Facing Leukemia Best He Can Wv Wrestling Coach Needs Costly Bone Marrow Treatment

As a wrestler at Lewiston High, Bill Bauman once dedicated a state tournament championship to his fraternal twin brother John, who a year earlier had fought for his life following an auto accident.

Now Bill Bauman is facing a fight of his own.

West Valley High School’s wrestling coach has chronic myelogenous leukemia and must undergo a research study treatment called a bone marrow rescue.

“It’s like ‘rescuing’ you from death, is what the doctor told Bill,” said John Bauman, a registered nurse at Deaconess hospital.

The procedure, said Bill Bauman, is his best hope for a cure.

Akin to a bone marrow transplant, the research procedure, at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Institute in Seattle, entails heavy doses of chemotherapy to kill the cancer and, as a side effect, the bone marrow.

Matching stem cells from the blood of an appropriate donor are then injected into the system to repopulate the marrow.

The process will cost a quarter-million dollars. Bauman’s insurance will not cover all of it, according to his twin.

Bauman, in his third year at West Valley, previously taught and coached nine years at Coeur d’Alene High. He is continuing to coach the Eagles and teach at Centennial Middle School while he awaits word on whether a suitable human leucocyte antigen (HLA) blood tissue match can be found.

Six brothers and sisters, including John, have been tested and are waiting to see if theirs does.

Jackie Bratcher, supervisor of the hemapheresis department at the Spokane Blood Center, said that with that many relatives, the chance of finding a match increases.

Once a match is found, treatment could begintreatment within 8 to 12 weeks.

“In every individual case, it’s 50-50,” he said. “I have to look at it that way and choose to do so.”

All told, Bauman said he is looking at a three-month stay in Seattle.

One month will be spent at the Cancer Institute undergoing the rescue procedure. Another two months must be spent nearby to monitor rehabilitation. “The transplant is an ugly thing. I’m not looking forward to it,” said Bauman. “But I guess if I have to go through all the horrible things people say, I’ll go through it.”

Bauman, who is 35, was a two-time state wrestling champion in high school and twice a conference runner-up at Boise State.

When the Bauman brothers were in the ninth grade, John was in an auto accident. John said he broke every major bone in his body, except his left arm.

“Bill could hardly handle it and wouldn’t show how badly he was feeling,” said John. “Apparently, he was affected by it. He had in mind to dedicate the season to me the following year.”

It was at state that Bill pinned the state favorite in the quarterfinals, and won by pin for the title.

“I witnessed the most impressive athletic performance I’d seen in my life,” recalled John, who tears up at the memory. “It was emotional. He came up afterward and said ‘This is for you.’

“Now it’s his turn to fight for his life.”

The Bauman family has dealt with adversity on another occasion. An older brother, Bob, died fighting a fire in the Potlatch Corp. tissue mill in Lewiston 17 years ago. But it didn’t prepare them for this.

“It’s just a slap in the face,” said John. “It’s sad to think what such a wonderful man is going through. It’s hard to understand.”

The first signs of Bauman’s illness showed up last year when he went home sick from a wrestling tournament.

“They thought I had pneumonia, gave me antibiotics and it seemed to get better,” he said.

Symptoms of fatigue persisted. He experienced night sweats. Bauman passed it off on his hectic work schedule and as being old and out of shape.

This winter, shopping the Sunday before Christmas, he experienced severe hip pain. That night, the Hayden Lake resident admitted himself to the Kootenai Medical Center emergency room.

Blood tests showed an inordinately high white blood cell count that indicated leukemia. Bauman is currently taking oral chemotherapy to help reduce swelling caused by the cancer, that had created small fractures and pain in his hips.

Following the initial shock of the diagnosis, Bauman said the only option is to maintain a positive attitude.

“There are times when I feel very low,” he said. “Most of the time I’m doing great.”

Bauman continues supervising in the wrestling room while his assistants, including his brother, are doing the hands-on teaching. Once his hips heal and he is cleared, Bauman plans to be back on the mat.

“Just showing technique, I was sweating bullets,” he quipped. “At least now, I know it was not because I’m a fat slob.”

The disease has given Bauman a heightened awareness of family. He relishes the moments he spends with them. Bauman and his wife, Laura, have two children 4-year-old Rebecca and 9-month-old Matthew.

“When I go home, I find myself staring at them and playing with my children as much as possible,” Bauman said.

He expressed more concerns for his wife than for himself.

“She needs prayers as well as myself,” said Bauman. “She’s trying to be a rock. I wish she were more open to me. I know it’s killing her.”

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Color photo

MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: WHERE TO DONATE The Bill Bauman Trust Fund at Washington Trust Bank will begin accepting donations this week.