Why does cancer exist?
Why does it have to cause such fear and anxiety in those who know it intimately?
Why do I have to have oncology appointments, radiation oncology appointments, lab tests, PET scans, MRIs, bone marrow biopsies, and other tests instead of playdates with my kids, coffee chats with friends, and career-advancing commitee meetings at work?
I don't know the answers to these questions. As I tell Maddie, it's important to focus on gratitudes not what we're missing out on in life. So what am I grateful for?
For each and every day I wake up, pain-free, with energy and ability to care for my children and myself.
For my family who loves me unconditionally and makes me whole.
For my friends who make life better.
For my career as an ICU nurse which I love and am passionate about, even after 12 years.
For the excellent medical care I receive at SCCA and Fred Hutch and the ability to afford it through my insurance.
And for the opportunity to proactively work to make a difference and bring us closer to answering all those unanswerable questions. That is what Defeat Myeloma run/walk and this fundraising is all about. Someday, with your help and mine, we'll hopefully have all the answers.
Until then, we focus on our gratitudes, hope for the future, and work our tails off to get there! Corona virus may have shaken things up a bit, but the need for cancer research has not diminished. I am ALL IN! Will you join me by supporting my fundraising and registering as a virtual participant for June 28th?
Thank you,
Sarah
What is the Multiple Myeloma?
Multiple Myeloma is a cancer of plasma cells found in bone marrow. Normal plasma cells help the immune system fight disease, but when plasma cells become cancerous they grow out of control and can produce a tumor called a plasmacytoma. If someone has more than one plasmacytoma, they have multiple myeloma.
Why support this event?
Defeat Multiple Myeloma’s mission is to raise awareness of multiple myeloma while supporting research that seeks to discover new treatments, improve the quality of life for myeloma patients, and ultimately find a cure for this devastating form of cancer. Funds from the 2019 Defeat Multiple Myeloma event will continue to support immunotherapy research and clinical trials at Fred Hutch which are using CAR-T cells and have shown very promising early results for patients.