On January 17th, I was diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma, a treatable but incurable blood cancer. I spent most of 2023 struggling with back and rib pain. I went to my Dr., had X-rays, ultrasounds and they didn’t find anything concerning. I thought I was just getting old but at the urging of my chiropractor, I got an MRI on December 21st that revealed innumerous lesions in the marrow of my spine. After weeks of additional testing, I had my “Spend One Day With Us” appointment at Roswell where they confirmed I had Multiple Myeloma.
Presented with the options of the standard course or care or a clinical study, I have chosen to participate in an 8-month clinical study. I started treatment on February 2nd and I am about to finish the 4th cycle of the trial. I go to Roswell every Friday for treatment which consists of a mixture of pills, shots and IV-infusions and I’m happy to report that I am responding well to the treatment. My M-Spike number (the important number) was 4.85 when I was diagnosed and with treatment, has reduced to .24. The goal is 0.0 & remission. Even with remission, I will have to be on maintenance drugs and monitored for the rest of my life.
Walking into Roswell on January 17th to learn that I had cancer was the single, worst day of my life. There’s so much more I want to do and be around for, so we fight. We fight and pray we get to remission and then stay one-step ahead of it for as long as we can.
The staff and my team at Roswell are amazing and that’s why I have chosen to participate in this year’s Ride for Roswell. I need your help to raise critically needed funds to support me and the thousands of patients that Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center helps each year. Please consider donating to my Ride for Roswell fundraiser. For every dollar donated to cancer research, Roswell Park is now able to leverage an additional $23 from external grants towards that research.
There is no cure for Multiple Myeloma, and I want to help change that! On June 22nd I’m going to ride 45-miles for Roswell and I’m asking that all my friends donate to my fundraising efforts.
Together- We can end cancer!