Blood Sister Reunion - Part 2

Have you ever met a new relative for the first time? How about a new sister acquired by stem cell transplantation, who also happened to save your life? This happened last week and The Vancouver Sun and Upnorth Live from Michigan were on hand to document the joyous event.

The Vancouver Sun ran the story on the Front Page

Katie Karker flew in from Michigan with her mother-in-law Cindy and at 10 am on Wednesday May 11 in Richmond BC she strode across the hotel lobby and I embraced her. Five years earlier she had donated Stem Cells to a man in another country she had never met. Now she could meet the person she saved.

The Sun ran the video version of the story on line: Vancouver Sun

Far away in Traverse City Michigan, Kristin Lowe reported the story for the 6 o'clock TV news:

UpNorthLive

The next day was May 13. It was Katie's Birthday. It was also the date I was slated to present the keynote address to the annual convention of CSTM or the Canadian Society of Transfusion Medicine at the Bayshore Inn.

The CSTM Annual Convention attracts over 500 health care participants.

A video excerpt of the presentation:     CSTM Keynote Address

CKNW covered the story for  the Jill Bennett Show:CKNW News

                                                                                           Bayshore Birthday Brunch for Katie, hosted by family.

Sisters: Blood Sister Katie in my Right arm, Biologic Sister Michelle on my Left

My friend Jim Wright wrote about my transplant experience in the bi-weekly column in the  Richmond News ,
Digging Deep: Sisters

                        

                        Riding the Wizard Chair at Whistler.

                                       

                                                    Jade earrings & Birthday treats for Katie at Araxi's in Whistler

Remember, if you are between 18 and 35 years old, or know someone who is, you can register on line at OneMatch.ca. You too could one day save someone's life. 

Blood Sister Reunion

It has been almost a year since I last posted when I skidded into a hip fracture. The bones have healed, the bike has been replaced, and the wheels are once again rolling. Jason and Zoe both graduated from their respective universities and embarked on the next phases of their lives. I went to Greece and convalesced in the therapeutic waters of  the Aegean.

The wild side of Skopelos Island at dusk

There was a short visit to Arizona and a trek into the mystical mountains of  Sedona.

Mistletoe meets Oak in Sedona. 

The winter included celebrating Christmas with my loving family,  hitting the slopes, and building fitness.

Jason, Steve, and Zoe

 And spring is now here. At this time of renewal, five years since my diagnosis of lymphoma, it is fitting that my Bone Marrow Donor and saviour, Katie Karker, will fly in from Michigan to visit. We now share the same blood type and blood chromosomes, making her my sister by blood.

Max, Katie, and Wyatt Karcher

 Her donation and the impact it made north of the border have made her a bit of sensation in her town of Kingsley and she will be bringing the local press. Together we will present our story at the upcoming Canadian Society of Transfusion Medicine Conference in Vancouver and make our pitch for more Stem Cell donors. If you are between 18 and 35, or know someone who is, consider registering at OneMatch.ca., and give someone else a second chance at life.