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TV has seriously messed with my mind. Either I worked in the medium for too many years, or have watched too many documentaries on A&E. Either way, I commonly see my day unfolding like a movie script, and my biggest fear is approaching the commercial break. It’s all going along so well. What ugly thing is lurking on the other end of the 3-minute ad loop? What did I not see coming?

OK, back in the real world, I’m neither a movie star nor a panicked mess. It’s true that a lot of things in life can happen quickly. Say falling in love or falling down the stairs. The difference, I suppose, is that love can take you by surprise while that tumble could have most likely been completely prevented.

As the May long weekend kicks both the summer and trauma seasons into high gear, this is my little soapbox moment to remind everyone to take good care. Sunnybrook is the place where the physically shattered come to literally get rebuilt. And with all the high-tech medical approaches out there, the best one still comes down to common sense. Likelihood is, if you take just a few extra seconds to think about what you’re doing, you’ll never have to step foot in this place. I’ll drink to that! But of course call a cab afterwards…

So here’s a thought: live your life as though it was a documentary cutting to a commercial break. What will happen next? You be the director and make it a happy ending.

Happy May 24!

Carcinogen Man

Watch this week’s video! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Am7w8bgKjbg

Our backyard is typical of many older Toronto neighborhoods: extremely modest in square footage and bumped up against many others. Let’s just say we don’t eat breakfast on our deck in our undies, you know? As everyone can see everyone, we are lucky enough to have great (and quiet!) neighbors. The ones in closer range we know by name. But as the row of decks stretches on down the street, so do the familiar faces we haven’t become formally acquainted with. So, like any normal homeowners do, my husband and I sit out on our deck and give them nicknames. (Tell me you haven’t done this?)

There is Mr. Pooch (always playing with his dog), Basketball Boy (forever shooting hoops in the back of his house), and the most infamous of them all: Carcinogen Man. You may think he gained that moniker by chain smoking, but not even close. Carcinogen Man earned his title by barbequing nearly every meal in every season, rain or shine. I can’t help but worry what all those burnt burgers are doing to his health.

Turns out, if your protein is turning black, there is legitimate reason to worry. Cooking meat at high temps for long periods of time means it’s more likely to contain two compounds linked to cancer: HCA’s (heterocyclic amines) and PAH’s (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons). Looks like my nickname was spot on. That said, there are some easy ways to protect yourself. Registered Dietitian Katelynn Maniatis, who is also a member of the Patient and Family Support Program’s Clinical Nutrition Team at the Sunnybrook Odette Cancer Centre, joined me in my kitchen for an afternoon primer. You can watch my video for a full run down.

With all this great information, I can’t help but feel the importance of sharing. It’s also a great excuse to formally introduce myself to Carcinogen Man and find out who he really is (not to mention, find out what he’s been calling me all this time). Maybe he’ll have us over for dinner.

Happy grilling!

Did You Know? The Patient and Family Support Program works with the Odette Cancer Centre’s oncology teams to support patient and caregiver needs beyond treatment of the cancer. The Program also includes social workers, occupational therapists, physiotherapists, speech language pathologists, psychologists, psychiatrists, the Palliative Care Consult Team and a drug reimbursement specialist.


Cheap Gas

Watch this week’s video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ceEcBiH5ZFw

When Marian Lorenz started working at Sunnybrook, things were different. Gas cost 25 cents a gallon, and good pair of shoes would set you back about 8 bucks. Marian’s first day on the job as a clerk/typist was on June 6, 1954, and she rounded out her tenure a cool 50 years later. You would think the amazing thing about her story is that she is the longest running employee in Sunnybrook’s history, but in fact, after meeting her, what’s truly remarkable is her ability to recall nearly everything that happened during her half century employment.

“Life was a lot simpler, but it didn’t mean we didn’t have to devote just as much time, effort and resources to the care of our patients, which at that time were veterans. But the veterans were young,” she told me. “And one thing that was so memorable was the beauty of Sunnybrook when it was new, and that includes something that most institutions don’t have, the grounds and land we have. Where the public parking lot resides now, were grass, tulips, forsythia, manicured, much like a golf course would be today.”

Marian went on to tell me about the days when there were no parking problems at Sunnybrook (largely because nobody could afford a car), and how every employee would punch a time clock. And let’s not forget that 40-dollar a week paycheque! Nostalgia aside, though, she admits things are better today, thanks largely to medical advances that are saving more lives.

Like it or not, change happens. And the evolution of Sunnybrook is now captured in the new Sunnybrook Hospital Book. As a contributor (and a matter-of-fact dame that suffers no fools), Marian says every employee should take the time to read it. “And I don’t mean flip through it, but really look at each photograph.” You’ll even find a young Marian in there as all part of the continuum. As the saying goes, live today for tomorrow it will all be history.

By the way, if you’re hoping to rival Marian’s employment record at Sunnybrook, here’s her best advice: “You either love what you are doing, or go do something else somewhere else. Develop a passion for it, and you will at the end of the day, be very glad that you did.”

Sounds good, Marian. One year down for me, 49 to go.

The book is available online through Dundurn Press.