Sean Murray's Archive

Sean writes a monthly column for The Myeloma Beacon titled "Sean's Burgundy Thread," based on the notion that all who are touched by multiple myeloma are connected together with an invisible 'burgundy thread.' For nearly thirty years, Sean has worked as a writer, entertainment producer, theatrical executive, and as a creative consultant in various industries. Diagnosed with Stage III Myeloma in November of 2008 at the age of 49, he chose to pursue an aggressive method of treatment. High-dose induction chemotherapy, tandem stem cell transplants, consolidation and extended maintenance chemotherapies have currently placed him in complete remission. Sean authors a blog, Myeloma Youreloma, through which he shares a positive, humorous, hopeful approach to battling the disease. A husband and father of two, some of Sean’s special areas of interest include international adoption, veteran’s issues, church, and raising dogs.

Sean Murray has written 76 article(s) .

[ by | Nov 2, 2010 2:53 pm | 8 Comments ]
Sean’s Burgundy Thread: My Adventures Through Total Therapy

In November of 2008, my local physician referred me to specialists at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) for a diagnostic work-up, and it was there that his suspicions were confirmed. I, indeed, at 49 years old, had multiple myeloma. Whatever the heck that was!

My first order of business, after learning how to say ‘myeloma,’ was to seek qualified information and opinions from respected myeloma centers around the country, to interview knowledgeable physicians and oncology nurses, and …

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[ by | Oct 5, 2010 1:00 pm | 13 Comments ]
Sean’s Burgundy Thread: Staying Connected To Yourself While Living With Myeloma

In last month’s Myeloma Beacon article, I shared how important it has been during my two year fight against multiple myeloma to stay firmly ‘connected’ to my at-large health care team consisting of family, friends, caregivers, physicians, and other medical professionals all acting in concert on my behalf.

The herculean efforts of so many people and organizations to help myeloma patients like me survive this rare cancer have been both humbling and gratifying. Though the campaign moves on slowly, …

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[ by | Sep 7, 2010 2:37 pm | 3 Comments ]
Sean’s Burgundy Thread: Making Important Myeloma Connections

An important tenet of my monthly Burgundy Thread column has been to explore the concept that we multiple myeloma patients are inexorably connected to one another through our shared experiences and that by reaching out to one another, we all benefit.

Having battled multiple myeloma for nearly two years, I’ve learned how vital it is for me to intentionally keep myself connected on several fronts as myeloma has come boisterously storming into my life.

In its essence, being connected means …

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[ by | Aug 3, 2010 12:34 pm | 16 Comments ]
Sean’s Burgundy Thread: New Multiple Myeloma Patients Are Put To The Test

“You have multiple myeloma.”

That phrase, delivered by physicians at the University of Arkansas for Medical Science’s (UAMS) in November of 2008, was the first official, irrefutable diagnosis of my cancer career. We suspected that I had myeloma, but there it was. They said it out loud, and it still reverberates in my mind.

While I would have much rather heard, “Tests show that there is a pea underneath your mattress that has been causing your back pain,” I knew …

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[ by | Jul 6, 2010 9:38 am | 5 Comments ]
Sean’s Burgundy Thread: You Have Myeloma! Welcome To Little Rock!

No doubt, you remember exactly how you found out that you had multiple myeloma. There are as many unique diagnosis stories as there are patients. Below is how I became a full-fledged citizen of what I respectfully call "Myelomaville."

I was counting on the fact that Superman would never lead me astray. Well, not really Superman, but Dr. Christopher Reeves, D.O., one of my local physicians. Imbued with an active imagination, it was a short hop for me to promote …

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[ by | Jun 1, 2010 2:11 pm | 9 Comments ]
Sean’s Burgundy Thread: Introducing My Monthly Myeloma Column

Hello! My name is Sean Murray. As a myeloma patient marching lockstep alongside you into the daily battle, I am grateful to The Myeloma Beacon for allowing me to share some of my thoughts, experiences, musings, and ‘a-musings’ with you via this new monthly column.

My aim in joining The Myeloma Beacon’s efforts is to offer a patient’s perspective on this extraordinary journey upon which we have embarked.

Perhaps there is something that I have learned along the way that …

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