It was back in 2005 that Steve Farmer suddenly felt ill. His belly swelled to an alarming size and the symptoms quickly led to a diagnosis of a failing liver.
He wasnB次元官网网址檛 an alcoholic. What he learned was that heB次元官网网址檇 been living his adult life with hepatitis C, for perhaps 25 years.
Just over 10 years later, Farmer is preparing for his first World Transplant Games (in Mar del Plata, Argentina, Aug. 23 to 30), and will compete in the Sri Chinmoy Self-Transcendence Triathlon on Aug. 2 at Elk Lake.
B次元官网网址�(Looking back) I was tired at times, but I chalked that up to being tired,B次元官网网址� said the View Royal resident. B次元官网网址淎nd I learned a lot. Hep C gets a stigma around it thatB次元官网网址檚 really untrue; itB次元官网网址檚 mostly everyday people who have it. A lot are baby boomers, which is why itB次元官网网址檚 so important for baby boomers to get checked.B次元官网网址�
With a liver functioning at 10 per cent, Farmer was put on the list for a transplant. It took a year to receive one and another three years to recover fully.
B次元官网网址淥nce your transplant takes, then you can begin the 72-week interferon (Hep C) drug treatment, which is brutal, like having chemotherapy. Awful flu symptoms go on and on.B次元官网网址�
Following that Farmer spent six years volunteering with the non-profit organization Hep C B.C., including a stint as president. B次元官网网址淚 really wanted to help build awareness and get the word out about Hep C.B次元官网网址�
Eager to live a healthier lifestyle after the recovery, Farmer gravitated to triathlon and it has been an outlet.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 social and it gives you a goal, same as the World Transplant Games. Once I have that on my calendar, it motivates me. I wasnB次元官网网址檛 sure about triathlon until I started with Tri Stars, who are so welcoming for all levels.B次元官网网址�
HeB次元官网网址檚 competed in the B次元官网网址榲irtual triathlonB次元官网网址� of the Canadian Transplant Games three times: 2006, 2012 and 2014. The 400-metre swim, 20-kilometre bike and 5K run are broken into separate events. By completing all three, you qualify for the triathlon event, which the 57-year-old won for his age bracket (50 to 59) at the last two Games.
The distances are nearly the same as the sprint distance of triathlon, with the addition of 350m in the swim portion. HeB次元官网网址檒l make the Self-Transcendence his fifth sprint triathlon on Aug. 2.
For Farmer, the race is a warmup for the Transplant Games, where he is excited about the idea of crossing paths with 1,500 people who have also experienced life-saving organ transplants.
July 28 was World Hepatitis Day (). For more information on the Self Transcendence triathlon visit .
editor@goldstreamgazette.com
