Christine Griffiths: Official Site

By TANIA KUTNEY

MS CHRIS Griffiths, 39, a nurse and educator from LaTrobe University, is an avid long distance runner whose only concern is not to win a race, but to make it to the end.

She ran 60 km a week in training for fun runs and races with the Veterans Athletics Club and the Malvern Harriers, until she was told by doctors last October that she had leukaemia.

This life-threatening illness did not deter her from running. She continued racing and jogged 8 km only weeks before a bone marrow transplant.

Chemotherapy

She was admitted to Vaucluse Hopsital in Moreland Rd, Brunswick, for chemotherapy treatment 10 weeks ago.

Visitors have to wear a mask to protect her from any germs.

Medication caused her hair to fall out and made her weak. She said she was also having problems with her mouth, caused by the steroids she was taking, and could only eat soft foods.

When asked if she was ever frightened of dying, Chris said no.

“If you keep dwelling on the fact that you have leukaemia, it can become an obsession and you may never get well,” she said.

“I try to push it as far back in my mind as I can, keeping my mind and body active.”

Before the transplant operation Chris would often hop on an exercise bike and vigorously pedal away.

She said that riding the bike helped her block things out.

She is also judging the works of students from a college to keep herself busy.

Her positive attitude and strong spirit, she said, made her strong enough to fight the disease.

She looked up at a poster on the wall of a lone runner facing a long, winding, uphill road and said: “That’s me”.

Below the poster were the words: The race is not always to the swift, but to those who keep on running.

“I’m facing a long road and I don’t care if I win, as long as I make it to the end,” said Chris.

Leukaemia is a disease that causes a high count of white blood cells.

Although white cells are meant to kill germs in the body, an over-production of them renders them useless as they are too immature to be effective.

Chris said she was lucky to find a donor, considering there was only a one-in-four chance of a sibling being compatible.
Doctors say that only siblings can be compatible bone marrow donors because of complications with genes.

Finding donor

Donating bone marrow is not like giving blood; not everyone is suitable. It is also rare for parents to be compatible with their children.

Chris has two sisters, Carmel, 35, and Catherine, 31. Compatibility tests showed that only Carmel could donate, which she did.

Carmel entered the Alfred Hospital’s bone marrow until, Victoria’s only centre that does bone marrow transplants, six weeks ago.

Doctors removed the marrow from the base of her spine and administered it to Chris intravenously.

The bone marrow, which Chris describes as blood-like with a jelly type substance, will find its way through her body to the party in need.

Chris is expected to be out of hospital this week and she hopes to return to a normal life.

Her first aim is to visit a local hot bread shop in Bundoora and buy an Italian sesame bread that she has been dreaming about.

She is also looking forward to teaching again and beginning another health course.

Her illness has not stopped her passion for running, but she will have to wear a mask to protect her from germs.

She admits it may be some time before she is able to run 60 km a week again, but is happy that she has a better chance of survival since the transplant.

Her advice to other leukaemia victims is to “Do whatever you have to do to keep you alive”.

Her life span before the transplant was between two and three years.

Doctors will know in 12 months whether or not Chris will lead a healthy and happy life, but Chris is convinced she is cured and is looking forward to getting on with life.

(Photo Caption)
LEUKAEMIA victim, Ms Chris Griffiths . . . The race is not always to the swift, but to those who keep on running.