Christine Penner

On December 3, 2019, I presented my PhD thesis at the University of Manitoba. I was thrilled to welcome my advisor Dr. Wallin. She flew from her work at the University of Saskatchewan to Winnipeg to be part of my presentation. My other two U of M committee members, Dr. Mignone and Dr. Fitznor, were at the university that day to hear my PowerPoint presentation. After my presentation I answered several questions presented by my advisors. I then left the room which gave my advisors the opportunity to discuss my presentation. When they called me back in I was told that I now was a doctor. I was thrilled! It was wonderful to have my sister and two friends join my presentation. Despite my new brain cancer, I was excited that my PhD thesis was accepted. It is hard to believe, but I now am Dr. Christine Penner!  Dr. Wallin was a wonderful advisor.   Dr. Fitznor, Dr.Mignone, and Dr .Wallin were members of my committee.   I called my husband to let him...

I have been off of chemo drugs for three months. This was for the purpose of raising my blood level. A week prior to seeing my doctor I had an MRI. Then on Friday, November 29, I went to see my doctor and was informed that I have another brain tumour. As this tumour is further back in my brain, I was told that it was best to take cancer drugs as opposed to having another brain surgery. I was disappointed to hear that I have another growth in my brain, however, I will be stepping up and working hard to stay as healthy as possible. I will be starting my new chemo drugs on Wednesday, December 4. On Saturday, November 23, my niece Stephanie and her husband Mark had a beautiful baby girl. The little girl’s name is Charlotte. In addition to going and seeing my new little one in this world, I was told that I now will be defending my PhD thesis on Tuesday, December 3, at the University of Manitoba. I have been working on my PowerPoint presentation. Despite my new brain cancer I am excit...

Since September 4, 2019, I have been off of my chemo drugs. My blood is continually getting lower so I will now be off of my chemo drugs until the end of November. I will then check my blood again and have an MRI. It feels awkward being off of my chemo drugs for so long. Three months is a long time to be off. At the end of November I will find out where I am at. I felt a little off for three days at the end of October but feel much better now.   Before I was diagnosed with cancer I was working on my PhD at the University of Manitoba. After a year and a half leave of absence, I was able to restart working on it. I had the opportunity to change my methodology which helped me move forward. I am thrilled to say that I have completed my thesis and that it has been accepted. All I have left to do  now is to defend my thesis. I am so excited that I am close to my PhD graduation. I am grateful that I had the opportunity to finish it.  My dear little loved ones - M...

I met with Dr. Pitz on Friday, September 6, and was told that the MRI I took at the end of August showed that my brain surgery on May 30, 2019, had gone well. I was pleased to hear that. After three weeks of my daily chemo drugs I was happy to take one week off. When I went to have a blood test prior to starting my chemo drugs again, I was told that my blood level was low and that I would be off chemo drugs for another week. This happened two more times. I now have been off of my chemo drugs for three weeks. I hope that I will be able to start my drugs again at the beginning of October. I am grateful that I feel good. My parents are doing very well. My dad had a difficult month after his surgery in mid-August, but now is back to his normal self which I am grateful for. I had a lot of fun spending an evening with friends who were attending the Manitoba Basketball Hall of Fame. It was fun meeting two girls I had played basketball with at the University of Manitoba. We had a wonder...

On Friday, August 9, I met with Dr. Pitz’s nurse. I was told that my most recent blood test was good. This meant that I would continue with three weeks of chemo pills the following Wednesday, August 14. I enjoyed being off of chemo drugs for one week. I had an MRI on Monday, August 26. The nurses had difficulty putting a needle into my arm so it took a bit of time to get started. Eventually it worked. I now hope to see my doctor next week Friday. I   am grateful that I will finally hear about the gamma knife surgery that took place May 30, 2019.   In the middle of August my dad had a prostate surgery done at the Health Sciences Centre (HSC). My sister Bev, mom, dad, and I stayed at the Canad Inn right beside the hospital for night. It was helpful that after the first night we were right there to take dad to the hospital at 5:45 a.m. After his surgery dad seemed to be doing quite well. The next day dad was taken back to the Morris Hospital. Sadly, after one night in Mor...