Laura’s Cheering Squad!

Starting since I was 16 years of age, my family had to face 2 cases of cancer in one year. My mom was Stage 3 breast cancer (ductal and lobular - the latter is the more aggressive form of estrogen dependent carcinoma) October 1986 and then my sister Kathryn with osteogenic sarcoma in her left humerus (same type of cancer Canadian hero Terry Fox had in his leg) just 9 months later - July 1, 1987. Though they saved her arm, the cancer back about 1.5 years later; this time not only was in found within a hematoma in her left arm but there were “hot spots” of cancer found at her T9 of her spine. She was the 5th person in Canada to have part of her vertebrae removed (bottom of T8, all of T9 and top of T10 and reconstructed with floating ribs, bone grafts from her hip and rods and screws to keep everything in place). Then in 1994, my family’s life changed forever with the sudden death by her own hands. We don’t know really why and could only make assumptions of what could have lead to her decision. Either way, her loss has been devastating for me, my family and all those who loved her. Of course, feeling caught in middle of my parents divorce. Coping with grief and being supportive to my parents was at times  overwhelming as you could imagine. Things were going fine and then I decided to spread my wings and moved to Calgary in 2005. Having opportunities professionally to expand my comfort zone as well as increase my knowledge as a coding specialist and having a leadership role in data collection within the Health Records Department. Dealing with bullying by managers in workplace. Then September 10, 2016 - my life was given another devastating blow which has changed my life forever. I was diagnosed with a severe case of Guillian Barre Syndrome (GBS) with the severe variant Acute Motor Sensory Neuropathy (AMSAN) along with autonomic dysfunctions of the body (respiratory failure needing 10-11 months on a mechanical ventilator; diaphragm dysfunction making my respiratory outcome difficult to achieve; neurogenic bladder and bowel (basic both systems have been impacted by my nerve damage from GBS) and complete paralysis. This disease have left me has functional quadriplegic with limited movement in my limbs but requiring total care, living in a nursing home. 

What point am I trying to make on the above paragraph? It’s this. No matter what I have to had to face there are still blessings in my life. The good and bad times always go hand in hand - it is how we deal with those challenges and who are surrounding you will determine the final outcome. I have always said - if I have my “3Fs”, I can get through anything. So true. With my family, friends and my faith, it has gotten me to where I am today. When I awoke in ICU with tracheostomy and not able to communicate, it were the notes/cards of encouragement from those around me and colleagues that got me through that year in ICU. At times the kind words I receive from others feel overwhelming at times, but I am grateful for it. It definitely has been a learning curve accepting my body and the limitations it is giving me right now. With this disease, there no known cure and everyone’s journey seems different on how they heal - some have mild cases or severe cases like me. Some recovery times are just mere months, some could be years or possibly never recover. Trying to accept my life as a quadriplegic is definitely a tough pill to swallow when I look ahead too far - 10, 20 years! Trying to stay more positive than negative helps in my healing too. Plus what gives me joy and what is truly important to me. If my life hasn’t shown me already, life is precious and can change in an instant. You become to learn what is more important in your life. 

I call my family, friends and colleagues “Laura’s Cheering Squad”. Below are just a few of those people in my Squad. They all have given me just what I needed to feel positive again; feeling encouraged that I am putting things in place to bring back quality in my life; the simple action of a smile or hugs or hearing you are loved - means the world to me. To my friends’ children who I been blessed to being their “Auntie Laura” - you are all special to me. I love you very much.