Beyond Grateful — From Patient to Donor

Three years have passed since Bonnie Quam was first diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Now cancer-free, she’s determined to use her experience to help others.

Inspired by Darcy and Manjit Johal  — who are matching all donations up to $1 million this month — Bonnie donated to the BC Cancer Foundation’s Beyond Belief Campaign, and is now sharing her story in gratitude of all donors who fuel BC Cancer’s life-saving work.

“When I was first diagnosed in December of 2019, I was overwhelmed and heartbroken but mainly just scared. During my three-week stay at Vancouver General Hospital, I began my relationship with BC Cancer. After my first consultation with my oncologist Dr. Diego Villa, I had a PET/CT scan and bone marrow biopsy (something I hope to never go through again), many blood tests, other biopsies, a port put in with a catheter to my heart and on and on …

Thanks to the ebullient, affirming, straight-talking and wonderful Dr. Villa — who told me with great certainty from the beginning that he would cure me — I quickly transitioned my thinking. I rethought my horrified mindset about the ‘Big C (cancer)’ and decided to look at it as just a disease.

As someone who always does my research, I decided to look into BC Cancer. A pharmacist friend had already told me they were recognized as being among the best research and treatment centres in the world. I slogged through papers written by BC Cancer experts and my own Dr. Villa and was amazed by BC Cancer’s reputation and status! I knew I was in good hands.

I went through six rounds of chemotherapy. During which I called BC Cancer’s emergency line several times as I navigated fevers and nausea.

Nor did my family. The BC Cancer nurses patiently taught my husband Parry how to administer the 26 injections to my stomach that were required to deliver an immune-boosting drug. I didn’t think this was something Parry would ever be able to do, but he quickly and confidently rose to the occasion, thanks to the support of BC Cancer staff — who had him practice by poking a needle into an orange.

After treatment, I became very frightened and felt like the ‘monster’ (cancer) was waiting to get me again. I sought help from supportive care services at BC Cancer through a psychologist and took the wonderful course, ‘Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction’ — it was an amazing journey I shared with others who had all faced cancer.

When I had my last meeting with Dr. Villa this past April, and learned that my file would be closed, I initially felt very apprehensive. Dr. Villa told me that if — and he says it’s a very big ‘if’ — I ever have symptoms to contact him and he will help me again. This allowed me to say goodbye, trust that I will be okay and know that if I ever get sick again BC Cancer will be there for me.”

Support Bonnie, and all British Columbians facing cancer, by donating today to help us go Beyond Belief.