Sep 17, 2009 Posted by Kim Werker

Nobody Puts Pancreatic Cancer in the Corner

That’s how my friend titled an email to me Monday night, after hearing the news that Patrick Swayze lost his two-year fight against the disease. This just a day after my parents put on their big fundraiser to support research into early-detection tests and a cure. The event was a huge success. Well over 200 people walked the short route in perfect weather. Of course, it wasn’t the walking that... read more

Aug 27, 2009 Posted by Kim Werker

Talk to Me (Us All) About Health Care: Open Thread

Image by Getty Images via Daylife Let’s talk about health care. You know I’m happy with the care I receive here in British Columbia; I don’t think the system’s perfect, but I’ve had no major complaints about it, and it compares favorably against the care I got when I lived in the U.S. But I don’t want to talk about my personal experience. I have a nagging knot in... read more

Aug 20, 2009 Posted by Kim Werker

A New Goal

Thanks to the stunning generosity of friends, family, blog readers, Twitter followers, and perfect strangers, I blew past my original goal to raise $500 for pancreatic-cancer research by the second day of my fund-raising effort. By the end of that day, I’d raised over $1,000. I’ve upped my goal to $1,500. The fundraising walk outside of Albany, NY, is Sunday, 13th September. If you’d... read more

Aug 17, 2009 Posted by Kim Werker

In Which I Ask You for Money

When I got off the bus to meet my friend for a hungover shopping date in Gastown on Saturday afternoon, I greeted her with this gem: “I am such an asshole.” “Um, hm?” “Ok, so 4th Avenue is closed between Arbutus and Burrard today for Hippy Daze*, and on the detour I saw a bunch of women in bubblegum pink with ridiculous hats and realized I think it might also be the... read more

Dec 20, 2008 Posted by Kim Werker

Health Care: Friend or Foe?

When I was twenty-five and working at a job that was grueling and thankless and rendered me suffering from stress-induced stomach aches, I eventually decided I’d had enough and I quit. I was engaged at the time, and living with my fiancé. We were to be legally married three months later. When I told my mother I’d quit my job, the first words out of her mouth were, “What about health... read more