Jamie Straka Honored as Team Captain Against Northern Colorado

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa - UNI men's basketball will have an additional team captain for its game against Northern Colorado, UNI freshman Jamie Straka. Jamie is battling a rare condition of Aplastic Anemia, a condition which his bone marrow stops producing the three major types of blood cells: red cells, white cells, and platelets.

Jamie was diagnosed in 2005 when he was just five years old. After researching the disease, treatment facilities and meeting with a family whose child had also been diagnosed with Aplastic Anemia, the Straka family decided the Children's Hospital of Wisconsin in Milwaukee was going to be the best fit for their upcoming battle.

Jamie underwent a bone marrow transplant, for unknown reasons the first attempt was unsuccessful. A couple of years after the first bone marrow transplant was performed Jamie's disease reappeared, manifesting itself in uncontrolled bloody noses, fatigue, and petechiae covering his body. He fought courageously for many years, but the disease refused to relent, pushing Jamie to have no choice but to receive a second bone marrow transplant.

Jamie made the decision to delay his first year at UNI to fight this relentless disease. In the Fall of 2018, his friends were enjoying their first semester in college, Jamie began the long road to recovery.

Throughout the highs and lows, the UNI men's basketball team was a constant bright light for Jamie. UNI's senior guard Spencer Haldeman and Jamie attended Western Dubuque as classmates. Once Spencer learned of Jamie's procedure, he wanted to do something special that would put a smile on Jamie's face. The team showed their support through a myriad of gestures, such as giving him a shout out on social media, sending autographed basketballs, and making t-shirts.

Once Jamie became stronger following his procedure, the team invited him to their golf outing. Spencer Haldeman and Coach Ben Jacobson presented Jamie with a UNI basketball shooting shirt with his name on it, symbolizing his presence on the team.

Today, Jamie is a freshman at UNI. His family is happy to report that his blood cell count is better than ever, and he's now able to experience life like a normal college student. Jamie has shown that anything is possible, even when dealing with a life-threatening disease.

This Saturday, when the Panthers take the court against Northern Colorado, Jamie's friends and family will be in the crowd wearing his shirt. They'll be representing the adversity he's faced and a battle won.

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Jamie Straka Honored as Team Captain Against Northern Colorado

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Spencer Haldeman

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