There are so many people who have inspired me since my diagnosis in April 2007.  Some are public figures, and some work their magic in relative obscurity.   All have played an important part in my ongoing battle against multiple myeloma.

I’ll write this week about the public figures, and next week I'll write about the many other people who have inspired me.

Like many of you, Geraldine Ferraro tops the list.  She was the first celebrity survivor I ran across shortly after my diagnosis.  The fact that she was still alive after eight years—and lived with such energy and grace—was inspirational to say the least.

She went on to live an active, productive life with myeloma for over 12 years before she passed away a couple of months ago.  This added to the impact she had on me.  And like a lot of you, I was so sorry to hear of her passing.

Canadian-born actress and celebrity Lisa Ray also ranks near the top of my list.  Ms. Ray’s public battle against multiple myeloma didn’t draw much attention here in the states, but was big news internationally for the past two years.

Lisa Ray made her name as an Indian-Canadian “Bollywood” bombshell and model. Bright and well spoken, I think the fact that she was so young and strikingly beautiful when she was diagnosed with multiple myeloma in June of 2009 took the media and her fans by surprise.

To watch Ms. Ray transition from a sex symbol to an outspoken advocate for multiple myeloma research caught my attention.  The transition was symbolized by her hair.  Her long, flowing black hair was soon replaced by a short, post-transplant cut that represented her new normal life.

Lisa Ray is young, strong, still glamorous, and unafraid to share her story with the world.  You go girl!

Most recently, The NBA’s Orlando Magic Senior Vice President, Pat Williams, joined the unfortunate list of multiple myeloma survivors.  The 70 year old Williams went public with his sudden, unexpected diagnosis a few short months ago.

Mr. Williams’ “My Mission is Remission” campaign caught the attention of the main stream media, as well as other multiple myeloma survivors and caregivers.

Despite enduring severe back pain, he remains upbeat and positive about his future.  He also plans to do all he can to help raise both money and awareness for the fight against multiple myeloma.

Shifting gears, there have been a number of high-profile myeloma experts I have had the privilege to meet over the past four years.

Dr. Robert Kyle with the Mayo Clinic comes to mind first.  Often referred to as “the father of modern multiple myeloma specialists,” Dr. Kyle was one of the first myeloma docs to anticipate the potential of the new novel therapy agents, while still focusing on patient quality of life.

Dr. Brian Durie, from Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and the International Myeloma Foundations’s Medical Director, made an everlasting impression on me when he was kind enough to grant me an unscheduled, 15 minute patient consult and later spoke with me at an IMF Patient/Family Seminar just outside Minneapolis.

Dr. Durie suggested I delay a recommended stem cell transplant and continue using Revlimid ^[1] (lenalidomide) maintenance therapy instead.  This advice bought me 18 months of extra time before my myeloma returned recently.

Dr. Kenneth Anderson is one of the world’s foremost multiple myeloma experts. I met Dr. Anderson at a reception in New Orleans at an ASH conference in 2009.

Dr. Anderson is a quiet, understated gentleman—almost to a fault.  He didn’t say more than ten words to me or others around me that night.   My inspiration from Dr. Anderson appeared a short time later, when I was listening to him during one of those “new advances in multiple myeloma treatment” teleconferences a lot of these doctors do.

As I expected, Dr. Anderson covered the material in a measured, monotone fashion.  But he left a lasting impression at the end of the teleconference when he became notably upbeat and excited about a number of new, experimental novel therapy agents that Dr. Anderson felt would revolutionize myeloma treatment in the not-so-distant future.

When Dr. Anderson sounds excited about something, you notice!  I hung up the phone that day feeling optimistic about my future, anticipating the real chance of living a longer, better life.  It doesn’t get much more inspirational than that!

Dr. Keith Stewart, a rising myeloma star with Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale, Arizona, also left a lasting, inspirational impression on me.

You can’t help but notice how enthusiastic and positive Dr. Stewart is about the future for multiple myeloma patients.

After listening to him speak at a large medical conference a few years back, I found myself sitting next to him the following day in the Marriot’s Hotel business center.  Seems we were both printing out our airline boarding passes.

After exchanging small talk, I explained how I was currently a Mayo Clinic patient in Rochester, Minnesota, but I would soon be relocating to Tampa, Florida.  I went on to mention how I would be four hours away from the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida.

Not to get Dr. Stewart in trouble, but he stopped me mid-sentence.  “Oh no, don’t do that!”  Dr. Stewart remarked.  “Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa does a great job.  Wouldn’t that be a lot closer to you than Mayo-Jacksonville?”

“Yes!” I replied.  “Moffitt is only an hour or so from our new home.”

“Look up Dr. Melissa Alsina when you get there.”  Dr. Stewart continued.  “She does a great job.”

How inspiring!  Here was a specialist who clearly had a patient’s interest at heart.  Instead of pushing his own institution, Dr. Stewart suggested a much more convenient alternative—and recommended another specialist—all on the way out the door, headed to the airport.

By the way, I took Dr. Stewart’s advice and have been seeing Dr. Alsina ever since.

I could go on and on, but I should really stop here.  Next week I will concentrate on a number of inspirational figures who have helped me “behind the scenes.”

Feel good and keep smiling!  Pat