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The Living ProofCanadian Transplant Association www.organ-donation-works.org
Calling All Athletes!
2012 Canadian Transplant Games
Hockey Dream
Trevor Umlah’s Hockey Dream
NOTDAW 2011
Events from Across Canada
Issue #34 Summer 2011
President - David [email protected]
Vice-President West - Margaret [email protected]
Vice-President East
Treasurer - Debbie [email protected]
Secretary - Kathy [email protected]
Membership Director - Neil [email protected]
Team Manager - Heather [email protected]
WTGF Councillor - Heather [email protected]
REGioNaL DiRECToRS
BC - Margaret [email protected]
aB - Jennifer [email protected]
SK - orest [email protected]
oN - Rob [email protected]
QC - Gaston [email protected]
NB - Mark [email protected]
NS - Trevor [email protected]
Inside This Issue ...President’s Corner ...................................................................................... 3
Dwight Kroening to Compete in the Ford Ironman Triathlon ............................................................................ 3
Calling All Transplant Recipients ........................................................ 4
Blair Gears Up to Fight Cystic Fibrosis ............................................ 4
World Transplant Games ........................................................................ 5
Announcements ......................................................................................... 5
Hockey Dream ............................................................................................. 6
A Legacy Lives On .................................................................................... 6
Halifax Hockey ............................................................................................ 7
NOTDAW Alberta ...................................................................................... 7
Transplant Trot, London, Ontario ........................................................ 8
Transplant Trot, Vancouver, BC ............................................................ 8
Student & Teacher Join Forces to Tell Their Story ....................... 9
In Memorium: Jennie Diment ............................................................... 10
In Memorium: Leslie Maureen Petter ................................................ 11
In Memorium: Mackenzie Queen ......................................................... 11
MEMBERSHIP FEES
One Year Individual Membership $30.00
Two Year Individual Membership $50.00
Lifetime Individual Membership $300.00
One Year Family Membership $75.00
A family membership will include all related adults and children who live at the same address.
Neil Folkins, Membership Director, c/o 11649 St Albert Trail NW, Edmonton, AB T5M 3L6
Do you have any articles or pictures to submit to the Living Proof newsletter?
If so, please forward to: Jennifer at [email protected]. The deadline for
the next edition is August 31, 2011. Articles should be in Word doc or docx format
(300 words or less) and pictures as high resolution jpg files.
For regional reports and other interesting articles check out “The Members
Corner” on our website www.organ-donation-works.org (under About CTA).
An electronic edition of the newsletter will be available in between two
hard copy editions per year. If you have any concerns please contact CTA
at 1-877-779-5991.
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Hello Everyone,
It’s June 2011 and only a few more days before the Opening Ceremonies of the 18th World Transplant Games in Goteburg, Sweden. I am thinking about the excitement and butterflies being felt by the participants joining Team Canada for the first time this year. It has been ten years since I registered for my first World Transplant Games in Kobe, Japan. I remember the excitement of competition, the camaraderie both within and between teams and all of the special friendships that began there. It is a place where transplant recipients from around the world join together to celebrate life in an environment that fills your heart and soul with emotions that you won’t find anywhere else. I look forward, again, to sharing this amazing experience with all of our new teammates and with the veterans who’ve been there before.
Couldn’t make it to Sweden this year? Don’t worry... we are very excited to announce that plans are underway to host the 6th Canadian Transplant Games in Calgary, Alberta from July 16th–22nd, 2012. These Games promise to be especially memorable since 2012 marks the 25th anniversary of the CTA and they will be held immediately following the 100th celebration of the world famous Calgary Stampede. We are working on accommodation sites and sporting venues and other attractions throughout the city, and will keep you up to date with information as it becomes available. Save the dates and plan to whoop it up at the Stampede, stay on for the Games and enjoy an unforgettable experience in Canada’s Rocky Mountain playground. Watch upcoming issues of Living Proof and the CTA website for details.
For anyone interested in hosting future Canadian Transplant Games, I am pleased to announce that the official Bid Proposal document has now been completed and is available upon request. The package will help potential hosts understand the requirements needed to host a major event of this size and walk you through the process of preparing a bid to submit to the National Board for review. I look forward to hearing from interested parties from across the country. We hope to announce the successful site for 2014 at the closing of the Games in Calgary.
I wish you all the best this summer, and hope to see you at the games or other awareness activities in the near future.
Take care and Enjoy Life,
Dave
Dwight Kroening to Compete in the Ford Ironman Triathlon
Celebrating the 25th anniversary of his heart transplant, Alberta triathlete Dwight Kroening will compete in the Ford Ironman Triathlon in Phoenix, Arizona, November 20, 2011. To follow Dwight’s training schedule and “warm-up” events or to sponsor one of his races, see www.hearttransplanttriathlete.blogspot.com or Google Heart Transplant Ironman 2. See September’s issue for more of Dwight’s story.
President’s CornerWritten by David Smith, Kidney Recipient, Edmonton, AB
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The CTA is thrilled to invite all transplant recipients, family and friends to join us in Calgary July 16–22, 2012 for the 6th Canadian Transplant Games.
These Games may just be our most exciting yet...
• 2012marksthe25thanniversaryof the Canadian Transplant Association
• ourGameswill“ridethewave”ofinternational media attention the Centennial Stampede celebration will bring to Calgary July 6–15
• weexpecttohostmanymore of our American friends this year since their own Games have been suspended for 2012
• “For20years,”saysNationalKidneyFoundation CEO John Davis, “the NKF U.S. Transplant Games have educated the public about the life-saving power of organ donation and dramatically demonstrated that those with transplants can and do lead normal and active lives. But the
Games represent a multi-million dollar expense for the foundation... and a significant commitment of staff resources. Now... we will re-examine the format and financial structure of the Games to achieve maximum impact and to ensure sustainability going forward.”
As always, we will be hosting athletic competition in all age categories for track & field athletics, swimming, tennis, table tennis, badminton, speed walking, 5/10 pin bowling, lawn bowl, golf and group events including volleyball and the coveted east-versus-west Canada Cup. When our team returns from the World Transplant Games in Sweden, planning will continue “full steam ahead” so stay tuned to the CTA website at www.organ-donation-works.org for up-to-the-minute details. We expect to offer on-line registration for both participants and volunteers this year. The CTA Executive remains committed to keeping personal expenses to a minimum to help ensure that finances don’t keep anyone away.
Don’t be disappointed! Be sure to save the dates, watch for registration to open and get your name in early. Calgary is famous for its Western hospitality and they can’t wait to welcome transplant recipients to their city to compete in this exciting event — a chance to show the world that organ donation really does work; a chance to honour and recognize the donors and donor families; a chance to make memories that will last a lifetime.
SEE YOU IN 2012!!
Calling All Transplant Recipients
Eight months ago, Blair Smith sat in a waiting room feeling tired, nervous and helpless as his wife, Sandra, underwent double lung transplant surgery to replace her own lungs ravaged by 30 years of Cystic Fibrosis. Now Sandra is back home playing field hockey again and enjoying long walks with her dog, Whiskey. Blair has been busy too, training every spare moment to participate in the 1200-kilometer Gear Up 4 CF bicycle ride from Calgary to Vancouver June 18 to 26. Blair is not an experienced long-distance rider but the trek through three BC mountain ranges is important to him to raise awareness and understanding about CF. Although Sandra will remain on
a regime of medications to protect her new lungs and to manage her CF, it’s nothing like the years of hospital stays, chest physiotherapy and countless oxygen tanks. Sandra is excited to see Blair spending time on something besides taking care of her. They both know the importance of drawing attention to the battle to beat Cystic Fibrosis and the need to raise awareness for organ donation. Sandra reminds us it’s critical to talk to your family about your wishes to be an organ donor since “they get the final say”. Good Luck, Blair!
Adapted from story and pictures by Terence Leung, Calgary Herald “Neighbours”
Blair Gears Up to Fight Cystic Fibrosis
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At the date of publication of this edition of the Living Proof newsletter, the World Transplant Games in Goteborg, Sweden (June 17–24, 2011) will be over but, for now, they are still eagerly anticipated by our 40-member Team Canada participants. Among those joining the Team for the first time, I would like to extend a warm welcome to newlyweds David and Tanya Cervi.
The people of Goteborg are eager to show us their generosity and warm hearts. They have a special welcome arranged for the children. With the Mayflower Organization, they are going to have the opportunity to meet Swedish children and participate in special activities. Who knows what life-long friendships will be formed? One of the proudest moments for the Swedish Planning Committee was to announce that Prince Daniel would be a Royal Patron of the Games and would attend the opening ceremonies. Prince Daniel is a kidney recipient and understands the benefits of raising public awareness about organ donation and
transplantation and the potential impact on Sweden’s donor rate by hosting the Games.
Donor appreciation activities are always an important aspect of the World Transplant Games. This year there will be an interreligious manifestation with participation of all major religions in the Cathedral of Goteborg. A tree will be planted in memory of all those living and deceased donors who, by giving of themselves, gave others the option of a good life.
Transplant recipients are the benefactors of research conducted around the world in the field of transplantation, whether it relates to the medications we take daily, the surgery that allowed us to receive our new organs or other treatments we needed prior to or since our transplant. A group from Switzerland plan to take this opportunity to utilize the gathering of athletes at the Games to conduct new research. Please check the 2011 Games web site for details of the study that will be conducted. I want to personally thank two Canadian athletes who have volunteered to participate.
CTA Regional Director for Ontario, Rob Kolatschek, is pleased to announce the arrival of baby daughter, Norah, on Easter Sunday, April 24, 2011. Mom, Mae, and baby spent a few days at the beautiful new Women’s College at Sunnybrook while Dad got to play ‘king of the house’ and shuttle back and forth with big brother Mateo. Rob tells Living Proof, “That she was born during National Organ and Tissue Donation Awareness Week makes it all the more special to us and reinforces the wonderful gift of life that families continue to make during their own trying times.”
Mark Black, heart/double-lung transplant recipient 2002 and CTA Director for New Brunswick is excited to announce the birth of his second child, Matteo William Francis Black. Matteo was born on May 13th, 2011 to Mark and his wife, Marise. The proud parents also have a beautiful 3-year old daughter Emma. Baby, Mom, Dad and big sister are all well and could not be more pleased.
Athletes Supporters
Ronny Antonroy Selvadurai
Antonroy
Ivo Babic Susi Babic
David Cervi Tanya Cervi
Mervin Chen
Aron Cleugh Karyn Cleugh
Joe Danis Carol Danis
Louise Delisle
Neil Folkins
John Frias John, Catherine,
Jacob, Emilia,
Joel Frias
Sandra Holdsworth
John Hols Grace Hols
Lloyd Mangahas Rose Mangahas
Janos Nagy
Scott Ouellette Amy, Wayne,
Sue Ouellette
Lyne Pelletier Christiane Varin
Robert Rogerson
Robert Sallows Craig Sallows
David Smith
Kimberly Stahlbaum
Marianne Thistle Dean Thistle
Lance Tyszka
Heather Fisher
Announcements
Congratulations to both our proud fathers from all your CTA friends and ‘family’.
World Transplant GamesWritten By Heather Fisher
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Anyone who has undergone an organ transplant or is still on a waiting list knows what it’s like to anxiously await “the call”. For four years, I waited to hear the words, “Mr. Umlah, we have located a potential donor for you. Please make your way to Toronto General Hospital immediately.” On August 7, 2007, after 39 years of declining health due to Cystic Fibrosis, I received the gift of life — a new set of lungs. From that moment, I focused on my recovery and on making my second chance at life an extraordinary one.
I never dreamed that I would be able to play hockey again but, six months later, I decided to ask my transplant doctor if I could return to my position as goalie. To my surprise, he answered, “Absolutely, but wear a good chest protector.” Three days later and 17 seconds into my first game, I took a slap shot directly to my rebuilt sternum that felt harder and more direct than any I’ve faced in 200 games since. My chest protector and my titanium wires proved to be more than
adequate. We lost that game 7-1, but I felt like I had won the Stanley Cup and an Olympic gold medal... I had cleared another major hurdle!
In May of this year, I received another “call”. This time it was from the Elmira Jackals of the East Coast Hockey League, long-time supporters of organ donation. “Trevor”, they said, “we would be more than happy to have you at the Pro Placement Camp in September.” Does this begin my road to professional hockey stardom? I will be 43 years old when I step on the ice at the hockey camp — the same age as Gordie Howe when he first retired from the NHL in 1971 after nearly 1700 regular season games. He made a successful comeback playing 7 more seasons before retiring at the age of 52.
Clearly, I AM NO GORDIE HOWE. And I do not intend to embarrass myself or the Elmira Jackals. My goal is not about making the team, but to demonstrate the quality of life that can be achieved after a transplant. If, because of my story, one person registers themselves as an organ/tissue donor; or one person with end-stage organ failure accepts a transplant; if someone with a loved one in the gravest of situations decides in favour of organ donation; or one kid with Cystic Fibrosis finds hope in my success, I will have accomplished my goal.
I am blogging about my progress over the summer leading up to the Jackals’ camp on September 2, 2011. Please check in every now and then to see how I am doing.
http://www.lifepassiton.ca/pink-lungs-blue-ice-blog.html
Hockey DreamWritten By Trevor Umlah
On Saturday, June 4, 2011, the Mercier Family hosted the 2nd Annual Family & Friends Barbeque and Picnic in Fish Creek Provincial Park, Calgary. Lorne Mercier became a double-lung transplant recipient in December of 1999 and was soon interested in the Canadian Transplant Association and its mission to improve organ donation awareness. He inspired transplant awareness events in Calgary in 2008 and 2009. Sadly Lorne passed away in 2010, but his daughters Shauna Rivait, Tina Mercier and I continue to bring together family and friends to reaffirm that passion for the cause. Each year transplant recipients, transplant candidates still waiting, family and friends gather to promote friendship and support and to renew our commitment to organ donation awareness. This year more than 60 people braved the chilly spring day to enjoy a meal, play some games and celebrate the legacy Lorne Mercier has left in our hands!
A Legacy Lives OnWritten By Lisa Gress
NOTDAW 2011
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NOTDAW 2011
Members of the Canadian Transplant Association and Life: Pass It On Transplant Society celebrated NOTDAW with our second annual Organ and Tissue Awareness Hockey Game held at the Halifax Forum Civic Center on Sunday, April 17, 2011. More than 400 fans came out to support the event, the players and this worthy cause. TEAM RECIPIENT pulled off a 3-2 victory over TEAM DONOR with a late third period goal to bring home the BANCO MANAGEMENT CUP.
Fans were presented with a CTA bag filled with prizes and information on organ donation and transplantation. The bag also included a green light bulb for our new Porch Light Campaign — a project to raise public awareness by displaying green porch lights during NOTDAW. 50/50 tickets were sold during the game and 2 tickets to anywhere in Air Canada’s North America were raffled. Congratulations to Robert Watt, the grand prize winner. All proceeds of the event supported the Heart & Stroke Foundation, Canadian Lung Association, Canadian Liver Foundation, and Kidney Foundation of Canada.
To help promote the event and improve public awareness, members of our society and transplant recipients were interviewed on CBC television, CBC radio, Breakfast Television, and News 95.7 Radio. Glow Signs & Promotions and the Halifax Forum also advertised the game outside the venue. The game was filmed by CBC with colour commentary by Pat Connolly former announcer for the Halifax Mooseheads Major Junior Hockey Team. After the game, a family skate was a big hit with the children and gave the players a chance to thank the fans and sponsors for supporting National Organ and Tissue Donation Awareness Week.
A big “THANK YOU” goes out to all our sponsors and to Denice Klavano, Tina Chaulk and all the other volunteers who worked so hard to bring this event together. We are already planning to bring next year’s game up another notch. Our goals: to get more families to discuss organ donation, to encourage more people
to choose organ donation, to show that transplant recipients can lead a ‘normal’ healthy life (including playing hockey) and to raise money for charity.
TEAM RECIPIENT
8 transplant recipients (heart, kidney, lung, bone marrow)
Mike Danton, Saint Mary’s University Huskies
Kaitlyn Abbass, Saint Mary’s University Women’s Hockey Team
Members of Bernie’s Gentlemen’s Hockey League
TEAM DONOR
Ashley Chaulk (donor family)
Justin Munden, Captain Saint Mary’s University Huskies
Health care professionals, Capital District Health Authority
Members of Bernie’s Gentlemen’s Hockey League
Halifax HockeyWritten By Chris Meagher
NOTDAW Alberta
Left to right: Blair Landry (Kidney), Greg Efthimiopoulos (Double Lung), Mitchell Shewfelt (Bone), Trevor Umlah (Double Lung), Tina Chaulk (Donor Mom), Chris Meagher (Kidney), Sean Grace (Heart)
This year CTA – Alberta joined forces with the University of Alberta Hospital to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Heart-Lung Transplant program. The hospital performed western Canada’s first heart transplant in 1985 followed soon afterward by the first lung transplant in 1986. The event was recognized during NOTDAW in April with daily displays and historical photos, a staff and family Tea in the new Mazankowski Alberta Heart Institute, a one-day scientific conference and a Gala Evening at the Art Gallery of Alberta. CTA – Alberta kicked off the week with its annual Faculty Club Dinner and Silent Auction. More
than 175 transplant recipients, program staff, physicians and corporate sponsors attended the event with their families and friends. Mark Black, heart-lung recipient and CTA Director for New Brunswick, gave a moving and inspirational keynote address. And recent UAH heart-lung recipient Kevin Kienlein of Vernon, BC, provided terrific musical interludes throughout the evening. The silent auction was a huge success and a great time was had by all. We were the ‘talk of the town’ for weeks afterwards! Many thanks go out to all our sponsors, volunteers and supporters.
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On a sunny Saturday morning, April 30, 2011, the ‘London Connection’ held its inaugural Transplant Trot. 109 runners/walkers registered for the 5K event and more than 30 volunteers, family members and other supporters joined in this celebration of life to raise awareness for organ and tissue donation. We were thrilled with the turnout and the success of our first event.
It was a labour of love and laughter, as we combed the city for potential race sites — under a siege of snow and flooded parkways. We partnered with the local Running Room and learned to use their online registration system; we navigated licenses and insurance; we recruited volunteers. We were amazed by the generosity of our community corporate sponsors and are grateful for their valuable services, discounts, and gifts including a Master of Ceremonies, coffee and refreshments, t-shirts, balloons, signage, gift certificates and much more.
We would like to thank the CTA for the green recycle bags. Filled with rally towels, pins, pens, green wristbands
and lots of treats, they were a HUGE hit. Our transplant centre also provided invaluable support prior to, and the day of, the event. Special thanks to Dr. Wall for his passionate message to participants before the race and to Cate for supplying us with ‘Gift of Life’ lapel pins, ODA bookmarks and copies of the Ontario Gift of Life Consent Form for Organ and Tissue Donation Registration. Many thanks to news reporter, Nick Paparella, for volunteering to MC our event and to CTV news for helping us promote awareness by covering this event.
Thank you to all the Transplant Trot runners and walkers, volunteers, sponsors, friends and families for your support and help. Registration fees and proceeds from this event, in excess of $4000.00, were donated to the Canadian Transplant Association.
In memory of my fellow London Race Director, Leslie Petter, next year’s event in April 2012 will be named the Leslie Petter Memorial Transplant Trot and a memorial award will be established in her name.
On April 17th, 2011, British Columbia hosted Canada’s largest 10K run, The Vancouver Sun Run. On that gorgeous Sunday morning, 55 members of team ‘Gift of Life: Organ Donation Works’ donned bright green Transplant Trot T-shirts and proudly represented the transplant community of British Columbia to celebrate National Organ and Tissue Donation Awareness Week.
Eighteen recipients, three living donors and family and friends including young children, parents and grandparents all came together to promote organ donation and transplantation. Our newest recipient, Tyler Smith, walked the entire 10K only six weeks after his heart transplant — with a big smile on his face and the support of his
family and new-found transplant friends. What an amazing accomplishment! We are all so proud of him.
Even though it wasn’t an official race we did very well in the Medical/Dental category. Our Transplant Trot team placed 25th out of 74 teams. Congratulations to everyone who participated and many thanks to all our supporters.
It is always with great pride that many of us run to honour others - those who are waiting for a transplant, donors and donor families or for people we lost while waiting for a transplant. This year I was honoured to run for Paul Underhill, a young man living with Cystic Fibrosis who was waiting for a double lung transplant. We received the news the day
after the Sun Run that he had received his transplant. We are so excited for him and are looking forward to seeing him at the next Vancouver Sun Run Transplant Trot in April 2012.
Transplant Trot, London, OntarioWritten By Janet Brady
Transplant Trot, Vancouver, BCWritten By Margaret Benson
NOTDAW 2011
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Margaret Benson’s very first Vancouver Sun Run lasted only four steps. She had just received a new pair of lungs and was recuperating in Vancouver General Hospital’s intensive care unit. Several blocks away, tens of thousands were gathering in the downtown core. Benson was still lying in bed. Alarms were going off all around her. Her physiotherapist stuck a 1999 Sun Run bib on Benson’s IV pole and said, “Margaret, here’s your first Sun Run.” Ten days prior, surgeons had removed Margaret’s lungs, destroyed by Cystic Fibrosis, and replaced them with the lungs of someone who had just died. “I was only 98 pounds,” reveals Benson. “The lungs were the perfect size. All I know is that the person who donated them was small in stature. Chances are it was a child.”
A decade later, Benson is breathing easy and is more active than ever. The Upper Lonsdale resident is the Vice-President and BC Director of the Canadian Transplant Association. Promoting athleticism among organ transplant recipients is a big part of Benson’s role with the CTA. “I think so many people, when they have their transplant, are fearful and not sure what they can do,” she says. “There is life after transplant.” Two weeks ago, Benson led the Gift of Life: Organ Donation Works team in the 2011 Transplant Trot/Sun Run event (to celebrate National Organ and Tissue Donation Awareness Week).
Jack Palmer, Lynn Valley Elementary Grade 7 student, is somewhat of a Canadian celebrity and it has nothing to do with the gold, silver and bronze medals he won in the World Transplant Games in London, ON in 2005. Jack first made
headlines in 1998 as “Baby Jack”, a one-week-old baby, with 11 different drips piercing his tiny veins, featured on the front page of The Province newspaper.
The first week of Jack’s life was blissful for Brent and Jessica Palmer’s first child. “At seven days old, Jessica was telling me that Jack was breathing too fast,” recalls Brent. “And I was a macho search and rescue guy saying ‘he’s fine, he’s fine, kids just breathe fast.’” Less than 12 hours later, 8 doctors whisked Jack away from his parents. All they knew was that Jack was in heart failure. Later it was determined that Jack had been born with congenital heart defects. The doctors gave his parents two options: palliative care until he passed away or go to California immediately to wait for a heart transplant. “We took whatever opportunity you can give a child to survive,” Brent says, of their hasty decision to go to California.
Margaret and Jack had met multiple times over the years at CTA events but the schoolyard meeting at Lynn Valley Elementary on the first day of school last September was not expected. Jack was a new student and Margaret was on staff as a librarian. The chance meeting took them both by surprise.
On April 19, in conjunction with National Organ and Tissue Donation Awareness Week, Margaret and Jack told their story to approximately 500 kids at Lynn Valley Elementary. “We don’t want children to have to be organ donors,” Margaret says, “but if anything should happen it’s the greatest gift you can give and your life will continue on.” Jack nods in agreement. “I just want to try to promote organ donation and get more people signed up,” he says.
Adapted from April 27, 2011 publication
NOTDAW 2011
Student & Teacher Join Forces to Tell Their StoryWritten By Maria Spitale-Leisk, North Shore Outlook
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Jennie DimentWritten by Kathy Tachynski
On June 2, 2011, Jennie Diment (nee Wong) quietly slipped away from us just one month before her 80th birthday. She will be lovingly remembered by Garry, her husband of more than 60 years, her family and all her friends and former colleagues at CBC Edmonton and in the Canadian Transplant Association (CTA).
In the December issue of Living Proof, we featured an article about Jennie and her commitment, against all odds, to maintaining an active healthy lifestyle. Jennie wanted to share with us all the many benefits of regular exercise. She would have celebrated the 20th anniversary of her new kidney this summer and stayed active throughout the 20 years since her transplant. Jennie participated in National and World Transplant Games and kept up a busy schedule of community volunteerism including her work with CTA. Jennie’s experience with CBC made her a valuable member of the Media/Communications Committee for the 2006 Canadian Transplant Games in
Edmonton. At 75, she was our most senior athlete that summer and was honoured to read the Athlete’s Creed at the Opening Ceremonies. In fact, she was instrumental in adding to the creed the phrase “... and in grateful tribute to donors and donor families.” Jennie had such a positive spirit and was a great supporter of the Games, cheering on other participants with her enthusiasm and zest for life.
Jennie suffered a stroke a few weeks before Easter but, despite profound limitations, could always manage a smile or nod for a friendly visitor. But no one else made her face light up like her loving husband, Garry. I was witness to one of those smiles when I walked into her room with Garry one morning. As Garry tenderly brushed her hair from her forehead, he spoke softly... “Hi, Beautiful. How are you today? You’re sure looking good! Can you give me a kiss?” The genuine love after all those years “through sickness and health” was obvious on their faces.
All of us who were privileged to have known Jennie will miss her deeply. Our thoughts and prayers are with Garry. In true Jennie ‘style’, she requested that her family and friends come together for a Wrap Party to laugh, share memories and to celebrate her life.
Memorial donations may be made to the Jennie Diment Fund c/o Edmonton Community Foundation, 9910 - 103 Street, Edmonton, AB T5K 2V7.
In MemoriumJennie Diment • Leslie Maureen Petter • Mackenzie Queen
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Leslie Maureen PetterWritten by Janet Brady, Rosie McHugh and Heather Fisher
Mackenzie Queen
On May 15, 2011, butterflies could be seen throughout Medway High School, London, Ontario, as more than 900 friends, colleagues and students joined Leslie Petter’s family to celebrate her life, one that she lived to the fullest.
Leslie, loving wife of John Michielsen, will be remembered as an amazing friend, gifted teacher, mentor and respected coach. Always hopeful and positive, Leslie touched the lives of so many people, encouraging them to strive to achieve their best. Giving credit to others, Leslie quietly made her presence known through her strong work ethic and willingness to help out as needed. Courageous, thoughtful, inclusive, adventuresome, classy, beautiful, kind and enthusiastic are only a few words that people used to describe Leslie.
Leslie received her gift of life, a bone marrow transplant from her sister Marnie, 22 years ago, at the age of 25. She became a strong advocate for organ and tissue donation and incorporated this into her high school teaching.
With her husband John, Leslie enjoyed life immensely, as witnessed by many at the World and National Transplant Games. A determined and talented athlete, Leslie holds the world record for the 800M run and won medals in the 3K road race, golf, tennis, and volleyball. John and Leslie were true ambassadors and represented Canada well as they travelled the world.
Leslie continued her courageous battle with cancer when she was diagnosed with breast cancer only one year ago. Ten days before Leslie passed away, she helped convene the first London Transplant Trot, all the while with a tank of oxygen strategically placed in her knapsack. Leslie described how supportive John was and with her warm smile and a twinkle in her blue eyes, shared how John made her laugh everyday. The courage, strength and determination that Leslie showed over the past year are prime examples of her ability to inspire others. Leslie will be missed and always remembered for how she lived her life — a very special gift to all of us.
Mackenzie Queen had a bone marrow transplant and beat leukemia as a four-year-old, but the chemotherapy weakened her heart and, by age 14, she needed a heart transplant. A year later, in 2009, she competed in the World Transplant Games in Australia winning gold and two silver medals.
Rob Queen said his daughter’s health was good until Christmas, when she started complaining about not feeling right. Her doctors found fluid in her lungs and said it was coronary artery
disease caused by rejection. She was listed for a second heart transplant.
But Mackenzie Queen, 17, could not hang on long enough for a second heart transplant. She died May 29, 2011 at Toronto’s Hospital for Sick Children.
‘Phenomenally unique’, ‘a fantastic girl’, ‘so special and well-liked’ are all terms used to describe Mackenzie. She leaves to mourn and lovingly remember her, her father Rob, mother Allison, brother Dustin (15) and sister Kennedy (10).
Carpe Diem — Seize the Day
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