Canadians in British Columbia

“Get out of jail free card” ... love it!!

I’m sorry to let you know that Marian Leighton aka marianelizabeth passed away earlier this week. Her daughter posted the following on FB today.

My mother Marian passed away Tuesday night at home, in a house that she loved for its views of the ocean and the many birds that live among the garry oaks and bushes of the garden.

I know she has a huge network, multiple networks, which are a testament to how she lived. She was keenly interested in other people, open-minded, and diligent about the follow up. Once she directed me to the coast of the Black Sea to meet up with a Romanian sailor, whom she had met years earlier, by wandering into a naval ship.

In place of sentimentality, she had enthusiasm, for travel, her chickens, rhododendrons, the Himalayas, her gardens, social justice. I remember one day in the last few months walking into her room and her asking, in exasperation, "What is wrong with white people?" She followed American and Canadian politics closely. After getting palliative radiation in January, while still drowsy in the hospital with brain swelling, she shouted "YES!" when I mentioned news about a U.S. senate seat flipping. She protested the Kinder Morgan pipeline and the Site C dam, donated to the Pull Together First Nations legal fund, and had planned to go to jail in resistance.

In spite of a lack of early family support and a lot of gendered bullshit, she discerned and achieved heartfelt dreams. She also became a blog writer and a meditator in response to the cancer journey, developments that she valued deeply.

My mom got the news that cancer had spread to her brain the same day I finished my teaching program in mid-December. "Let the good times roll" was our toast and motto from that night forward, as we sought to enjoy sunsets, games, and happy hours, as well as, somewhat bizarrely, powering through all 17 seasons of Grey's Anatomy. "10 blade" may have been our last inside joke.

The pandemic in some ways has made it easier to curl up into this time. I do find it a challenge to communicate outside of the bubble. I likely won't be in touch quickly. That said, please do feel welcome to share your memories and reflections about Marian. You who knew her were very much part of her story. And I will enjoy reading your words. ❤️

Thank you for letting us know Pots. I have bern worrying about Marian a lot lately and went searching for news two days ago. May you rest well Marian. You left your mark on this world in countless ways.

Hi everyone. This past month has been so crazy and surreal. I live in Maple Ridge. 39 years old single mom of a 12 year old daughter. I noticed my right breast looked very different while getting into the shower at the beginning of the month. It also felt as if the upper outter right quadrant was a massive lump. I found out that I am not able to book my own screening due to not being 40, so I decided to go to a walk in clinic (in hind sight should have gone to my family doctor). She performed a manual exam of both breasts and agreed that I needed a scan. The clinic called me the next business day to say my mammogram and ultrasound were April 15. I told them that seems much too far away almost 6 weeks at that time) and asked them to look around at other imaging places. After much argument, they called back with an appointment date which was just a few days away. The mammogram was my first, so I didn't know what to expect. I had an ultrasound right afterwards. They took so many images I felt like I was there forever. I knew it wasn't good when the technician told me she was going to get the doctor. The doctor took a look herself and told me I needed a biopsy. I just started bawling and this is where my anxiety went into overdrive (and hasn't subsided since). Another wait of a week and a half, the walk in clinic calls again to tell me my biopsy appointments ((2??) We're scheduled for April 14 and May 7. I was really feeling like this wasn't being taken seriously enough. I phoned the breast imaging department at Royal Columbian hospital and the receptionist coldly told me "we are busy. We are booking the urgent appointments in April and other ones into June". I begged to be put on the cancellation list. I also decided then to get my family doctor involved, though he's in Delta and I don't see him often. I spoke with him on the phone, asked him to get the records from the walk in clinic and try to find me an earlier date somewhere else. They put in a requisition at Jim Pattison breast health clinic. The following day, RCH called because there was a cancellation. I was moved to March 25. So I had my ultrasound guided biopsy yesterday and it wasn't pleasant. I was in the room for an hour and a half. I found out that I have another mass next to the one I can feel (she said it's hard to measure the large one due to my breast tissue, but it's between 3.5 and 5cm...Ugh). They also mentioned a third mass, but weren't totally sure if it is just breast tissue (in another quadrant). They biopsied the two in the same quadrant (4 samples of each) as well as one lymph node in my armpit that's been swollen. I was most concerned about the lymph node and this really scared me. Once the radiologist left the room, I started crying uncontrollably and the attending nurse (technician) told me that the lymph node doesn't look bad. It's just slightly thickened in the outside, but looks normal on the inside. So...we wait for results. Saying I'm terrified is an understatement, as I'm sure many can relate. My family doctor's office called today to tell me they already have an appointment for me at the Jim Pattison breast health clinic for April 9. After doing some reading, it sounds like their team is great. I obviously don't know yet what my next steps will be, but wondering if anyone here has had experience with the Jim Pattison breast health clinic? Any reason why I should or should not go somewhere else?

Hi, I just received vaccine shot invitation, and I plan to go, just want to conf it is pfizer.

Envy you having a shot of any kind as my clock is ticking louder these days.. No letter for me yet. I read they are prioritizing Fraser Health given case counts although that was not stated in relation to the clinically vulnerable. Sigh....

wrenn, please come back and update. From Monday, I can call, not sure when the shot will be.

wrenn,

So you are age group. I am 53 years old, from coastal health, not sure when the appt will be. Will try to call on Monday.

clinically vulnerable with a letter from Bonnie Henry are Monday at noon by phone.

SaraJay, I'm so sorry you are having to go through this. My surgeries were at the Breast Health Clinic at Jim Pattison. I got very good care there and found the staff kind and thorough. My doctor said that was the best place to go for treatment and I think he was right. Follow up care (radiology the first time and MO appointments the second time) was at the BC Cancer Agency at SMH.

The unknown and the waiting is really hard... it's difficult to think of anything except whatever is going on in your breast. Once a diagnosis is determined and a treatment plan in place, many have said they found iteasier to cope. Hope this is the case for you.

This is a good site to come to for information and support. Just keep breathing and putting one foot in front of the other for now, and be kind to yourself. Keep us posted xx hugs

I'm so relieved to hear about "clinically vulnerable" getting in now. So many people I know have been worried about that. I feel kind of guilty being seen so soon since I am able to just stay home. I worry about people having to go out to work. My daughter works very closely with people and every time I pick up curbside groceries I worry about workers serving us.

Stay safe everyone.

wrenn, yes, I saw that page, should be.

Pots thank you for letting us know about Marian. I am so sad to learn that she has died. She was a courageous, caring and feisty woman who brought many of us together from BCO. I met her twice and enjoyed her company. A loss for us all. Peace to you Marian Elizabeth. ❤️
Pearl

SaraJay, yes the waiting and waiting is hard. It feels like each day is a week and drags. I’m glad you have an appointment at the breast Health Center April 9, now you have a target and they have a date to get all the reports and imaging done. Having been a similar circumstance in 2013, try to stay away from dr. Goggle....and focus on getting you’re information from reputable sources. Try to focus on preparing a medical case history to give them on April 9...maternal history, date first period, pregnancies, any surgeries, list of drugs, medical conditions, etc. Feel free to ask us questions, you aren’t alone.