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Twins Warren and Wes Schierman grew up in Pelican Rapids during the 50's. Warren (on left in main photo and in top small photo) lives in Fargo and works at MeritCare Center.
Wes lives on Lake Lida, retired after 30+ years as an art teacher in the Burnsville school system.Warren provided the needed stem cells for a transplant to his brother Wes during
his leukemia treatment in March at the University of Minnesota Medical Center.
Blood brothers by Kelly Gorman
Wes Schierman, rural Pelican Rapids, has really been through the ringer in the last ten months. Seemingly in perfect health last summer, the only sign that anything was wrong was that he was rejected as a
blood donor because his iron (red blood cell count) level was too low by just a point. He was advised to eat more foods rich in iron content, including liver, fish, etc. After stomaching more tuna than he would prefer,
his blood was rejected again for the same reason a few weeks later.
"Last September was a miserable month," he said. "I had pain and swelling in my joint areas and was very fatigued."
After a course of visits with the local clinic and then an appointment with a hemotologist/oncologist in Fargo, test results showed he had something in the leukemia family. The chemotherapy treatments that followed, including bone marrow biopsies and the eventual stem cell transplant, taught him several lessons.
"The message is not to ignore even minor signs of your health because something more serious might be wrong," Wes said.
He also expressed his sincere appreciation for the concern and support of the community he grew up in, and lives in now. Neighbors, friends, family and care-givers were there for him, and the bonds between his
siblings, his sons and other family brought everyone closer. Treatment for his leukemia in Fargo brought a new closeness between him and his fraternal twin, Warren. Although it was Warren who was selected,
Wes shared that his sister, Verna, and his brother, Al, also tested to be compatible donors, but Warren stepped forward and almost insisted that he be the donor.
"I'd do the same thing for anybody," said Warren.
In October, 2006, Wes had an appointment at the Roger Maris Cancer Center in Fargo in their oncology department. He was admitted to the hospital where he was given blood, stablized and ended up staying for
seven days of chemotherapy treatment. During the chemo infusion, he developed some complications from an infection, which also affected his heart. This required transfer to the Intensive Care Unit to stablize
him. Shortly after the resolution of some of the heart issues, he developed shortness of breath and was transferred to the Cardiac Care Unit at MeritCare. His time there was labeled by doctors as "turbulent" and
he had to make use of a ventilator, several I.V. infusions and was sedated for over a week. Eventually he had to make use of a feeding tube and undergo speech, swallowing and physical therapy.
A secondary diagnosis determined that chronic myelomonocytic leukemia was actually acute myeloid leukemia, a more advanced form of leukemia. Wes said the the doctors decided he would probably need a
bone marrow transplant from a donor, to get beyond the remission stage. That whole phase of transplantation treatment was presented to Wes and his son, John, during a consultation with the head oncologist at
the bone marrow clinic transplant clinic (BMT) at the University of Minnesota. The procedure required one to qualify as a candidate, and Wes was given little reason to believe it was a guaranteed success, even if a
donor "match" was available. Surprisingly, all three siblings qualified, which is preferable to a match from one's child, since all the genes are shared. Warren was selected because his "count" was extremely good
and because of his willingness to participate.
Wes acknowledged how little most people, including himself, knew little of leukemia conditions and treatments. He recalled getting cards from well-wishers asking when his surgery for the transplant would take
place. Bone marrow transplants are actually done with small instruments without any major operation involved. A tiny drill and syringe were used to extract the stem cells from Warren's blood. Over the course of
a day and a half, blood was drawn, separated and re-entered into Warren's blood stream. Having to lay perfectly still was the most difficult part, according to Warren. The collected stem cells were eventually put
into Wes through an I.V. while hospitalized, taking about 45 minutes.
He has lost his hair twice, lost weight and the ability to eat solid foods for awhile, but he appears to have gained some of it back. He faced life-threatening circumstances these past months, but as the recipient of
selfless love and care from family and friends, his recovery was described as miraculous by the medical staff. Throughout it all, Wes has drawn strength from his late wife, Mary, and from his belief that he's been
kept alive for some reason.
"I thought I was prepared for most anything, based on the year his wife battled her cancer, Mesothelioma, an asbestos related cancer in the lining of the lungs, but this was all new to me," Wes said.
He lost Mary two years after her diagnosis in June, 2005, but her positive outlook, despite the inevitable outcome was encouraging to him and many others. "Because she accepted her own fate, it was hard for me
to stay in denial", Wes said.
Wes embraced the odds and the long process required to treat his form of leukemia by saying, "If you get me through his, God, you must want me to go further...you must have a "plan" for me."
Warren repeated this sentiment saying that the family leaned on the power of prayer during the past weeks and months. He said there was one point where the doctors were doubtful Wes would make it through.
So far Wes's recovery, which is slated to take a full year following the March 16 transplant, is about half over, with his next clinic visit scheduled for mid-September. He commented on his different outlook on life,
which helps keep life's circumstances in perspective. "Sometimes I just have to say, you what, I don't care about some things that were once so important to me."
Day-to-day frustrations, several restrictions, schedules, the weather, bill-paying all come after the thought that he could just as easily not be here today.
"It's become easier to prioritze the important stuff, he said, and I want to stay positive and grateful in my attitude."
He had given up some foods and beverages that the doctors recommended in his diet, but he's also found a few tastes to his liking. His lifestyle is less restricted today, but he still needs to avoid direct sunlight,
and any chores that might cause an infection (bacterial or fungal), so lawn and garden work, plus filling bird-feeders are still not allowed. Because of his weight loss, he was instructed to eat more, and eat better!.
A lot of people would like to hear their doctor tell them to eat more, wouldn't they, he quipped.
As a foot-note to this article, Wes joined his wife at the monthly Cancer Support Group 3 years ago as a care-giving spouse of a cancer victim, that met every second Wednesday. It's "open" to all Pelican
Rapids area residents, and meets at 7:30 p.m. in the Social Room at Trinity Lutheran Church. It's an uplifting gathering of cancer survivors, people taking treatment, spouses or family members, so consider it
as a group someone might benefit from through the year, and invite them, or accompany them to the local Cancer Support Group the second Wednesday of each month
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