Hello Rodney.
You state that your numbers are good but not 100%. With our illness, we know that we are not curable, just treatable. You have gone through a lot and came out a winner. You are an inspiration to all of us. None of us know for how long the "better" times will last and therefore let's not feel down and try to enjoy each day. People who are or think that they are 100% healthy could be dead or paralyzed in a car accident and most of the people in the Ukrainian Air disaster were on a happy trip and died in mid air without prior notice. None of us know when we are destined to die. We can outlive many a very healthy person because God took them for whatever reason.
I have been very sick this spring with a terrible reaction to Revlimid. 5 weeks in Hospital and inpatient Rehab. I could not breathe normal, could not walk one step without chest pain. So weak afterwards that I had to use a walker and still have to sleep half the day as I do not feel stronger until late in the day. I now go biking to the YMCA around 8:00 PM several times a week. In the mornings I can barely move. The doctors at the Abrahms Cancer Center in Philadelphia stopped the Chemo as my numbers are not bad enough (not that good either) and will figure out what I will be getting in the next month or so. Valcade, + 2 others (given together) stopped doing the job. I may have to go on trial medicines. I have NOT had a stem cell transplant and will not get one either.
Somehow I am not depressed and try to live as if I was just getting older and not able to do the things that I did before. I drive where ever I have or want to go, visit my daughter outside Baltimore and just rest the hours I have to.
I even work most days, I have been a Realtor for 37 years and my clients do not know that I have cancer as it does not show in my appearance. Working and resolving clients problems makes me happy and we all must do as much as we can to get happiness in our lives. I cry enough on my weekly visits to my husband at the cemetery. I am just thankful that he died 2 weeks before I was diagnosed. With all his health problems he would have suffered doubly seeing me so sick and all my hospital stays would have been very hard on him.
There is a very well organized group of MM patients who meet once a month in Philadelphia at the Ralston House at 36 and Chestnut St. They have been organized since the 1990 ties. They have fund raisers and donated a lot of money for MM research already in all these years.
I just heard about them and I will join their next meeting. It will be good to actually see and hear other MM patients and exchange ideas with them. My own specialist will be speaking to the group at their September meeting. I have actually never met (face to face) another MM patient. People in the doctors waiting rooms do not have a shield to say which type of blood cancer they have.
Stay well and be as active as you can, enjoy your friends and family and do not let MM take over. There are many hours a day when I talk to a client or put together a real estate program for a client where I DO NOT even think about my MM. Same if I am with my grand children or my friends or my daughters and we talk about everything else. I feel "normal" at that time. I hope that you can do that also.
I am very worried about our overseas friend from the Isle of Jersey. I cannot think of a reason that if she could, she would not keep in touch. I think of her very often and always wonder and hope that she is OK. I know that you were concerned also. How could we find out I wonder??
I thank God every day for my life. I have never asked God: "why me?"
Take very good care.
Best wishes and greeting from a fellow Pennsylvanian
Liz