Jamie Hildahl Story
It was a Friday afternoon about 4:00 p.m. Jamie Hildahl was having a chest X-ray at the Health Sciences Centre when he collapsed. He was rushed to the emergency room… blood work indicated a cancer of the blood. A bone marrow test confirmed Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML).
“I was admitted to HSC for the first time on June 12, 2003… my 20th birthday,” said Jamie.
After spending about seven weeks on GD6, the Bone Marrow Transplant / Oncology Ward at HSC, and undergoing two courses of chemo, Jamie went into remission. He spent the next three months receiving chemotherapy as an outpatient, coming in twice a day, every day, with one week off after every three on chemo.
“Had either of my brothers been a match, the medical team would then have proceeded with a bone marrow transplant… unfortunately, they weren’t,” said Jamie.
“I think I generally felt positive. I believed that I was young and strong and would get better. Still, on the bad days…when I couldn’t face doing what I had to do, the staff really encouraged me. I can’t say enough about how good the care was. It was unbelievable,” he said.
Jamie completed his first course of treatment in December 2003, knowing there was a 75% chance the leukemia would return. He was back at his job as a production clerk at the Manitoba Government Employees Union for only a few months when his twice weekly blood cell counts indicated something was, once again, very wrong. The AML was back… and Jamie was back on GD6.
“This time they added radiation treatment to the chemo. It was horrible. By day three it was torture,” said Jamie. “I think I threw up 15 times a day. And I picked up an infection - that meant isolation. I called it lock down… that’s what it felt like. This meant I couldn’t leave my room – except for medical procedures – for five months.”
Jamie had many setbacks… the infection… an allergic reaction to one of the medications he was receiving… his kidneys shut down… and his immune system was compromised.
“I felt bad for my parents… my family. They had to wear gowns and gloves just to come into my room. I was lucky – my mom works here at HSC – she would come up every day on her lunch hour, and again before she went home. Still… the leukemia put everyone’s life on hold… not just mine. I felt as if I was dragging everyone down with me.”
On July 22, 2004, Jamie had a stem cell transplant, using stem cells from an unrelated donor. His body was now extremely susceptible to every kind of infection… even the smallest challenge would have a major impact. This was a crucial time in his treatment and Jamie credits the staff with making him as comfortable as possible.
Jamie was released at the end of August, 2004. He was home, but his life wasn’t exactly back to normal… he was still very vulnerable to infection. That meant staying out of public places where there were lots of people… avoiding anyone with a cold, flu or any other ailments.
During the two years after a bone marrow transplant, the body is at high risk of developing infection. In October 2005 Jamie developed pneumonia, and February 2006 brought a sudden fever. Both times, he was back at HSC, in GD6 for extended stays.
“I think I was on GD6 four different times in less than three years, for a total of about nine or ten months. I’ve been home since March 2006… two years now, I guess,” he said.
Most people who develop AML are in their 50’s… and many of them retire after they recover. Jamie is younger – nearly 25 years old - but the fact is, his energy level is never going to be the same as it was before.
Jamie is back at MGEU, working part time. His friends are graduating from university… and he hasn’t had the chance to start yet.
“I feel like I’ve lost 5 years. But I think – really – I’m ahead in a lot of areas. That doesn’t make up for the time I’ve lost, but it does mean something. Having leukemia has changed me… it’s changed my family… in many ways, for the better.”
Five years of normal blood tests after transplant is considered a cure. Jamie is coming up to year 4 now. He recently moved to blood tests only once every three months. Soon, it will be every six. Then every year.
“I could not have asked for a better staff at HSC – the nurses, the oncologists, the support staff - everyone,” said Jamie. “Even when they were tired… even with all the other patients they had to care for… even though they saw people in my situation every day, they made me feel as if I was the most important person in the world. What I said… how I felt… it mattered. I won’t ever forget that.”