I run for my breast cancer patients.

Every day, breast surgical oncologist Dr. Erin Cordeiro meets a new patient facing a cancer diagnosis. She thinks of them as she leaves The Ottawa Hospital’s Rose Ages Breast Health Centre at the end of the day – she often thinks of them as she laces up and heads out for an evening run. Those patients inspire her to fundraise for The Ottawa Hospital at Tamarack Ottawa Race Weekend. They are her reason for running.

Dr. Cordeiro’s practice is exclusive to treating patients with breast disease, primarily breast cancer.

“I see patients every day who are going through the challenges of a cancer diagnosis and every day of my life is very humbling. I am very grateful for the health I have and no one should take that for granted. I want to do anything I can to help – that’s why I’m running.”

Dr. Cordeiro first learned about Run for a Reason when she spotted a poster in the hospital three years ago. She knew it was a great fit and registered to support cancer research at The Ottawa Hospital.

“Seeing patients go through a cancer diagnosis or chemotherapy, and the strength that they show in facing the hardest thing they may ever have to face is what really inspires me. No matter how long of a run I have to do, I know it’s nothing compared to what my patients are going through daily, fighting for their lives.”

Research also motivates Dr. Cordeiro, as her work involves studies at The Ottawa Hospital. “My research involves quality improvement initiatives at the Rose Ages Breast Health Centre. We are constantly striving to improve the care we provide to breast health patients. We’re examining quality metrics and programmatic changes to ensure we’re providing the best breast cancer care in the country.”

Since she first registered for Run for a Reason in 2018, Dr. Cordeiro has participated in triathlons and has used the race as a training opportunity. Finding a way to give back to her patients and to attain her athletic goals, The Ottawa Hospital’s Run for a Reason is the perfect fit for Dr. Cordeiro.

I run to help other patients.

In 1996, I was diagnosed with leukemia at the age of 46. A year later, I had a bone marrow transplant at The Ottawa Hospital. I remember being told my chance of survival was 40% but my two children, who were young at the time, told me I wouldn’t die because I was ‘too strong’.

Twenty-three years later, here I am still going strong. The care I received from Dr. Lothar Huebsch and his team was excellent—it was incredible. I’ve had other health scares crop up over the years, including a blood clot in my stomach in 2012, which resulted in surgery. Since then, I’ve had some issues with balance, which is why I now use a walker. But I’ve never been willing to let these challenges slow me down.

I’ve always stayed fit—I live for that runner’s high. That’s partly why I do the run. I want to live a full life and I know physical activity is helping me achieve that. I also do the run because of my desire to give back to other patients, in particular through the Little Angels Blood Cancer Fund. This helps ease the financial burden of patients who have to travel a significant distance for their treatment. I know what they go through and I just want to help them in the future.

Once again this year, I’ll be doing another marathon with my walker—I walk fast! It will be my seventh marathon using my walker. I not only want to raise more money to support The Ottawa Hospital but I also want to qualify for the Boston Marathon some day, so that’s motivating me too. My quest is to inspire others to do the same–it doesn’t have to be a marathon but to simply be active and live life to the fullest.

We run for Parkinson’s research.

It all started with a group of investment advisors, with a connection with Parkinson’s disease. Twelve years later, PIPR—Partners Investing in Parkinson’s Research—has raised $1.4 million through Run for a Reason at Tamarack Ottawa Race Weekend.

Once again this year, dozens of people will rally and walk or run in the spirit of supporting the world-class Parkinson’s research happening at The Ottawa Hospital. Karin Fuller, co-captain of team PIPR, says while the purpose is to fundraise—the roots of this group go much deeper. “It was initially looked at as an investment to find a cure. Now, it’s like a second family for many people. It’s like a support system. A group which brings people together to feel supported.”

It’s also very personal for many including Karin, who has watched her dad live with Parkinson’s, which is now quite advanced.

PIPR provides support

PIPR is the definition of a support group for Elaine Goetz, who has been involved for seven years. She has been living with Parkinson’s for 13 years now, and PIPR gives her hope. “I see what research is being done; it’s quite impressive and I’m privileged to be involved with such a great organization,” says Elaine.

She looks forward to the group coming together each year. “When you have a condition like Parkinson’s, it’s so easy to become isolated if you don’t know anyone else who has the disease or you don’t have the support. What PIPR does for me, is it makes me feel a part of a community. It’s important to be involved. It empowers me to live well with Parkinson’s.”

While PIPR is marking a dozen years together, they are always recruiting new people to join. That’s how Kristy Shortall-Cain, co-captain of team PIPR, became involved in the past year. Like many others involved, she has good family friends who have Parkinson’s. It all started when she was invited to a PIPR meeting. “I was just blown away by the people who were around the table, from people with the disease, to family and friends, like me, to doctors, and researchers from The Ottawa Hospital—all with a common goal and everyone is really pumped up about it.”

Seeing results

The group is also motivated by the results they see. Elaine is quick to point out PIPR helped to bring deep brain stimulation surgery (DBS) to The Ottawa Hospital. Karin knows firsthand what that means. “When my dad had that surgery he had to go to Toronto, which meant going back and forth for the appointments. It was a lot for him and for our family. DBS is a tangible example of what we’ve been able to do as a group to support The Ottawa Hospital.”

More than 100,000 Canadians live with Parkinson’s, including 8,000 here in Ottawa. Parkinson’s is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that primarily affects voluntary, controlled movement.

I run to help the people who saved my life.

On Friday, January 11, 2019, I was on my way home for the weekend when the double-decker OC Transpo bus I was riding on crashed into the overhang of the Westboro transit station. I was one of 13 severely injured patients rushed to the Trauma Centre at The Ottawa Hospital.

Incredibly, I was conscious when I arrived at the Emergency Department. I remember I had lost so much blood and after my CT scan, my blood pressure began to plummet, but the trauma team was ready. The nurse in the ED had O negative blood in her pocket. They immediately started pumping blood back into my system and my blood pressure stabilized. I was quickly rolled into the operating room and the only time I passed out was when they put the mask on to put me to sleep for surgery.

I woke up two days later — Sunday morning. I was groggy and swollen. That’s when my husband broke the news that both of my legs had been amputated. I believe that most people are very good at handling the little changes they might face. However, it is impossible to fully prepare for the things that change you completely. I cried. I denied it. But I anchored myself to one simple thought: A life without legs is better than no life at all. I realized I wanted to see my children grow up far more than I wanted my legs.

The Ottawa Hospital had a plan. I began my rehabilitation almost immediately, while still in the trauma unit. Just over a month later, I moved to The Ottawa Hospital’s Rehabilitation Centre, where I would spend two months learning to live in a completely new way. This place is a hidden treasure in our city. Like too many people, I didn’t even know it existed. But it is a critical part of a system that people don’t always think about until they suddenly depend on it.

Today, my recovery continues. I’m learning to walk again thanks to new prosthetics. I’ve joined Run for a Reason because I want to help the people who had saved my life. But I also believe that everyone deserves the best healthcare we can deliver, and I have a unique opportunity here to help a lot more people.
I’m nervous about participating in the virtual Tamarack Ottawa Race Weekend. I’m still learning about what my body can and cannot do now. I’m getting used to my limitations. But it doesn’t matter that it’s probably going to be hard; it matters that I try.

If you’re behind me, you’re also helping yourself. This is about the health of our community. Support for me today, will transform into the care you may need tomorrow.