Ken Silha Cancer Benefit

Ken was diagnosed with Myelofibrosis, a rare bone marrow cancer, following a spontaneous collapsed lung experienced while elk hunting in Colorado. He was closely monitored by his doctors at Gundersen Health System in La Crosse and referred to UW Hospital and Clinics in Madison for consideration for a stem cell transplant. Between 2014 and 2017, several discussions were held concerning timing for the transplant and the search for a donor began. Initially, the doctors were very excited that he has 7 brothers and sisters because it was likely a match would be able to be found among his siblings. Unfortunately, Ken’s HLA type did not match any of his siblings, so the search continued on the BeTheMatch registry. This search also did not yield a match. We thought a transplant was not an option.



In 2016, the UW doctor suggested using one of our children as a stem cell donor. Procedures using children as donors for parents in Europe were showing success – 70% of patients with this type of transplant were doing well at 2 years. This type of transplant is from a non-matched related donor, it’s not the usual procedure but was suggested as an option. Ken was wary of any risk to our boys and needed to weigh the benefit to himself and the risk to one of our sons. Eventually he agreed to allow our sons to be tested. Both of the boys matched Ken 50% and were good matches, but our son Ted was chosen by the doctors to be the best stem cell donor. The procedure was scheduled. Ken was admitted to UW Hospital and Clinic in Madison, WI on Feb. 21, 2017. He received stem cells collected from our son Ted on Feb. 28, 2017 following a week of conditioning treatment “chemotherapy”. He was hospitalized for 35 days and was discharged in late March 2017. We stayed at the Restoring Hope Transplant House in Middleton, WI for a few days to be close to the clinic for follow up. We were able to come home to our house, family and friends on April 5, 2017. We have had weekly and bi-weekly follow-up appointments in Madison since April. Day 100 was the first milestone in recovery. Ken is slowly recovering the 20+ pounds he lost, and trying to get back his strength. The next milestone will be 6 months at which time he should be able to get off the anti-rejection medication. He likely won’t be able to resume working for at least a year from the transplant and depending on how recovery goes we’ll see if he is able to work as a plumber again. We think we will know what our new normal will be like at about 2 years post-transplant, Feb. 2017.



We are so fortunate to have the love and support of our family and friends. This has been the most challenging experience of our lives, but we are getting through it. We’ve been able to undertake this challenge because of the love and support of our family and friends. Thank you for your consideration and support.