Yin and Yang

Yin and yang are complementary forces, representing the duality of life, interacting to form a whole greater than either separate part.

 Caroline and I celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary Feb 14

Dr. Katie Weiler has agreed to stay on and share the practice, and in time take on new patients. Patients who have grown fond of Katie and her thorough and thoughtful approach, will be able to continue with her. We will cover for each other and work as complementary images of each other.

Brother Andy and I went retro, and physical,  cross country skiing at Holyburn Mountain.

Manraj Johal and I upgraded our Critical Medicine skills, feeding the intellectual.

A visit to Peace Arch Hospital meant hugs from the ER Nurses.

And a recent email and blog post from Katie Knopf, my donor in Michigan, let me know that she and Max  and their 3 month old son Wyatt are doing well.                         Yin and Yang.

Happy New Year!

What a difference a year makes! One year ago I had just been released from hospital and I was like a wounded bird perched on a precipice. Now I am learning to fly again and am enjoying every moment.

Movember beard creating the Walter White look

November marked the start of workouts at the YMCA, and the growth of a mustache and  beard in support of Prostate Cancer and Men's Mental Health awareness. No need to say the beard disappeared promptly on December 1st.

Christmas party with Caroline for Surrey/N.Delta Division of FP

 December also meant the return of Jason and Zoe from University, lots of family gatherings, and of course skiing!

Snowboarding with Jason at Cypress

Downhill skiing with Zoe at Whistler

Nordic with Caroline at Lost Lake

Visit with transplant hematologist Dr Maryse Power at VGH

December also marked a followup visit with my oncologist Dr Power, who, after extensive testing, has declared me disease-free and given me the green light to continue tapering off my medications and return to work in a couple of weeks. I will resume at Morgan Creek Family Practice working with Dr Katie Weiler and my other colleagues. Thanks again to my physicians, family and supporters for helping get me to this point! And Katie Knopf, my bone marrow donor, gave birth to her first child, baby boy Wyatt. Congratulations!

Meeting my Donor

It finally happened. This week I met the donor of the cells that saved my life. Katie is a wonderful young woman from Michigan. After chatting with her on line, I feel like I've known her all my life. It has been an emotional re-union. I will let Katie tell her story in her own words, shared with her permission. 
 

Katie and Max

"So to tell you a little about myself.  I’m from Traverse City, MI. I live in Kingsley a very small farming town outside Traverse.  I’m 30 yrs. old.  I’m engaged as of February of this year to a wonderful man, Max.  I have  two wonderful hound dogs Dozer (basset hound) and Chevy (coonhound).  We actually just was given the best gift of all this late February in finding out were having our first baby.  He is due November 23^rd the day after our Thanksgiving here in the US.  "

Chevy

  " I signed up to do bone marrow way back in high school when I found out that I have pretty rare blood type, O-.  I saved a few babies' lives at our local hospital here in Traverse City (Munson Medical Center) by doing blood transfusions for them.  I didn’t mind doing that knowing a life could be saved by just donating.  Little did I know 12 yrs later I would be called by Michigan Blood to be asked to donate bone marrow. "


Katie, you were the one person in 17 million registered donors, in the whole world,  to match my cell type. I know you had to travel not once, but twice to Grand Rapids Michigan - the one time for testing, and the other for donating, driving five hours round trip each time. And you chose the more painful and involved procedure of bone marrow harvesting because you were planning a family. Dr Power, my oncologist, said "I'm glad she did, 'cause it sure worked better in your case!"

  Katie's bone marrow cells in Michigan

The cooler packed for flight to Vancouver Canada

  " I have to tell you my mother was with me for all of this journey. When they actually took all my marrow and put it into the little cooler to be sent to you. My mother said a prayer over it for safe travel and good wishes for your recovery.  She said the whole waiting room got silent and said the prayer with her.  She said people asked her what it was for, and all she could say was it was for a very special sick person.  You wouldn’t believe the support we got from family and friends thru this whole journey.  I can’t begin to thank you enough for making me a better person.  It’s really an eye opener to know I have helped another human out there I don’t even know.  I’m so happy you’re doing well and getting back to a normal life. I hope to hear more good news for you and your family.  I’m just so happy you have plenty of more years ahead to share with all your loved ones." 

Katie, my family and I have been moved to tears by your generosity and your words.  My brother Andy said you are "truly a blood relative now". Thank you and may God bless you and your family.

                               

Re-Birthday Celebration

Larigakis family champagne toast

No One Year Re-Birthday would be complete without a joyous celebration. And as it coincided with Thanksgiving, it was a chance to give thanks to the many of the family and friends who have supported me through a difficult time. We enjoyed enjoyed warm fall sunshine, tasty food, and lively entertainment. Seeing longtime teacher and mentor Jim Wright for the first time in 20 years was a highlight. Many generous donations were made to the  RidetoSurvive and OneMatchBC. And I think I have now collected enough wine to have another party!

Noelle Dancing to Mark Ferris & the Yaletown String Quartet

A Re-birthday hug from Zoe

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

One Year Anniversary

Kitesurfers and windsurfers at Squamish

With Fall Equinox passing a couple of days ago we can celebrate the end of a great Summer and start of Fall. And what a summer it has been! With biking and swimming, and  favourite activities and almost continuous sunshine. But that is not the only thing -we are also celebrating the one year anniversary of my successful bone marrow transplant.  It has been a full year since I had radical body radiation and chemotherapy, and then had an infusion of stem cells from an anonymous donor, and crossed our fingers that it would work.
And now, my partner Martin Lebl says "You look better than you did before you got sick". " That's because I have been rejuvenated by a new bone marrow from a young woman" I replied. I have now applied to meet my donor, wherever she is in the world, and thank her in person. (don't worry, I'm not painting my toenails yet)

Me & my brother Andy cycling on the seawall

A minor setback has been the early onset of cataracts caused by the steroids used in my therapy, but I have had one cataract removed and will have the other one removed in a few weeks. I am now getting my baby shots, and planning a return to work in January.

So Fall will be a time for giving thanks to all those people - family, friends, and colleagues - who have helped me reach this point in my journey.
 Thank You!

 I raise a glass of champagne to you all!

"Summertime....

...and the ridin' is easy,  the wheels are turning, and the jerseys are high" (apologies to George Gershwin for changing his song; it was sung beautifully at the Medical Staff meeting in the summer of 2010 by Liz Varughese). Check out my favourite version of Summertime by Ella here.

Me and Jason at the finish of the Ride to Survive

On June 23 Jason and I rode 40 km from Maple Ridge to North Delta to complete the final leg of the Ride to Survive, the epic 400 km cancer fundraiser. It was so cool to be riding at the front of a group of 110 cyclists with a police escort and helicopter overhead.

Starting the hill climb sprint up Buena Vista Drive

Last weekend we attended Tour de White Rock, the end of Superweek of bike racing, showcasing local and international cycling talent.And what a great place to go for dinner and a gelato. Walking around is extra fun now that the feeling has returned to my feet!

Riding with Glen and Andrea Ward on the Delta Dyke 

Went for a nice sunset ride with the Wards and our kids along the Delta Dyke this week, with multiple sightings of eagles, herons, and rabbits.  In addition to the bike rides, I am swimming  regularly, and getting coached/treated by a physio, yoga instructor and massage therapist.

  It indeed does take a village to cure an illness.

Sunset at White Rock Pier
SUMMERTIME!

Father's Day

Chocolate Tie

My last post being Mother's Day, it is only appropriate to post again on Father's Day. I'm getting flak for not posting more often, but not too much is changing-- which I guess is good news in itself. Got my Toblerone chocolate tie which I'll break out soon. Had a wonderful Father's Day dinner at my parents place with the whole clan.

Zoe and "rebirth"

My daughter Zoe decided to mark my recovery with a tattoo on her shoulder in Greek: "ANAGENNISI", meaning "rebirth". I was certainly moved.


Next Saturday June 23 is the Ride to Survive and I hope to ride in the last 30 km with the group to cheer them on to complete their 400 km ride for Cancer Research. It will end at Cap's Cycles on Scott Road at about 10 pm after starting at 3 am the same day in Kelowna. To find out more or to donate go to www.ride2survive.ca/

Many others rode this past weekend to Seattle in the Ride to Conquer Cancer, and I congratulate you. And as always I am grateful for everyone's support and patience.