Derek Neary
Northern News Services

FORT SIMPSON (July 09/99) - When Randy Reason is able to return to Fort Simpson he has his mind set on one thing -- relaxing.

Over the past four months, the 18-year-old has been locked in a taxing battle with leukemia. He's currently in Calgary, where he underwent a bone-marrow transplant six weeks ago.

"Lately I've been feeling better. It's just once in a while you get a queasy, sick feeling stomach, but that's about it," he said over the phone on Saturday.

When Randy was diagnosed with leukemia in March, it came as a complete shock, said his father, Darrell. A recurring sore throat was the lone symptom until a lump appeared on the side of his neck.

"That's when we kind of suspected something was wrong...it's quite a shock, for sure," Darrell said.

The doctor in Fort Simpson recommended that Randy be taken to Edmonton where specialists could treat him. Three months of chemotherapy proved ineffective. As a matter of fact, his white-cell count climbed to 214,000 while a normal level is between 4,000-11,000, Darrell said.

"The doctor told him that most people with counts that high usually are in intensive care or they don't make it," he said. "Randy, as sick as he was, seemed to gather up enough strength to pull through everything."

A bone-marrow transplant became Randy's last hope. He endured painful total-body radiation to obliterate his own bone marrow in preparation for the procedure. Afterwards, it took two weeks before he was able to get out of bed.

"It really took quite a bit out of him," Darrell said, adding that he has watched his son go from 225 pounds down to 180 pounds. "For everything he's been through, the doctors say that he's doing great. But there are complications that they're kind of worried about..."

Since the transplant, Randy has contracted a virus and he's being treated for that as well. The three-month, post-transplant period is the most critical stage because the immune system has been devastated by the treatment and leaves the body susceptible to various viruses and pneumonia, Darrell noted. Another potential complications is his body rejecting the new bone marrow. He's taking medication to hopefully prevent such an occurrence.

It could take up to a year for his immune system to rebound completely. For six months, he's supposed to avoid crowds and animals and be generally cautious. He has been able to venture out for some light exercise, though, Darrell said.

The tribulations are hard to deal with some days, but his family, including older sister Monique, offers all the support they can.

"He has his ups and downs. Some days he's quite happy and other days he's kind of depressed and scared," Darrell said, adding that the substantial combination of drugs prescribed for Randy also alter his mood. However, his spirits have been lifted by the deluge of cards, letters and phone calls from Fort Simpson. A number of fund-raisers have also been held to benefit the family, who had lived in Fort Simpson for 19 years.

Darrell, a mechanic for Arctic Airports, and his wife Marlene are on leave from their jobs and have been told their positions will be there for them when they return, he said.

"We're from a small community and I think that's what small communities are all about, when there's a crisis, everybody pulls together," Darrell said. "All those prayers are helping tremendously, too." Randy, who will turn 19 on July 25, said he can't wait to get home and see his friends.

"Please thank everyone for what they did for us down here," he said. "Hopefully, I'll be back soon...I'm hoping."