“Carpe diem! Rejoice while you are alive; enjoy the day; live life to the fullest; make the most of what you have.” – Horace
Beth Morgan’s Myeloma Listserv has some wonderful folks who are intimately connected with Multiple Myeloma. This recently went out by a Myeloma survivor that was incredibly impressive to me, and I hope to you as well. If you are doing OK at the moment, and not in the throws of your treatment or relapse, perhaps you can appreciate and be inspired by this man’s LIFE. It is presented in relationship to Multiple Myeloma, but imagine if he didn’t have MM, wouldn’t you still be impressed?
Since my MM diagnosis I have…
Collected 1400/mo social security
Collected $2100/mo private disability insurance
Maintained a higher WBC then was expected
Married a woman 10 years younger with a Masters in Chemistry
Turned 40 with family and friends
Collected more stem cells in two days than the nurse had ever seen
Survived a PBSCT at Stanford
Grew a new hip socket above my broken one
Learned to Walk on the self-healed hip
Had a hip replacement
Learned to Walk yet again
Bought my first house based on my disability income
Returned to working full-time
Built a custom kitchen in the new house
Toured 9 countries in Europe over 4 weeks
Helmet dived in Aruba
Cruised the Panama Canal, for New Years
Had Lasik in both eyes
Returned to my oncologist, after a 5 year absence
Had a son, became a father
Took family vacation to Cancun
Took family vacation to Oahu and Maui
Built a custom home on top of my home
Turned 50 with a big party
Had a blonde, blue-eyed daughter
Obtained 500K Life Insurance with a standard rating
Celebrated Chinese New Years in China
Climbed the Great Wall in China, walked the Forbidden Temple
Upgraded the Life Insurance to 600K with a preferred rating
Rode a 140 year old irrigation canal in Kauai on an inner-tube (last month)
There is not doubt that the years since my mm diagnosis have been the best years
of my life.
—
Male, age 52 ,
diag 1/98, pbsct 1/99, cured July 2000, no treatments since
Taking Genesis with Resveratrol, Advanced Omega, Ultra-Vitality
Previously took shark liver oil, apricot seeds and skeletal herbs
This list was used with permission. The Myeloma Listserv is expected to be a private and confidential communication amongst Myeloma patients and caregivers around the world.
I had synus carcinoma 11 years ago and was given two months to live 12 with the operation. I was told about apricot seeds and began taking them. 11 years later I have been diagnosed with MM and again turned to apricot seeds as a help in staving off this cancer. I also agree one must take ones mind off the problem and carry out those things one likes to do best.I.e trips on my harley ;fishing and helping others . I am in my seventieth year and don,t intend leaving the planet just yet. Iwill let you all know how I progress ;including the sceptics. BOBL
Well let me know if you do the tube ride! Sounds like a blast!
Not to sure how my husband would feel about me customising the kitchen or for that matter marrying a woman 10 years younger than me but I’m just off to look up exactly where Kauai is as I for one can’t wait to ride an inner tube down that irrigation canal! ;D