Yesterday I got a call from the hospital asking if I could come in super early—7:00 am – for my appointment with Dr. Trudel. My actual appointment was later in the day, but of course, I said yes. Little did I know what was in store.
It turns out that Dr. Trudel had orchestrated a surprise. My former oncologist, Dr. Tiedemann – who now lives in New Zealand – was in Toronto for a myeloma conference. He was flying back at noon today, and there simply wasn’t time for us to schedule a visit. Dr. Trudel wasn’t having it. She and Dr. Tiedemann conspired to pull off the perfect heist: get me into the clinic early so he could pop in and surprise me.
Except… I spoiled the surprise! I spotted him in the corridor and whispered to Nagib, “Is that Tiedemann?” And it was. Instead of a quick hello, we ended up with a whole hour to connect, reminisce, and catch up. It was glorious.
Dr. Tiedemann was assigned to me 13 years ago, when I was first diagnosed with stage 4 non-hodgkin lymphoma and multiple myeloma, an incurable blood cancer.
To us, he has always been Superman. We credit my being alive today to his expert care. Month after month, year after year, for over a decade, he guided me through treatment, setbacks, and victories. When he left for New Zealand, we were devastated. But he left me in the best possible hands – with Dr. Trudel, who I now absolutely adore.
What makes Dr. Tiedemann so special? He’s brilliant, humble, and kind. A researcher at heart, yet always deeply committed to the wellbeing of his patients. A great listener. A steady hand in making tough decisions that shaped my health and, truly, my life. Over time, we came to know his family, and he became part of ours.
So today, thanks to two extraordinary doctors plotting behind the scenes, I got the gift of a precious and unexpected visit from my hero.
Pinch me.
