A husband, father and mortgage broker, Boyd Dunleavy of Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada, was leading a healthy lifestyle, healthy enough for him to run marathons.  Then in 2011, what began as night sweats and nosebleeds necessitated a series of blood tests.  He was then told to go to the hospital right away.  His platelets had plummeted, and that’s when he was told he had blood cancer, a diagnosis confirmed after a bone marrow biopsy. 

 

Supported by his wife and his faith, he was determined to deal with this diagnosis of a rare form of blood cancer, acute myeloid leukemia. He was told by his doctor that with this rare type of blood cancer, in order to live, he would need a stem cell transplant.  Boyd was put on a regimen of chemotherapy, but his cancer relapsed in February 2012.  After additional chemotherapy, he was told he was in remission, and was cleared to get a stem cell transplant.  A donor was found, and it was in May 2012 that Boyd Dunleavy received his life-saving stem cell transplant.

 

Boyd said the transplant was the toughest thing he had ever been through.  It lasted two and a half weeks and was “just beyond horrible.”  However, he was thrilled to learn the identity of his donor, Nathan Barnes, and in 2013, got to meet him.  He credits Nathan with saving his life.

 

However, there would be more trouble for Boyd.  After his first round of chemotherapy, he developed balance issues.  He said it was because the chemo poisoned his brain stem.  The following spring after the stem cell transplant, he was diagnosed with a virus called transverse myelitis.  He was rushed to an emergency room and doctors told him he had a bladder infection, inserted a catheter and sent him home.  Soon after that, the care team discovered its misdiagnosis.

 

Looking back, Boyd says the chemotherapy was difficult as it is for anyone, but there was more drama attached to the stem cell transplant.  That’s because he says if the transplant works, you live and if it doesn’t, you die.  He said the transplant was perfectly executed and is grateful, a sentiment in stark contrast to the first hospital, the source of two misdiagnoses.

 

Post-transplant, Boyd Dunleavy decided to become a competitive runner.  He began training in 2013, and in 2016, through its Athletes With Disabilities program, he qualified for the Boston Marathon.  A friend told Boyd he could never do Boston.  Completing it required mental determination, resilience, toughness and strength, but he did it.    

 

By way of advice for those diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia or any type of cancer, Boyd Dunleavy says to tune out the negative people, and to take charge over your cancer journey as much as you can by being your own advocate with those in health care.  He will always credit his wife for standing up and pushing back until she could find someone who would listen, something he thinks is remarkable in that normally, she is a very introverted person.  If it is a doctor you don’t trust, find another doctor; if it is a hospital, you don’t trust, find another hospital.

 

Boyd says don’t forget to advocate and don’t forget to stay strong.

 

Additional Resources:

 

Support Groups:

 

Man Up To Cancer: https://www.manuptocancer.com

 

GRYT Health: https://grythealth.com