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2 year Whipple Aniversery and Update.

 It's hard to believe but 2 years has passed since my Whipple( Nov 17, 2023).

I am loving my new post Whipple life, and wasn't sure I would be able to say that. The first 5 months after the Whipple were really rough, I was in hospital for all of it other than the 21 days at a friends place struggling with drains, leaks/fistula and pain. Around the 6 month anniversary things started to improve, the fistula/leaks had healed,  and the feeding tube was removed. Life was slowly starting to return to the new normal. I turned 62 in August and can't believe the things I have been able to do this past year. I returned to part time work as mountain bike guide and coach with Alberta66 MTB. Spent more time on the bike with friends ( biked 3200 km with 64000m of elevation gain), got to see most of my Happy Places. I Volunteered with Friends of Kananaskis and West Bragg Trails, helping with trail maintenance and as a trail host ( to date over 300 hrs this year). The trail maintenance days maybe the most rewarding thing I have been able to do, it's very hard work, but feels so good to help repair some of the trails I dreamed about riding on those dark days when I wasn't sure what my quality of life would be after the Whipple. I come home from the trail day sore, exhausted, excited about the improvements we made to the trails and amazed at what I was able to do physically. 

I still have to pay close attention to how much I eat, what I eat and stay on a schedule of eating every 1 or 2 hours. Paying attention to my energy levels, listening to my body and stretching lots, really focusing on the abdominal area( lots of scare tissue and risk of hernia) has helped keep me limber and feeling good. Follow up blood work every 3 months so far is good, follow scopes are showing a change in the number of Polyps( Tubular adenomas ), all that said I am truly thankful for the Health Care I have received and loving life.

Sept 20, 2025, celebrating a 17 km, 750 m of elevation very tough ride.


Oct 2025 rewarding day helping on the trails.

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