Re-Entry

When one re-enters life after family death or divorce, one can crash and burn. Or one can float gently into the arms of Mother Earth, and that is how I wanted to come back after recovering from cancer. But even parachuting in, there can be an unscheduled landing on bystanders, who become casualties.

It is now three years since the bone marrow transplant that enabled stem cells from my donor to banish my lymphoma. I have gratefully returned to work in my family practice and community, and I have resumed most of the sports and activities of my former life.

I had promised myself a longer trip to Greece this year,  and I went for the month of August. After joining up with family I immersed myself in the golden light and honey taste that is Greece.

I was able to affirm life and love by connecting with my parents, my sister and her kids,  and extended family and friends.

I also spent time with my own kids, who are preparing for entry into a world without the familiarity of home and university.

Re-entry from cancer therapy is fraught with pitfalls, unexpected challenges. I came back to changed relationships and professional obligations and a temporary dip in my health. The landscape had  shifted while I was gone, and it jolted me out of my siesta and into a new focus. And that's okay.  One just needs to make space.

Though I've flown 

One hundred thousand miles,

I'm feeling very still,

 My spaceship knows which way to go.

Our commander comes back down to Earth,

and knows.

(Thanks to David Bowie, Commander Chris Hadfield, and Beth Johnson

view video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=poZCINzxzrQ)

Two Year Anniversary

"If you make it to 2 years post transplant, your risk of recurrence returns to baseline". This loaded statement from my oncologist returned today to be digested and dispelled. The past 2 years feels like a dream but I look back at the posts and pills and recall a vivid reality, and the Herculean community effort it took to bring me here today.
Much has happened since my last blog, and I will bring you up to date:

Erin and Steve at Planet Ice for R2S

In June I joined the Ride to Survive group from Maple Ridge to North Delta. The group rode 400 km from Kelowna, and has raised over 2 million dollars for Cancer Research since it started 9 years ago.

Elgin Park High School spin-athon for PAH ER

Also in June, staff and doctors participated in the Elgin Park Spinathon where the inspired students raised over $40,000 in funds for purchase of equipment for the Peace Arch Hospital Emergency.

Katie exits the "Limo"

Katie and Max

 In August my bone marrow donor, Katie Knopf married her partner Max, and we wish them well in their life together. They are going to have their hands full looking after their 8 month old son Wyatt and remodeling their home!

Remarkably, one of my sister Michelle's friends who signed up while I was ill, was just this past  week recruited to donate stem cells for someone else in need. The circle of life continues.

Zoe, me, and Jason at Perissa Beach, Greece

 Also in August we took a long awaited trip to Greece with the family. It was wonderful to connect with my parents and extended family in Athens and on the island of Skopelos, and later venture south to Mykonos and Santorini.

Zoe pours Caroline a glass of Santorini Rose at sunset

The four of us scuba diving inside the Santorini Crater

Me, Sweeney, McNeil, Ridley, Hemming, Konar

 Gwilt, Jacklin,

 Staschuk & Rogers

 This week was the 35th (whew!) anniversary of our high school graduation and chance to get together with pals from Vancouver College at Peace Portal Golf Course. Of note, I was the only non-Golfer.

Todd Hansen and the Coastal Race Club break at Esquires

At a recent Saturday ride with the Coastal Cycling Club the group toasted recovery, and lamented the recent loss of our friend Kerry White.






  Thanks to all the medical people, family, and community of friends for helping me make this milestone!

The view from Santorini at sunset

Walk With Your Doc

Time to get out those walking shoes! Friday May 10 is the World Move For Health Day, and I invite you to Walk With Your Doc, wherever you live. I will be walking on May 10 from 12:15 to 12:45 at the Centennial Oval in White Rock on 16th and 146 th in front of the Centre for Active Living, and would love to have you join me and other local doctors and citizens for a little walk around the track.  Or join your doctor elsewhere, as the whole province will be awalkin'. (more info at https://www.bcma.org/walk-with-your-doc)

On other fronts, I participated in the medical conference at Sun Peaks, where I had a bit of a ski pole mishap while I was busy taking pictures and failed to unload the chairlift in a timely manner. Check out the video below to see the whole event:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-19ZVIhEDT4

And my sister Michelle took me on a vigorous cycling trip in the Santa Monica Hills in California. I am still recovering...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8FfKnGdQi9o

 

 

And of course the kids are finishing University for the summer and heading home. It will be good to see them, in person.

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