Firefighter’s climb a tribute to a leukemia cure

John Jacobson knows that every step counts — all 1,311 of them.

Jacobson was diagnosed with leukemia a year ago. Two weeks after he got the news, his fellow firefighters in District 1 climbed 69 flights of stairs to raise money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

“It definitely hit closer to home. It’s one of our own,” firefighter Travis Winston said.

Jacobson climbed the Bank of America Tower in Seattle on March 6 with hundreds of other firefighters from around the country.

“I want to raise money and raise awareness,” Jacobson said. “It’s a good cause.”

The Arlington man, 46, is in remission in large part because of money that was raised by the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Donations from the annual Scott Firefighter Stair Climb provide funding for patient services and research. Last year, firefighters raised $190,000.

A doctor whose research was supported by the society developed Gleevec, the drug that gave Jacobson his life back.

“It’s a brilliant piece of work,” he said.

More than a year ago, Jacobson noticed that his energy was low. He was nauseated all the time, getting car sick in the paramedic vehicles.

After several visits to doctors and emergency rooms, Jacobson was diagnosed with chronic myelogenous leukemia.

“Part of me was kind of expecting it. I knew it wasn’t good,” he said.

Fear and apprehension set in for the father of four.

“Immediately, all I could think about was all the things I hadn’t done to prepare for something like this,” he said.

The longtime firefighter learned later that there was hope. His type of leukemia responded well to a fairly new drug. Within two weeks of taking Gleevec, Jacobson’s white blood cell count was within the healthy range, he said.

“I wake up every morning, take a pill, go to work and I feel good,” Jacobson said.

Good enough to lug about 50 pounds of fire gear up the tower?

“I’m not looking to set any records. I just want to make it,” he said before the event.

His children and girlfriend were waiting at the finish line.

Diana Hefley is a reporter for The Herald in Everett.