Gail’s Story: Taking Things as They Come

Gail Halderman has always approached life with a steady, practical optimism – the kind that doesn’t deny hardship but refuses to be defined by it. When faced with challenges, his instinct is to get on with what needs to be done, one step at a time. That mindset has served him well through his long career as an entrepreneur, his full family life, and, more recently, a rare and demanding cancer diagnosis.

“Cancer is a word you never want to hear,” Gail says matter-of-factly. “But if you do, you’ve just got to deal with it. I’ve always said you have to be ready for whatever comes — and I am. I take things as they come.”

Four years ago, at age 70, Gail was diagnosed with Sézary syndrome, a rare and aggressive form of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma. In this disease, cancerous T-cells infiltrate the skin, blood, and lymph nodes, causing intense itching and a red, scaly rash that can cover most of the body. It is incurable, but treatable, a reality Gail has learned to live with.

The first warning sign was relentless itching. For years, it was treated as eczema by a dermatologist. It wasn’t until Gail developed an infection and sought a second opinion that the picture changed. With the involvement of a hematologist, tests revealed the real cause: a rare blood cancer with few cases in Alberta.

“I’ve been pretty lucky,” said Gail. “I was referred to two teaching doctors in Calgary and they’ve been looking after me very good. But boy, I sure had to go through a lot over the past four years to get to this point.”

His treatment journey has been extensive and complex. It began with extracorporeal photopheresis (ECP), a specialized therapy in which white blood cells are collected, treated with ultraviolet light, and returned to the body. Because the treatment wasn’t available locally, Gail made regular trips to Calgary. Alongside this, he received weekly interferon injections.

When those approaches weren’t enough, his hematologist suggested a targeted therapy called mogamulizumab – a drug not available in Canada and prohibitively expensive. Through a special guest application, Gail was able to receive it for seven months. The drug successfully treated the cancer in his blood, but his skin symptoms persisted.

The next step was full-body skin electron beam radiation, delivered over three weeks in Winnipeg. Radiation had been used to treat small sections of his skin previously, but with the application to his whole body, the effects were intense.

“That took me out for a while,” Gail recalls. “I slept for 24 hours straight, and then all the lesions on my body started to dry up and bleed, so I was a mess. I did get over it, but I said I’d never do it again. Of course, you say that at the time, but now, I don’t know, maybe I would do it again.” The treatment cleared nearly all the lesions on his body.

Today, Gail is on another targeted therapy, brentuximab, which he will take for a year. The lesions are mainly gone except on one eyelid; however, the treatment has caused other side effects, including hair loss, nausea, and neuropathy.

“It’s not been easy, but really, I’ve had all the luck,” he says. “I’ve been fortunate to qualify for these treatments that are expensive and really hard to get.”

Though deeply grateful for the medical care he has received, Gail describes himself as “more of a naturopathic person.” He works with a naturopath in Medicine Hat, where he lives, and also visited one in Calgary, with hopes they can help him manage treatment side effects.

A Life Built on Work, Family, and Gratitude

Before cancer entered the picture, Gail thought of himself as semi-retired. Raised on his grandfather’s homestead near Frontier, Saskatchewan, he had spent nearly 40 years in business, owning and operating farm equipment dealerships across Saskatchewan and Alberta. Growing up and working in this industry most of his life, farming and machinery were part of his DNA.

After working at a local farm equipment manufacturer, Gail and a partner bought the local Massey Ferguson and GM dealership and ran it for thirteen years. They had opened a New Holland dealership in Shaunavon, Saskatchewan. He sold his share and moved his family to Medicine Hat in 1994 to open another New Holland dealership there, then another in Brooks in 1995.

When he eventually sold that business, Gail wasn’t quite ready to slow down. He took what he still calls “the best job in Medicine Hat,” the fleet manager at the local Chevrolet dealership.

“It didn’t feel like work at all,” he said. “I was my own boss, and I enjoyed myself. I thought I’d do it for a few years and ended up staying eight.”

Gail and his wife Diane, a retired nurse, have built a prosperous and adventurous life together. They have four adult children and eight grandchildren. With three grandkids playing hockey, much of their time is spent travelling to games and tournaments. They also love to travel more broadly, something Gail’s industry leadership roles have made possible many times throughout their life.

“We’ve had a good life,” he says simply. “We’ve been very fortunate.”

Even now, travel remains a priority. Last year, they visited friends in Florida and California. Early this year, they spent three weeks in Mexico, and this spring, they plan to join their daughter and son-in-law on a trip to Kenya, where their son-in-law is from. Gail is an active Rotarian and, as club treasurer, he and Diane also plan to attend Rotary’s World Convention in Taipei this summer. When he’s not travelling or watching his grandkids play hockey, he enjoys golfing, riding his e-bike, and spending precious time with friends and family.

“I always say you’ve got two choices when you wake up: you can be in a good mood or a bad mood, and I try to choose the good mood. I put each foot on the floor and say thank you,” said Gail.

The Wellspring Connection

Gail discovered Wellspring’s Cancer Connect program through an ad on TV. “I thought, I’ll go see what this is about,” he said. What he found was perspective.

“Going to those meetings made me realize how lucky I am,” Gail explains. “The group is very diverse. Some are very sick, some are in remission, some are caregivers, some have financial or family challenges on top of cancer. I wonder sometimes if it’s even fair what some people have to deal with. Mostly though, it made me realize how fortunate I am to be where I am.”

The experience stirred something else in Gail, too – a desire to lighten the load for others.

“It made me want to help others, cheer them up, give back where I can,” he said, mentioning a time when the group was doing a drawing exercise and he lightened the mood by saying he was okay with drawing, but he’d have to draw a line if they started crocheting.

While in Calgary for treatment, Gail visited Wellspring’s Carma House and was struck by the welcoming space and warm reception he received.

“If I lived in Calgary, I think it would be a great place to go,” he said. “And even if you don’t live nearby, they also offer a lot of stuff online. There’s so much stuff there for anyone who needs it or wants it. I just can’t find the time.”

Still, he spreads the word about Wellspring whenever he can. Also, as someone who understands the business side of things, he is compelled to urge others to donate to ensure Wellspring can continue to support those living with cancer.

“Nothing in this world is free, and that goes for Wellspring, too. Even if they don’t charge for their services and they use a lot of volunteers, behind the scenes, they need financial resources. Anyone who can give should. Wellspring really does help people,” he said.

For Gail, that help fits neatly into a philosophy he’s lived by for decades: show up, stay grateful, be ready for anything, and keep moving forward, even when the road takes an unexpected detour.

The Human Side of Cancer Can’t Wait

Cancer doesn’t stay in the hospital. It affects emotions, identity, relationships, finances, and everyday life. That’s exactly why Wellspring Alberta exists. Wellspring Alberta supports the human side of cancer by providing the emotional, social, and practical support — working alongside the healthcare system to ensure people are cared for as whole human beings, not just patients. Our programs complement medical treatment and research by addressing needs that extend beyond medical care, helping people feel less alone as they navigate life with and beyond cancer. Support the human side of cancer. Donate today.