This year’s New Year’s Eve Family Benefit Dance is looking to help even more locals than in the past. Five families who have undergone trials in the past year will benefit from this year’s annual event.
Each of the families took some time to share their stories with the community.
The past year included countless hospital visits and an unexpected loss for Ally Berezanski and her family. At her 20-week ultrasound check-up in July, Berezanski discovered she was expecting twins, but complications arose and shortly after the appointment, she would lose both babies – a boy and a girl.
“It happened fast. It was a lot to deal with,” said Berezanski, as she speaks about the past six months. “I didn’t know I was carrying twins.”
Not long after, Berezanski would find herself back in the hospital, diagnosed with pancreatitis and going for surgery to remove her gallbladder. The following months would see Berezanski, who is also a mother to 10-year-old Kaily and seven-year-old Jasmine, in and out of the hospital.
Thankfully, her mom has been helping care for her two daughters when needed, and she has had the support of her partner, Chris Berlinguette. Berezanski had heard of the Family Benefit Dance, but was “shocked” to find out she was nominated this year.
“Everyone’s stories are different,” she says, adding, she believes there are likely many other families who could also use the assistance, rather than her own.
“It’s a good cause, and it’s good to know there’s support for sure,” says Berezanski.
On Oct. 15, Debra Diamond unexpectedly lost her husband, following a single vehicle accident in the Lindbergh area. Since then, Diamond says it’s been hard dealing with the loss of her husband, while also trying to simply live.
“I’m just amazed at the community support in a small town,” she says, adding, she has lives in the area for about six years now, after spending 38 years living in Calgary. “You wouldn’t hear about things like this in a big city.”
Diamond has five adult sons, and a sixth under the age of 18.
As a single dad, Adrian Dunkin has a 16-year-old son, Garrett, to support, but ongoing medical issues have affected his ability to work.
“It’s been a very hard year,” he says. “I can’t do much without getting tired too fast.”
Dunkin has congestive heart failure, blood clots in his lungs, and problems with his hips and back. He admits that when he found out he was nominated for the upcoming event, he too was shocked.
“I didn’t realized that people were being helped out like that,” he says, adding he appreciates the support from the community.
In the past year, Dunkin says he has realized how important it is to not take life for granted.
“Unexpected things come up, and life changes,” he says. Dunkin said he and his son are looking forward to attending the New Year’s Eve Benefit.
Since the birth of her oldest son, Ashley Kennedy has had to deal with ongoing medical issues in her family. Although 11-year-old Austyn is now healthy, he was born premature, explains Ashley’s sister, Sarah Kennedy. Recently, Ashley’s second son, seven-year-old Karsyn, was diagnosed with diabetes, and six-year-old Landyn has also battled medical issues, going through a bout of spinal meningitis when he was younger. Landyn is now completely deaf in one ear and seems to be going through issue after issue, says his aunt.
“It’s been battle after battle,” says Sarah.
The family was also preparing to expand this year, as Ashley and her partner were expecting a child together. But complications occurred during delivery and their baby boy, Decklyn, passed away.
Sarah says her sister has had her own medical issues to deal with along the way, most likely a result of the stress the family faces.
Throughout the year, Ashley has worked with WJS Canada, which is an organization that provides social and human services.
“She’s basically like a mother figure everywhere she goes,” says Sarah, adding, this past year has been especially hard on her sister’s family.
In August of 2013, the Stepp family expanded when Alycia and her husband Trevor decided to take guardianship of their niece and nephew, 11-year-old Rayne and nine-year-old Aries. The couple also has three children of their own.
For the past year and a half, the family has been working together to heal and take care of some medical issues, such as Aries’ cleft lip and palate, much-needed dental work for the two children, and also Rayne’s recent diagnosis of diabetes.
Alycia recalls when she heard about being nominated.
“It was really a tough day actually,” she says, explaining that she was in Edmonton attending medical appointments when her brother called to tell her. “When he told me, I was pretty emotional about it.”
Like many of the other nominees this year, Alycia says she believe there are most likely other families in the community who could also benefit from the event.
But ever since the Stepp family grew in August of 2013, the community has been there to support them. With acquaintances and friends stepping up to lend a hand or other things like clothing, “we felt really supported and loved by our family and friends.”
The New Year’s Eve Family Benefit Dance will take place on Dec. 31 at the St. Paul Rec. Centre. Tickets are now available for the event and donations are also being accepted by contacting Tammy (780) 645-1327 (days) or Lori (780) 614-0781.
All proceeds raised at the event go directly to the chosen families.
