Her husband was considered one of the best surgeons in Canada. When Kathryn was diagnosed with terminal cancer, Michael devoted all his efforts to healing her. When young Elizabeth asked him to promise her mother would be safe, Michael did so. Despite all the efforts of her husbands, Kathryn died within months of the original diagnosis.
 
Kathryn's death would directly affect three later members of Alpha Flight and one indirectly. Michael gave up practice as a surgeon. Elizabeth felt betrayed by the "lie" nof her father and wanted nothing to do with him. Their neighbours, the McNeils,agreed to take care of the little girl until the two surviving  Twoyoungmen. Instead Michael abandoned her and civilization in general, living as a hermit for a decade.He would study the ways of his ancestors and become a Shaman before his return. Elizabeth became a surrogate daughter to the McNeil's ang became close with her new "sister", Heather McNeil (Vindicator). An encounter between Michael and the Inuit Gods left him with his own surrogate daughter to raise, Narya (Snowbird).