Blair's story

Blair Wingfield speaks from experience … and from the heart. As a survivor of leukaemia for more than 25 years, and someone intimately involved in the evolution of the Foundation through his association with former leukaemia organisations, Blair has exceptional insight. He understands the vision of the organisation … as well as the personal toll leukaemia takes on the whole family. He is both an inspiration and a walking history book. A true ambassador for the LBF!

“Ironically, I was working in life insurance when leukaemia turned my life upside down. You'd think I'd have been a little more alert to the warning signs! But when you're a fit and active 39, with family responsibilities and two young children under 10, you barely have the time or energy to entertain any nagging doubts about your health. I'd been feeling increasingly tired and wretched for some time, but I put that down to the stress of work and the general demands of family life. Yet, even I couldn't ignore the huge bruise on the side of my leg that refused to go away. I couldn't even remember how it had got there. By the time my GP had conducted preliminary tests, it was pretty clear he feared the worst. I was admitted to Auckland Hospital that same day and my wife and I were given the diagnosis I'd begun to fear.

I had a life-threatening disease: acute myeloid leukaemia.

Worse still, because I'd left it so late to seek medical help, my leukaemia was extremely advanced. I was literally bleeding to death internally. The doctors told my wife I had a less than five per cent chance of making it through the night. That night I clinically 'died' but was revived and had what they now call a Near Death Experience. I remember thinking: 'the doctors have kept me alive till now … and from here on, it's my turn to go into bat'.

I made it all right, but that was just the start of the real battle. They put me on a course of aggressive chemotherapy but it was touch and go for some time. They wrote me off again two weeks later but I pulled through again. Those early weeks were the most frightening, and had a profound affect on me, and the way I was to fight this life-threatening blood disease.

I knew, intuitively, that goal setting was going to be critical if I was to make it through. So I started setting myself goals. The first was to make it to my son's eighth birthday which was two weeks away: the second, to hang in there until my 40th birthday one month away. Then onto Christmas … New Year … and back to work. On the eve of my 40th birthday, I was officially given the news that I was in remission. But I was practical enough to know that 'remission' was a long way from a cure! And I knew the battle was a long way from being over.

All the while, as sick as I felt on the chemo, I kept an eye on the calendar. Mentally checking off each goal I achieved, and setting myself new goals. I remember lying awake on the night of my 40th watching the clock. When the dial rolled around to midnight I woke the family up shouting 'Yahoo!!'. Apart from dying, everything that can go wrong while on chemo went wrong with me. It wasn't easy, but I was determined. And I had a lot to live for: Jean, my wife, and my boys Seton and Guy who were only five and seven years old at the time. I look at them now, both fine young men nearing their 30s who have four children of their own - our precious grandchildren - and I can't imagine not having been around to watch them all grow up.

I was one of the lucky ones.

I have had no treatment since 1983 and in the years since I was diagnosed with leukaemia, a lot has changed … but despite the improvements in treatment, and vastly improved survival rates, leukaemia still remains a 'killer' disease.

I don't take one day of my life for granted, and that's the advice I give to other leukaemia patients I now counsel in my role with the Leukaemia & Blood Foundation. Nor do I take for granted the work we do here at the LBF. I know from first-hand experience the impact leukaemia has on the whole family. That's why I am passionate about what the Foundation does in supporting patients and their families. Fighting a life threatening disease is a roller-coaster of physical, emotional and financial challenges. Not just for the person diagnosed with the condition, but for those who love them.

Cancer is a high-profile disease and there are many organisations in the community who work on behalf of, and with, people with cancer. But the LBF is the only organisation in New Zealand that focuses solely on services for people with leukaemia and related blood disorders. And with four New Zealanders diagnosed with leukaemia or a related blood disorder every day, the Foundation is a vital national resource. I'm proud to be a part of it."

Footnote: Blair is the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Leukaemia & Blood Foundation.