Hi guys and gals, I’m writing as it feels natural to do so right now. I’m in Toronto in case you didn’t know, and yesterday I had my second annual check up at Princess Margaret Hospital. It was straight forward, nothing too involved. I gave some blood first thing in the morning, waited in Clinic H, where I was an outpatient two years ago, saw Dr. Lipton who I saw for my first ever appointment up here, and then I got a quick once-over. Things are fine, but my counts are all down a little (which is something that can have many causes). It’s the first time in a long time that has happened so I’ll plan to see my doc shortly after getting home and have my blood checked again. My “MCV” (mean cell volume) is a little high as well, which is something else I’ll get checked upon my return. All said I am still feeling great, although I’ve had a real sore throat since being up here, which I’m definitely attributing to the air quality and amount of time my mom and I have spent out in it.
Dr. Lipton and I discussed return visits and I’m going to plan to return when I’m in Toronto, as opposed to making specific trips just for that appointment. The really cool part about yesterday’s hospital visit was seeing the Doctors on 14B, the Transplant Unit, and having a chat with them both (Tejpar and Loach), and I even got my transplant nurse Bridgett’s home phone number. Bridgett gave me my transplant and was my nurse a whole bunch of times during my protective isolation stay. I never got to say good-bye when I left, and I haven’t connected with her since 99, as she moved jobs. So I gave her a call yesterday and we had a great chat. I have learned how much value my presence and contact has for the many healthcare professionals who have cared for me, and yesterday was a great reminder of that. We had a great catch-up on my past two years, which you all know have been as eventful as the previous one.
Chatting with Bridgett has brought two ideas of mine back to my mind. The first is that I should absolutely create a forum for patients and healthcare professionals to socialize away from the hospital, or at least away from the work/treatment side of it. I have heard of something like this at home, but never been invited or heard much more detail than the idea itself. It is a great idea and something that is definitely missing from our current healthcare system structure.
The other thought that came back is one that I had just put out of my mind: The book that I have talked about writing for a long time. It is something that I really want to do, but as recently as several weeks ago I had decided that it was too great a commitment of time for me, and that the other items on my “To Do” list were the direction I wanted to go. Yesterday’s conversation shed light on the impact a patient’s story can have on the many stakeholders in our fight for life against cancer. Bridgett talked about a book written by a transplant patient from 14B called Lotus in the Fire and how it changed her approach to her profession. That thought has stayed with me and spurred a re-think of my own book thoughts. It isn’t something that I have ever taken off my “To Do” list, it just seemed to float up and down, and I’m sure it will find the right place at the right time and will or won’t get finished. But for today, and probably tomorrow, I’m thinking about it again.
All else is great in my world. I have completed one Challenge wrap-up, and will do one on Monday at O’Donel and then Booth later in the month. I have also begun to secure schools for this coming November, and have been received very well so far as I have solid interest/commitment from 9 of 15 target schools, 2 are “work-in-progress” and four principals I have yet to connect with. It looks very promising, and we will be delivering the Challenge across the province next year regardless of the corporate support, which I am still pursuing. The corporate support will be really nice, and will have some influence on how we deliver the program, but the reality is we are going with or without it. I definitely feel it’s most important to deliver the program consistently over the next few years, as I don’t think I’ll want to deliver the Challenge for the next 10 years. So we’ll go with what we’ve got and I know inside that we’ll continue to make the positive impact on new environments and on different lives as we expand.
I’ve also begun to seriously think through the growth and expansion plans for RealTime Cancer and I intend to have a solid strategy developed by the end of the summer. It is one of my top priorities and something that is essential if we are to fill the void in our community’s fight for life against cancer, through educating and supporting youth and young adults in their cancer challenges — which is exactly where my future plans lie.
As you know I’ll keep you updated on my plans and progress. I hope things are great in your world and you’ll hear from me again soon.
Always…
Live Life. Love Life.
Geoff
