Wendy Brebrich stayed at Sorrentino’s Compassion House in 2006 for about seven weeks, and she describes it as a bonding experience that made her stronger.
“It gave me a strength I didn’t realize I had,” she says. “When I was by myself, I internalized everything. People tried to understand what I was going through, but nobody really could.”
That changed when she arrived at Sorrentino’s Compassion House. “When you’re with a group of women — especially women — you can talk about anything,” Wendy says.
She had been diagnosed with breast cancer and underwent surgery, chemotherapy and radiation — the full gamut, as she puts it. While every person faces cancer in their own way, Wendy says the shared experience created connection. “I didn’t have to keep anything inside anymore. I could just let it out. That’s the strength that comes from being in a group.”
Loss, Another Diagnosis and Family Support
That was Wendy’s first experience with cancer. In 2022, her husband, Martin, passed away, and just as she began to heal from that loss, she was diagnosed with terminal stomach cancer.
“It stopped my life from moving forward. I felt ripped off,” she says. “But I also felt like I ripped off my family. My mom is 87, and my daughter, Skylar, is only in her late 20s.”
Wendy lives in Grande Prairie, Alberta, with her older sister, Colleen, and her mom, Carol, both of whom have faced medical challenges over the past year. “We were all in bad shape, but now my mom and Colleen are looking after me,” says Wendy. “I have a great family — it’s the most I can ask for. I know I couldn’t do this without them. The support I get is tremendous.”
Skylar takes Wendy to appointments, checks in on her, picks up prescriptions and runs errands for her grandma and aunt. Friends of both Wendy and Skylar have offered help, and Wendy’s five brothers and sisters-in-law also lend a hand. “It’s miraculous, the kind of support I’ve had,” she says.
Wendy admits she still struggles to accept help, yet it’s the advice she emphasizes most for others facing similar struggles. “For someone like me, living with terminal cancer, close friends want to be part of the journey,” she says. “And if they want to be there to the end, you have to let them share in the steps along the way.”
Her Path Takes a Turn
When Wendy first learned she had stomach cancer, doctors estimated she had 5 to 10 years to live. Initially, she felt strong and tolerated the medication, but her health eventually declined.
“I started feeling worse. The doctors changed my medication, and the side effects got worse,” she explains. “Then, tumors began to appear on my liver.”
With these new complications, doctors now estimate she may have between two and a half and seven years remaining. This news accelerated Wendy’s plans for a two-week vacation to England with Skylar this summer — part sightseeing in London, part relaxing in the countryside.
Wendy says she’s experiencing reduced mobility, and she doesn’t have the energy she once had. “If I don’t need a nap until three in the afternoon, that’s a good day. If I can go out to the rec center or shopping, that’s a big day.”
Giving with Gratitude and Leaving a Legacy
Another big day came in July when Wendy donated $5,000 to Sorrentino’s Compassion House. She’s modest about the gift but passionate about giving back to the organization that supported her during her cancer journey.
“It’s totally amazing what they’ve accomplished,” she says. “Words escape me, but it’s beautiful what they’ve done. It’s a beautiful place.”
When asked to reflect on her life and name her proudest accomplishment, Wendy doesn’t hesitate. “What brings me the most pride is the amazing woman my little girl has become — knowing that I had something to do with that fills my heart,” she says. Skylar was only nine when Wendy was diagnosed with breast cancer. “We told her the truth and didn’t sugarcoat anything. She had to grow up faster, but she’s always been strong. I think part of that strength came from treating her like a person, not just a little kid.”
When the question of legacy comes up, Wendy pauses. “I don’t really think about that,” she says, before offering some hard-earned wisdom. “I want people to remember that I never took myself too seriously. Let things roll off your back. And when times get tough, dig your heels in and move on. I’ve had a lot to deal with — and that’s what I’ve done. I’ve dug my heels in and moved on.”
