Inspirational Stories

I was diagnosed with two blood cancers — multiple myeloma (MM) and chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML).

Cancer entered my life at five years old when I lost my father to pancreatic cancer. Then again, when my oldest sister was diagnosed with breast cancer, she is now nine years cancer-free. Then again, when my mother was diagnosed with breast cancer. Sadly, we lost my mother in May 2019 to breast cancer

Soon after losing my mother, I was diagnosed with MM in February 2020 at 46 years old. I had never heard of MM, and my doctor told me there was no cure, and my prognosis would be just five years. My immediate reaction to this heart-wrenching news was fear and uncertainty. I immediately knew I had to be my own advocate and had to fight for my life. During this time, the pandemic had just hit, and the world was being told to stay indoors, but I had to go to the cancer center alone for chemotherapy treatment.

With poor mutations, my prognosis was not the best. I endured rigorous chemotherapy treatments, IVs, hospital stays, countless infections, and I fell into a diabetic coma due to my first oncologist not watching my bloodwork during induction therapy. There was also intense bone pain, sleeping most of the day due to exhaustion, nausea, blood transfusions, fatigue, feeling out of breath, being dizzy, unable to stand and walk for long periods of time, and the neuropathy pain in my feet is debilitating. I lost my hair so many times now that I have lost count.

After two autologous transplants, I finally reached remission. My remission lasted for a year and a half. In October 2023, MM returned. I started chemotherapy treatments right away, which came with severe side effects again. While treating MM for a month, I received a second diagnosis of CMML. I was devastated! I felt hopeless! I was very afraid. I quickly got myself together and got back in the ring with my boxing gloves on tight. I had to get it together. I have a husband whom I want to grow old with and two amazing children who need me, and Lord knows I need them.

The leukemia diagnosis required daily chemotherapy treatments, while continuing my weekly chemotherapy treatment for myeloma. After six months of steady high-dose chemotherapy, two sessions of full-body radiation, and another transplant (this time my son was my donor), I am very happy to share that I AM CANCER-FREE. I am experiencing chronic graft versus host disease (GVHD), which is affecting my eyes and my joints and keeps me in constant pain.

My experience with MM shifted my perspective, and now that I am in remission, I approach life with intention and gratitude.

After my diagnosis, I felt compelled to share my story. My journey as a survivor ignited a fire within me to advocate for others. Each moment that I commit to volunteering for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) is an opportunity to empower and inspire those navigating their own battles. I want others to see that, while cancer is a hardship, it can also spark a light within us that illuminates the path for others, creating hope along the way.

After my initial diagnosis, I reached out to LLS. The case manager did a great job in helping me prepare for the journey ahead. She sent me information on diet, financial support, and items to educate myself on the journey on which I was soon to embark. Once I became stronger, I then began to volunteer for LLS.