[Catalystmom]

Husband now on month 10 of maintenance: Gratitude

by Catalystmom on Tue Sep 17, 2013 8:55 pm

Hello,

I first just want to say thank you to all of you on this forum and this website. During the past 18 months as we have navigated our journey through the shock and ups and downs of learning of my husband's multiple myeloma diagnosis at age 49 and coping with various treatment related issues, I've been silently reading and learning non-stop from your collective experiences and it has been more than a beacon, it's been my savior and virtual support emotionally and intellectually in this new complex role of caregiver and medical advocate.

Hubby went from being a non-stop international traveling exec working long weeks and weekends in a high profile demanding career to celebrating his 50th this year now significantly impaired physically and cognitively unable to function as before with multiple issues due to the side effects of the chemo despite being in current remission. However, that's our "new normal" and we are happy for each day, each month that we are given. I am truly blessed as we are being treated in the trials at NIH and have had an amazing team of doctors and supporting alternative medicine and pain management teams to help with this journey. We are grateful for the combination regiment he initially got and continue on maintenance for at least another year and half based on the protocol and hopeful for continued advances in drug discovery and testing in the future.

We use the words "learning to adapt to our new normal" quite a bit when sharing updates with friends through each stage of treatment and while so much has changed, I have to say, the blessing has been a renewed sense of gratitude and the feeling of "living" more fully because of the cancer diagnosis. We've rediscovered connections with friends and family and made many new ones through the community of cancer survivors and fighters we've been part of.

We have a son who is 7 and our journey, like all of yours continues into the unknown. But, be­fore another day passed, I wanted you to know, how so very grateful and honored I am to have had this Myeloma Beacon community to help me find my way so far. Happy to help others in any way I can.

KP

[Beacon Staff]

Re: Husband now on month 10 of maintenance: Gratitude

by Beacon Staff on Wed Sep 18, 2013 9:46 pm

Many thanks for your introduction, Catalystmom, and for the kind words you shared about The Beacon and its community. We appreciate your feedback.

We also appreciate your sharing the information about your husband's diagnosis and treatment, including how you and he have responded to your "new normal." We hope that your husband's treatment concludes successfully and that his remission lasts a very, very long time.

All the best,

The Myeloma Beacon Staff