As Aurilla Ripley prepared for her day, she felt a small, hard lump in her breast. A wave of fear washed over her; her mind started racing with all the chilling possibilities. The next thing she knew, she found herself in her doctor’s office, being told the words no one ever wants to hear: breast cancer.
But Aurilla’s intuition told her something else was wrong. She had been feeling unusually exhausted for months. She urged her doctors to check her heart before proceeding with the cancer treatment. After running some tests, her cardiologist, Dr. Michael Ward, confirmed her suspicions. He diagnosed her with a genetic heart condition that made it difficult for her heart to beat properly.
“He decided it wasn’t safe to have the operation for the cancer until he had resolved the problem with my heart,” she recalls.
Aurilla underwent an alcohol septal ablation, a procedure to correct an obstruction in her heart, and later received a pacemaker to fix a heart rhythm abnormality. Once her heart was stabilized, she underwent surgery to remove the cancer, narrowly beating the pandemic lockdowns. Chemotherapy and radiation became her new normal, but today, she is proudly cancer-free.
Through it all, Aurilla's kindness and commitment never wavered. She was so determined to return to helping others that one doctor described her as “feisty”—a description she wears with pride. Having spent 35 years as a beloved teacher, her career was marked by a dedication to not only educating but also inspiring her students to care for others.
Years before her cancer diagnosis, a seemingly small request from a school custodian had sparked a movement that would change countless lives. The custodian’s four-year-old child needed a wheelchair, an expense the family couldn’t afford. Aurilla mobilized her class, then the entire school and eventually over 300 schools across Southwestern Ontario to collect pop can tabs. The aluminum from these tabs, once recycled, helps fund wheelchairs for children in need. The initiative spread like wildfire, encompassing churches, businesses and service organizations. Over time, she even earned herself the nickname "The Pop Tab Lady."
"We started out with 30 bags, each weighing 40 to 50 pounds and I thought that was great. Now we're up to 80 bags, weighing about one tonne (three or four times a year), " she shares with a smile.
Last year alone, her initiative funded five wheelchairs for children all over the world, enabling them to experience life in ways they previously couldn't. As of June 2024, they have paid for 61 wheelchairs. Recently, she was invited back to a church in Granton, where every ten years, new members hear about the pop tab initiative. Seeing their enthusiasm and knowing that her efforts continue to inspire is incredibly rewarding.
Reflecting on her medical journey, Aurilla is grateful for the support of her medical team, family and faith. Her children have inherited the spirit of giving, and she continuously sees them carrying on the legacy of kindness. As a proud mother of four, grandmother of five and great grandmother of one—family is her greatest treasure.
Drawing from her experiences, Aurilla offers this heartfelt advice: take care of your health, stay active and try to give back whenever you can.
"Ultimately, helping others will help yourself."
All patients with Aurilla's heart condition will require a cardiac MRI to receive the appropriate treatment. Unfortunately, the wait times for this scan often exceed a year, posing significant risks to their health. Donations can help improve access to essential equipment, like cardiac MRI machines, reducing these long delays and ensuring timely treatment for those in need.
DOUBLE your impact this holiday season to help patients like Aurilla!
Thanks to a special limited-time matching gift from CIBC Private Wealth — up to a maximum of $25,000 — your gift will have 2X the impact on exceptional patient care, when you give by December 31, 2024.