I have never been one to make New Year’s resolutions. That may be due to the fact that I am an educator and that my life has centered around the school year, which runs from to August to June. As a result, my goals have usually been based on that calendar.

But, because multiple myeloma pretty much controlled and dominated every part of my life in 2014, I have resolved to do a number of things differently in 2015.

First, …

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. had a “Dream.” In perhaps the most inspiring and powerfully delivered speech of our generation, he outlined his ambitious goal of equality for all.

I have a dream too, although mine is far less encompassing – and decidedly more self-centered – than Dr. King’s.

For many years, my dream was pretty simple: live to the ripe old age of 93, surrounded by scads of grandkids and great grandkids. Live an active life right up to …

With children’s choirs clad in red and green singing round nativity scenes, eager shoppers filling the stores, and lines leading to knee-weary Santas, I've been thinking: What is the perfect Christmas gift this season?

At various points in my life, I definitely would have answered that question differently.

There were countless Christmas mornings when I awoke wide-eyed, hoping to see the fruits of the “nice list” rather than the “naughty” one.

As a little girl, I adored Princess Leia from …

As the 2014 holiday season reaches it peak, all of us here at The Myeloma Beacon would like to thank you, our readers and members of the Beacon community, for giving us the greatest gift possible: your time. 

We appreciate your coming to The Beacon and reading our articles, letting us know your thoughts about them, and sharing your experiences and helping one another in our forums.

The holiday season is a time of many different traditions. It also is a …

Shortly before Thanksgiving, I started seeing my Facebook news feed fill up with articles about how to make healthy food choices during the holiday season. How to avoid weight gain. Why cookies will kill you, and why you need to step away from the eggnog and head to the gym.

I started seeing friends complain about the size of their thighs. They revealed the crushing guilt they feel from having that extra serving of mashed potatoes. They acknowledged that they’re …

I struggled mightily with my column this month. I started, stopped, started again, and finally gave up on a half-finished story that seemed relevant at the begin­ning, but eventually got mired in minutiae that my heart just wasn’t into.

What struck me was that the things that were important a few weeks ago when I started to write seemed exceptionally trivial just a short time later.

What changed?

My perspective.

You see, during this period I was touched …

It was in December of 2008, six short years ago, that I first began infusion treatments in my madcap battle against multiple myeloma.

Diagnosed at Thanksgiving, I spent Christmas and the better part of the next nine months in Arkansas, several hours away from my home, wife, and young children.

In the spirit of the holidays, and with my sincere – for the most part – apologies to Clement Clarke Moore, author of ‘The Night Before Christ­mas,’ I offer the …