Fall of 2014, I continued to feel like I had a recurring flu. Stresses in my life were very high at the time, but didn't stop me from operating my small, but very busy, welding business.
Finally in January of 2015 I went to see my small town doctor who sent me to a lab for bloodwork etc. Two hours later my doctor called me at home. She asked me if I was sitting down, which I found odd. I was, and asked what was going on? She asked me twice more if I was seated in a chair and informed me that I needed to pack a small bag of essentials and return to hospital immediately. She then informed me that my bloodwork showed signs of leukemia and she had arrangements for me to be medi-vacced to Vancouver General Hospital to find out what was wrong with me.
My entire life changed in an instant with me and cancer in the same sentence. Scared out of my wits. Pokes and prods proved I had acute myeloid leukemia and treatment would begin immediately. 32 days of quarantine, chemotherapy, bags and bags of blood products and whatever else the amazing staff was putting in me to keep me alive. So much happening, so fast, it's hard to put it all in order.
My quarantine and treatment ended and I was released from VGH as outpatient. Two weeks later, I was re-admitted in very bad shape. Again, lots of work to keep me alive. Major heart problems, fungal pneumonia in both lungs, 40+ fevers and rash from bald head to toes. No food or water for 9 days, and I was in hospital for another 13 days after that.
I had many more blood transfusions during the remainder of treatment, over six months. I'd estimate 35-40 bags of blood products from selfless donors that I can never thank enough. I can't donate blood anymore, but I would if I could.
Not done yet, you ready?
In 2020 I was diagnosed with stage 4 colon and liver cancer. Surgery and six months of chemo fixed that. Tough go, but I made it again.
Then in January 2022 three small tumors were discovered in my lungs. They're gone too, thanks to radiation treatment I received as part of a clinical trial led by Dr. Robert Olson at the cancer centre in Prince George. Two years cancer-free again. Forever grateful.
