sharing the fruits

It’s been a while again since I’ve put thoughts to a keyboard. Most of my writing as of lately has been in a journal - a gratitude journal that I absolutely love. It was created by John Scott, my friend, mentor and swim master for the Lake Ontario crossing. “My Magical Moments Journal” It’s on amazon! Check it out.

I find it helps keep me focused on the positive side of things, and dwelling less on the fact that winter is coming.

Side note: I like winter more than I ever have, especially after last year when I forced myself into the elements of any given day, to prepare as best I could for whatever Lake Ontario gave me on the day of my swim across the lake. That being said, by end of January, I am very much looking forward to either a holiday, or the first warm days of spring.

With things unravelling wonderfully since the marathon swim, there really is much to be grateful for!

I am so excited to share that we have donated a generous $125,000 and the life-saving equipment (abdominal regional perfusion- ARP) for LHSC’s transplant program has been purchased! It will be in use sometime in early 2022! *see our home page under “the intervention” to learn more about ARP.

This is a first in Canada! The hospital and transplant centre that saved my life, and my moms life (and many others!) will be the first hospital in Canada, to have this new technology. To me, this is an astronomical achievement. I am so proud of my team and I, and everyone who has donated for working towards this!

My dream is coming true. I swam the lake and that was an incredible accomplishment. Part two, is seeing the fruits of the labour…We have brought something groundbreaking to save the lives of those in the very situation I was once in - slowly dying on the waitlist for an organ transplant. And that is the list we want to shorten with ARP.

I’ve been sharing my story with as many people as I can!

I put together my very first Powerpoint presentation (with the help of Kim, one of my MFL team mates!) Then overcame (still a work in progress) my fear of presenting on a zoom call. Rotary clubs, and high school students have heard me talk about my life before my transplant, and what I’ve been able to do after wards because of my transplant. I hope to have more opportunities like those, as scary as they are, to spread awareness around how important our cause is.

Upon reflection of this past year, something cool I’ve realized…

I spent so much time in the early part of the year focusing on my own needs, so I could prepare to swim across Lake Ontario. At times it felt selfish…taking so much time and energy from those around me and those close to me, so I could do this. But what has come from this work, is the fruits that I can share with so many people for years to come…so it was worth it. And that phrase you hear on an airplane, to “put your own oxygen mask on first so you can help other people”…it really makes sense now.