A high school football coach has tragically died after becoming victim to a drug shortage that is threatening the lives of those with various illnesses.
Jeff Bolle, 60, a beloved high school counselor and football coach from Milwaukee, fought bravely against bile duct cancer, but his battle was cut short last December when his vital chemotherapy drug, cisplatin, ran out, as reported by the Daily Mail.
Despite undergoing surgery and four rounds of chemotherapy to combat a grapefruit-sized tumor near his liver, Bolle desperately needed two more rounds to eradicate the remaining cancer cells.
However, the cancer center where he received treatment couldn't provide the necessary medication.
Bolle's ordeal is just one example of the widespread struggle faced by thousands of patients across the United States who are unable to access essential medications due to an ongoing shortage affecting not only chemotherapy drugs but also crucial treatments for diabetes, infections, and more, per ABC News.
Before his passing, Bolle and his wife, Connie, shared their story in hopes of raising awareness and pressuring authorities to address the issue.
A recent survey revealed that 72 percent of the nation's largest cancer centers lack an adequate supply of carboplatin, while 59 percent continue to experience shortages of cisplatin, a drug crucial in treating various cancers.
Bolle's battle with cancer began in 2022 when he experienced unusual back pain, initially dismissed as a result of heavy lifting.
"I was taking my Tylenol at night just to be comfortable enough to sleep. I realized that I just need to get this checked to know what it was," he told Today last year.
However, subsequent tests revealed a devastating diagnosis of bile duct cancer, which claims the lives of around 83 percent of its victims.
Despite initial success with treatment, the unavailability of medication left him without vital care.
The shortage of cisplatin and other drugs stems from a complex supply chain issue, exacerbated by regulatory hurdles and manufacturing disruptions.
The FDA has resorted to importing drugs from China as a temporary solution, but the problem persists, with 323 medicines currently in short supply nationwide.
Connie Bolle reflected on her husband's fight, acknowledging the uncertainty of whether access to medication could have prolonged his life.
Despite his illness, Bolle attended as many games as he could before his tragic passing, and even paced the field with his walker, coaching the defensive backs.
"He knew how important it was for these high school kids. Some of the seniors had journeyed with Jeff for four years," Connie said.
She added: "I don’t know how Jeff did it because he could barely stand honestly. At that point, he was probably down to about 140 pounds."
Bolle's team ended up winning the Division One state championship football title.
In a statement to Today, the FDA said that it "recognizes the potential impact that lack of availability of certain products may have on health care providers and patients."
They continued: "While the agency does not manufacture drugs, and cannot require a pharmaceutical company to make a drug, make more of a drug, or mandate who a pharmaceutical company chooses to sell its product to (among lawful purchasers), the public should rest assured the FDA is working closely with numerous manufacturers and others in the supply chain to understand, mitigate and prevent or reduce the impact of intermittent or reduced availability of certain products."
Our thoughts are with Bolle's loved ones during this time.
