FW: [hepati] Hepatitis C victim looks forward to new life

December 20, 2000

[hepati] Hepatitis C victim looks forward to new life

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Hepatitis C victim looks forward to new life

Mark Reid, Calgary Herald

For the first time in a dozen years, Nykoluk has a shot at having a

merry Christmas.

The 51-year-old Calgary man's life has been a living hell since he contracted

hepatitis C from tainted blood in 1988.

But on Monday, Nykoluk announced a double-barrelled shot of good news.

Earlier this month, he became the first tainted-blood victim in Calgary to

receive compensation from Ottawa and the province.

As well, he said his disease has been in remission for six months, thanks to

special drug therapy he received at Foothills Hospital.

" Don't give up guys -- there's hope out there, " an emotional Nykoluk said in

a message to his fellow tainted-blood victims.

" (My condition's) been getting better every day. "

Nykoluk is just one of approximately 10,000 Canadians infected with hepatitis

C through the use of tainted blood products in the early 1980s. Another 1,200

victims contracted HIV.

Hepatitis C is a viral disease passed through blood-to-blood contact. It

attacks the liver and can be fatal.

Last year, Ottawa and the provinces set aside more than $1 billion to

compensate the victims of the so-called " tainted blood scandal. " Only those

who contracted the disease between Jan. 1, 1986, and July 1, 1990, qualify

for benefits.

Clint Docken, a Calgary lawyer representing 75 hepatitis C victims here, said

the almost year-long wait for the compensation cheques to begin arriving has

been " frustrating. "

However, he said the fact Nykoluk's compensation has finally arrived is a

sign of encouragement for all tainted blood victims.

" The message today is there is hope out there for the victims, " Docken said.

Nykoluk contracted hepatitis C through blood transfusions he had during two

operations for brain aneurysms in 1988.

Since then, the thin, grey-haired man has developed cirrhosis of the liver

and has suffered from extreme fatigue, nausea and vomiting and a host of

other medical problems.

Nykoluk's wife, Fran, said it's been terrible watching the man she loves

suffer over the past 12 years.

And while she welcomes the financial compensation, it doesn't come close to

making up for her husband's pain.

" It's enough to give us some relief from the bills, " she said, but " it's not

enough to compensate for pain and suffering. "

Nykoluk said he has been feeling better lately, though, thanks to treatments

of a new drug called Rebetron.

Nykoluk took the drug for five months before quitting it with one month to go

because of the horrible side-effects he was suffering.

At the time, Nykoluk said the drug sent him into a severe depression.

Then he went in for a routine test and received great news -- his disease was

in remission.

Lynn Schindel, hepatitis C clinical nurse specialist at Foothills Hospital,

said Rebetron seems to work for about 30 per cent of hepatitis C victims. She

said Nykoluk was " lucky " to see results despite not finishing his treatment.

Docken said there are about 200 Calgarians registered under the hepatitis C

compensation program who are awaiting financial aid. He could not say when

they will begin receiving their compensation.

Docken said compensation claims have run between $10,000 and $250,000

depending on the severity of the situation, but he would not say how much

money Nykoluk received.