Below is the latest update from Mike Staffen, the young Regina rugby/basketball player that the Howlers held a number of fundraisers to help assist him while he battled for his life . When admitted to the hospital now almost 3 years ago, Mike was suffering from lymphoma, double pneumonia, kidney failure, pulminary endema, septisemia and complications wi his renal artery. From what the doctors described as having zero chance of survival (actually twice) to a what can only be described as miraculous comeback. Along the way the cancer also took his sight away. This is truly an inspirational story.
Read more about it on his facebook page - http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=7677219970&ref=ts
Karl
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Here is an update of what is going on in my recovery, life and everything that has happened since my last update. As I mentioned in my last update, we were going to Ecuador for another stem c ell treatment. Although I am in good health, I still am blind. That is okay though, as I am getting along with out my vision fairly well. My current bill of health as per my oncologist's words is that I am "pretty much cured".. Other things that I have going on in my life is that I am currently working for the Federal Government on an eight month CO-OP work term. Before I started working, I could not even conceive how a person could possibly be functional in an office environment as a completely blind person. My work term has been an enlightening experience and is one of my best experiences since I went blind. To work I have had to overcome
many obstacles and fears about my abilities as it relates to being a new, totally blind person in a world oriented for the sighted. Many of my classes were completed as a sighted person and all of my past work experience was as a sighted person. My writing skills which I learned in university have been a very important part of my work experience. When I went back to university as a blind person, I had to re-hardwire my brain to write an essay without being able to see. I was wrought with anxiety and fear that I would not be able to succeed and hence, I would never be able to get a job and more particularly never enjoy a career.. I put several hundred hours into my first university class as a blind person. and it pushed me to the limits of what I could do. That being said, writing has been an important communication tool in my job, and if I would not have gone back to university, I would have never put in the time I needed to become proficient enough to be competent in my job. By far the most important skills I learned at this job were the skills that most people who work in an office environment take for granted. For example, being able to use the office fax machine or photocopier was something that I had to relearn how to do. Further to this were the computer skills that are essential to any person who wants to be competitive in the work force. The guy I am training with, via teleconference from Ottawa, is simply amazing. He can do more on a computer, than I ever could as a sighted person and now, I am learning those computer skills. Finally, as a blind person, I have been working hard at becoming progressively more organized in my job. This is a continuous process, but one in which I have improved in allot in my current work term and one that will be crucial in my next job and every job that I do from here on in. In my next job interview, I will have the confidence to say that yes, I can work proficiently in an office environment. I am finding this job interesting and hope to be able to work in this program area in the future after I graduate. After this work term ends, I will have two classes and a third work term in the fall to complete my Degree. I am also starting a class this semester, so it is going to be busy. Anyway, that is about all that is going on with me...for now. Oh, I guess that reminds me, it has been over two years since my last chemo treatment. I cannot believe how fast the time is going by. Amazing!!
Michael Staffen
Read more about it on his facebook page - http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=7677219970&ref=ts
Karl
-----
Here is an update of what is going on in my recovery, life and everything that has happened since my last update. As I mentioned in my last update, we were going to Ecuador for another stem c ell treatment. Although I am in good health, I still am blind. That is okay though, as I am getting along with out my vision fairly well. My current bill of health as per my oncologist's words is that I am "pretty much cured".. Other things that I have going on in my life is that I am currently working for the Federal Government on an eight month CO-OP work term. Before I started working, I could not even conceive how a person could possibly be functional in an office environment as a completely blind person. My work term has been an enlightening experience and is one of my best experiences since I went blind. To work I have had to overcome
many obstacles and fears about my abilities as it relates to being a new, totally blind person in a world oriented for the sighted. Many of my classes were completed as a sighted person and all of my past work experience was as a sighted person. My writing skills which I learned in university have been a very important part of my work experience. When I went back to university as a blind person, I had to re-hardwire my brain to write an essay without being able to see. I was wrought with anxiety and fear that I would not be able to succeed and hence, I would never be able to get a job and more particularly never enjoy a career.. I put several hundred hours into my first university class as a blind person. and it pushed me to the limits of what I could do. That being said, writing has been an important communication tool in my job, and if I would not have gone back to university, I would have never put in the time I needed to become proficient enough to be competent in my job. By far the most important skills I learned at this job were the skills that most people who work in an office environment take for granted. For example, being able to use the office fax machine or photocopier was something that I had to relearn how to do. Further to this were the computer skills that are essential to any person who wants to be competitive in the work force. The guy I am training with, via teleconference from Ottawa, is simply amazing. He can do more on a computer, than I ever could as a sighted person and now, I am learning those computer skills. Finally, as a blind person, I have been working hard at becoming progressively more organized in my job. This is a continuous process, but one in which I have improved in allot in my current work term and one that will be crucial in my next job and every job that I do from here on in. In my next job interview, I will have the confidence to say that yes, I can work proficiently in an office environment. I am finding this job interesting and hope to be able to work in this program area in the future after I graduate. After this work term ends, I will have two classes and a third work term in the fall to complete my Degree. I am also starting a class this semester, so it is going to be busy. Anyway, that is about all that is going on with me...for now. Oh, I guess that reminds me, it has been over two years since my last chemo treatment. I cannot believe how fast the time is going by. Amazing!!
Michael Staffen
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