Inside the Glass
Celebrating Everyday Women
The Spirit & Philosophy of “I can”
Because of the amazing support for the programs we have in our community, I have been able to persevere in life's challenges. Always know that your support of these programs are what has enabled many women like myself to rise above, find strength and determination, and to succeed.
Because of you “we can”
I have come close to giving up twice in my life, the last time I almost did.
I, like so many others, became pregnant at 18 and found that “love” at 18, really only goes so far, and I was alone. It is amazing what we are capable of enduring until we have someone to protect. Being dangerously underweight, I was diagnosed a high risk pregnancy, with frequent warnings of having a special needs child, along with several recommendations to terminate my pregnancy ,I did not waiver. I had a beautiful baby girl in August 2001. I thought I missed a bullet.
Alone, and with only my will to succeed, I began my search for help, and after 6 months of dragging a baby to appointments and interviews for education grants to no avail; I gave up. I finally found my way to BGS and applied for a grant. I was approved shortly after, and attended technical college and became an aesthetician.
I am forever grateful to BGS for showing me that “I can”
As an aesthetician, I was honored to meet some of the strongest ,most impactful women in my life that to this day I remain overwhelming grateful to.
Over the years, I was pushed harder then I ever thought I could possibly take. From nights of snuggling in bed with my daughter in our winter attire because I could barely pay the heating bill; teddy bear Christmas trees and carpet picnics , as well as the ever memorable “fridge fairy” called mom that would turn up and load our cupboards with food. Working multiple jobs , sometimes 18 hours a day, I was determined.
I promised myself by 25 I would own my very own home. Living pay check to pay check in subsidized housing, I spent the next 6 years showing the world that doubted me what I could do. Two weeks before my 26th birthday, I finalized the purchase of my first home.
I pushed myself to the breaking point and in the spring of 2009, after losing my job in a downturn for two months, my body started to give in on me. I was strongly warned by my doctor to stop the stress I was inflicting to myself before the damage was irreparable. But I had promised myself and my daughter a brighter future, and so I refused to give up.
Shortly after I was given an amazing job opportunity which helped my career development and aspirations for years to come.
I met my husband and was married in the Fall of 2011. Life started to look brighter, and I started to believe I was going to make it. I was no longer taking on the world alone. We welcomed our son in June 2012.
Through dedication to each other, and our family, we continue to make an amazing team.
In the spring of 2018, I finally gave up. I had nothing left.
After years of struggling to the point of unbearable with our daughter, having her hearing corrected after spending 9 years with 33% hearing loss, constant illness and what I believed was a “flare for the dramatics” at 16 years old she left home. For the first time in my life, my mother was not there to remind me that “we do not cry in this family” because apparently we do.
I spent months as a ghost, barely holding onto my own sanity, in silence. I walked away from my career and watched my family fall apart with me. After being hospitalized twice for having a heart rate of 198 bpm, my doctor sternly told me I was lucky I wasn’t dead. I wasn’t dead, but I was barely hanging on.
This time it was my husband who reminded me, that I couldn’t give up. That , that was not who he married.
I found my fight again and spent the next 18 months in my own personal hell, looking for help and trying to navigate our mental health system. My family going through hell with me. That bullet I thought I missed so many years ago, finally hit home. The one prophecy in my life I had so desperately wanted to prove wrong, was not in my power to change
Through strength, perseverance and determination she is home and on her way to a brighter tomorrow. I am eternally grateful to our community support systems for their help and kind hearts. I could not have overcame the challenges I have been faced, and continue to face without them.
Because of you “I could” , because of you my daughter “can” and now after 18 years it is my turn to do my part, and show my support in the spirit of “I can” by Celebrating the Every Day Women who have, and are, doing all they can.
Sincerely,
Shannon Roche
Acknowledgements
A special thank you:
To my mother, for pushing me when I thought I had nothing left
To my husband, who stands by my side as an amazing partner, friend, and father to our children. I could not have done it without you.
To Fran Vogel and Dianne Goodwin, for being my inspiration and mentors more then they will ever know. Tow home I have named by business after in their honour and the belief that we can all be Divine & Free.
To Paul Donahue, Marcel Lozinsky and Alex MacAusland for seeing the potential in me that I couldn’t see myself.
To all my dearest friends who have seen passed the façade and have known that I was not ok.
Community Acknowledgements
BGS Enterprises
Alberta Learners Income Support
Alberta Victim Services
St. Albert Community & Social Services
Home Ed Housing
Child Psychiatry Association of Edmonton
Alberta Income Support for the Severely Handicapped
If you are interested in sponsoring this event, please contact Shannon Roche at [email protected]
Because of you “we can”
I have come close to giving up twice in my life, the last time I almost did.
I, like so many others, became pregnant at 18 and found that “love” at 18, really only goes so far, and I was alone. It is amazing what we are capable of enduring until we have someone to protect. Being dangerously underweight, I was diagnosed a high risk pregnancy, with frequent warnings of having a special needs child, along with several recommendations to terminate my pregnancy ,I did not waiver. I had a beautiful baby girl in August 2001. I thought I missed a bullet.
Alone, and with only my will to succeed, I began my search for help, and after 6 months of dragging a baby to appointments and interviews for education grants to no avail; I gave up. I finally found my way to BGS and applied for a grant. I was approved shortly after, and attended technical college and became an aesthetician.
I am forever grateful to BGS for showing me that “I can”
As an aesthetician, I was honored to meet some of the strongest ,most impactful women in my life that to this day I remain overwhelming grateful to.
Over the years, I was pushed harder then I ever thought I could possibly take. From nights of snuggling in bed with my daughter in our winter attire because I could barely pay the heating bill; teddy bear Christmas trees and carpet picnics , as well as the ever memorable “fridge fairy” called mom that would turn up and load our cupboards with food. Working multiple jobs , sometimes 18 hours a day, I was determined.
I promised myself by 25 I would own my very own home. Living pay check to pay check in subsidized housing, I spent the next 6 years showing the world that doubted me what I could do. Two weeks before my 26th birthday, I finalized the purchase of my first home.
I pushed myself to the breaking point and in the spring of 2009, after losing my job in a downturn for two months, my body started to give in on me. I was strongly warned by my doctor to stop the stress I was inflicting to myself before the damage was irreparable. But I had promised myself and my daughter a brighter future, and so I refused to give up.
Shortly after I was given an amazing job opportunity which helped my career development and aspirations for years to come.
I met my husband and was married in the Fall of 2011. Life started to look brighter, and I started to believe I was going to make it. I was no longer taking on the world alone. We welcomed our son in June 2012.
Through dedication to each other, and our family, we continue to make an amazing team.
In the spring of 2018, I finally gave up. I had nothing left.
After years of struggling to the point of unbearable with our daughter, having her hearing corrected after spending 9 years with 33% hearing loss, constant illness and what I believed was a “flare for the dramatics” at 16 years old she left home. For the first time in my life, my mother was not there to remind me that “we do not cry in this family” because apparently we do.
I spent months as a ghost, barely holding onto my own sanity, in silence. I walked away from my career and watched my family fall apart with me. After being hospitalized twice for having a heart rate of 198 bpm, my doctor sternly told me I was lucky I wasn’t dead. I wasn’t dead, but I was barely hanging on.
This time it was my husband who reminded me, that I couldn’t give up. That , that was not who he married.
I found my fight again and spent the next 18 months in my own personal hell, looking for help and trying to navigate our mental health system. My family going through hell with me. That bullet I thought I missed so many years ago, finally hit home. The one prophecy in my life I had so desperately wanted to prove wrong, was not in my power to change
Through strength, perseverance and determination she is home and on her way to a brighter tomorrow. I am eternally grateful to our community support systems for their help and kind hearts. I could not have overcame the challenges I have been faced, and continue to face without them.
Because of you “I could” , because of you my daughter “can” and now after 18 years it is my turn to do my part, and show my support in the spirit of “I can” by Celebrating the Every Day Women who have, and are, doing all they can.
Sincerely,
Shannon Roche
Acknowledgements
A special thank you:
To my mother, for pushing me when I thought I had nothing left
To my husband, who stands by my side as an amazing partner, friend, and father to our children. I could not have done it without you.
To Fran Vogel and Dianne Goodwin, for being my inspiration and mentors more then they will ever know. Tow home I have named by business after in their honour and the belief that we can all be Divine & Free.
To Paul Donahue, Marcel Lozinsky and Alex MacAusland for seeing the potential in me that I couldn’t see myself.
To all my dearest friends who have seen passed the façade and have known that I was not ok.
Community Acknowledgements
BGS Enterprises
Alberta Learners Income Support
Alberta Victim Services
St. Albert Community & Social Services
Home Ed Housing
Child Psychiatry Association of Edmonton
Alberta Income Support for the Severely Handicapped
If you are interested in sponsoring this event, please contact Shannon Roche at [email protected]