Friday, May 25, 2012

Friday, May 18, 2012

Retirement party.

April 25, 2012, the Division of Hematology made a great party for me.  Food, drink, my colleagues and friends from the hospital, my family, and some of my patients.  And some of the staff who had been retired for many years. 


Many people made kind tributes.  Molly spoke about when she was in training and my reaction when she said she was going to do transfusion medicine.  Patricia about my helping her when she first started.  Lizzy about my always being available to them.


Molly speaking

There were a lot of things I wanted to say.  First of all, that I loved my job, and had never planned on retiring.  I loved every part of it.  I just sometimes felt there was too much of it.

My reply

Zooey, Kalyani, Henk, Alice, Geoffrey, Danuta, and Sharon

However, life is what happens while we are making other plans.  And when my symptoms from Parkinson's disease increased to the point where I could no longer go the gym in the morning until my medications had kicked in,  I could no longer go on working in any sense a full-time job.  So in July 2010 I had to relinquish my administrative responsibilities and find other doctors to follow my long term patients.

What I am most proud of is my children, both those I gave birth to and the ones I helped to train and mentor.  My son Henk trained in computer science and fine arts, and is working in a video game start-up.  My daughter Alice is finishing her degree in neurosciences at McGill.  And my youngest, Geoffrey, is studying film at Dawson College. 

My kids getting a lecture from a patient.

Molly is our chief, and Patricia is in charge of transfusion, while Gizelle is doing stem cell transplantation.   (These are just a few of our trainees.)

Patricia 

Gizelle
When I was mainly doing bench research, and was not yet in charge of transfusion, I felt more like an aunt to the trainees.  And now that I am once again not in charge of anything, and can turn the trainees back to their supervisors at the end of the day, I feel more like a grandmother.  And like a grandparent, I can give a bit of perspective to the practice of medicine,  and enjoy the next generation, without the responsibility. 

I can go on doing what I am able to do, seeing a few patients, doing a bit of lab work, and some teaching.  And painting, singing, dancing, boxing.  And who knows what else the future holds.

Terry, Carol, and Alma

Molly needed to see the gifts opened!


I would give anything to be well and back at work full time.  But since I can't, I will enjoy what I can do.