Amy’s House renovation adds to comfortable respite for cancer patients

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Cancer is hard enough.

That’s one message put forward by Amy’s House and a large part in why it provides free accommodation to cancer patients who need to travel more than 150 kilometres to get treatment in Edmonton. It’s also why a team of BILD Edmonton Metro volunteers paid it forward with a quick, condensed renovation project earlier this month, one that should make a difference in people’s lives for years to come.

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“Our renovators play a critical role in building and beautifying homes for people to live (in),” said Kalen Anderson, CEO of BILD Edmonton Metro, the voice of greater Edmonton’s real estate development industry. “In three short days, they have helped to retrofit and transform a space in need. We are so appreciative of their volunteerism and are grateful of the work they do each and every day across the Edmonton metro region.”

More than 100 volunteers worked to transform an unfinished basement that was nowhere near what was needed — there was an old bathroom, a bit of carpet on the floor acting as an impromptu toy room, and not much more. Meanwhile, ceiling tiles were falling down. But in just over a 72-hour period, the team of BILD volunteers, with donations of lumber, cabinetry, flooring and more, transformed the space of about 500 square feet into an area families will be able to enjoy while their loved ones stay upstairs during the time they need to spend in Edmonton for their cancer treatments.

“Normally, this would take about a month to do with just a few people at a time working in that space,” said Carlee Krec, an interior designer with Aquarian Renovations and co-chair the BILD renovation project with Chris Laxdal, general manager of Kitchen Craft Edmonton.

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“The stress of being away from home during a difficult time is something we can help alleviate by updating and replacing items in their space to make the experience more comfortable for the entire family,” added Krec.

Amy’s Dream

Amy’s House has become a home away from home for patients needing to come to Edmonton for their cancer treatments. Located on 109th Street, not far from Kingsway Mall, this older, small, one-storey single-family home has served as a safe, comfortable environment not only for cancer patients but their families as well.

It was Amy Alain’s wish — a triathlete and fitness instructor who worked to dispel the myth that lung cancer only affects smokers; she died in 2019 of the disease — to create a home where cancer patients could stay while undergoing their treatments as she had often spoken to fellow patients who had to endure long, exhausting drives for radiation or chemotherapy that only further taxed their health, said Trina Alain, the guest services co-ordinator for Amy’s House and her former sister-in law.

“This was her dream,” said Trina. “She really wanted to open this.”

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When Amy’s House opened in September 2019, it quickly filled a void for cancer patients coming to Edmonton. Even with a second small, single-family home added next door in May last year, Trina said she unfortunately has to, at times, turn away people needing a place to stay. Those people come from all over including northern Alberta, and even Saskatchewan.

They can stay for extended periods — at no cost, save for a damage deposit — like the five to six weeks needed for their treatments, or there was in one instance a patient who would stay one week a month over a two-year period. In some cases, staying at Amy’s House saved them from the potential of financial ruin or avoiding the need to take out a second mortgage on their home so that they could afford to stay at an Edmonton hotel for extended stays to complete their treatments.

The Reveal

While cancer patients and their families — Trina said it’s not uncommon for the patient and extended
families including grandchildren to live in the home, or to celebrate holidays like Thanksgiving there — will continue to reside on the main floor, the renovated basement will provide needed extra space and storage.

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Entering the basement, people will no longer see the home’s mechanical equipment front and centre; they’re now in a framed-in space. The existing bathroom got a refresh including new fixtures, the laundry room got a refresh, there was a facelift for the fireplace and new furniture and cabinetry was added while a renovated family room becomes a focal point giving the home a new gathering spot.

To make sure the work was done in the short timeline, shiplap and wall panelling were worked into the plans for the project, cutting down on the time needed if only drywall was used.

“We couldn’t fathom doing this ourselves,” said Trina, in thanking BILD Edmonton Metro for the renovation. Find out more about Amy’s House at amyshouse.ca.

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