Originally from Dallas, Texas, she underwent treatment in both the U.S. and Canada, and began receiving care at the Tom Baker Cancer Centre in July, 2008.
"Until, and unless, another major breakthrough is found that will completely eradicate the free-flowing cancer cells in my body, I will be fighting cancer for the rest of my life," she said at the time.
Rebecca chose to take that fight beyond herself — and started fighting for others. She became a Patient Advisor for the Tom Baker Cancer Centre in 2013 to make sure patients had a say in the quality of their care and the supports they receive.
As a Patient Advisor, she met with other cancer patients, shared her cancer story and listened to them. She also met with cancer administrators and leaders to discuss her philosophy of care and survival.
“The idea is that I just keep fighting each new battle with the goal of staying alive, with the best quality of life that I can manage,” said Rebecca.
Cathie first met Rebecca in 2015 at a patient information session at the centre. Then recently diagnosed with breast cancer herself, Cathie recalls the impact Rebecca had on her from the get-go.
"The session was on reframing hope in the context of advanced cancer," says Cathie. "Since Rebecca also had metastatic breast cancer, her words particularly resonated with me, and I knew I had to meet her. She spoke about hope, about 'Why not you?' — and told us that her oncologist had said that she was one of a very few Alberta patients who had survived so long.”
Rebecca later joined the Patient and Family Advisory Council for the new Calgary Cancer Centre, contributing to a network of more than 50 members who’ve been bringing their perspectives to performance specifications and design work since July of 2014.
As partners with AHS and Alberta Infrastructure, council advisors give colour and quality to terms such as “healing environment” and help define what the new Calgary Cancer Centre should look and feel like.
Rebecca wanted the centre to radiate hope, treat the person not the symptom, and be a place of recovery.
“Supportive or holistic care is the goal,” said Rebecca, “where they are treating ‘me’ and not (just) my cancer. It’s not all medicine and toxins. It’s also pain management, meditation, nutrition, exercise and better life choices that support my overall physical and mental health.”
Her desire for quality care drove Rebecca’s passion for the new Calgary Cancer Centre. In 2014 she took her hope to the next level — as Chair of the Patient and Family Advisory Council. She wanted the new centre to be great, and often referred to it as her “second home.”
As Chair, Rebecca’s leadership guided Alberta Health Services (AHS) on how to embed the patient and family perspective in healthcare planning and improvement. She worked directly with the AHS and Alberta Health and Alberta Infrastructure teams on how to create a healing, patient- and family-centred design and program for the new Calgary Cancer Centre, expected to open in 2023.
“I can tell you that through my experience as a Patient Advisor, I’m seeing a change, marked by the drive to build and open the new Cancer Centre. Things are changing for the better,” said Rebecca.
Rebecca’s determination shifted our cancer-care culture towards being more patient- and family-centred, specifically by brokering the conversation between other patient and family advisors and AHS leaders.
“AHS is filled with staff of all roles who want to provide the best care, and a patient-centred philosophy is gaining momentum. In my role, I’m becoming part of that change and it’s awesome to see.”
During her time as a Tom Baker Cancer Centre Patient Advisor, a member of Patient and family Advisory Council and later Chair of the Patient and Family Advisory Council, Rebecca radiated hope, helping her fellow committee members, AHS administrators and decision makers and even the cancer centre design team see the greater possibilities of what could be achieved.
“I will be filled with hope until the day I die,” said Rebecca.
“My perspective on hope has changed from time to time. On my darkest days, I focus on the hope that I will live each day to the fullest even if those days are numbered, and that I will be surrounded by love and light.”
“On my best days, I focus on the hope that I can put down my sword one day and not have to worry about cancer cells. So hope can change its focus, but it’s always important to have it there.”
Sadly, Rebecca’s cancer returned this past April, and she lost her battle on August 23, 2017.
Cathie recalls an email she received from Rebecca not long ago: “It read: ‘Cathie, you should always be hopeful. I equate hope with faith, and faith has been a cornerstone in my life. So keep up the good fight.’”
“I promise to her, I will,” says Cathie, “and when I finally look at the new Calgary Cancer Centre, I will think about all the hope she gave, and shared with us.”
During a Celebration of Life for Rebecca recently held at the Calgary Cancer Project Office, her husband Will Morlidge says he found it truly humbling to learn more about all of the work that she did.
“Rebecca was an advocate not just for individual patients but advocated for the whole cancer care system. Because of this, her legacy lives on in what she wanted the new Calgary cancer centre to be.”
Will says he’s confident the new cancer centre will be a marvel, thanks to Rebecca and the Patient and Family Advisory Council.
“We can argue that Rebecca achieved a life enhanced by her cancer diagnosis,” he says, “because of what it allowed her to give to the people around her.”
“Our hope is that the new Calgary Cancer Centre allows other people affected by cancer to do the same, and live their lives to the fullest. This will be Rebecca’s enduring legacy.”
In June, 2017, two months after Rebecca’s cancer returned, she created a video to share her cancer story. View it here.
