Story

My husband Bob was just about to turn 65. He was pretty healthy, not many doctor visits for anything. We lived a very active, fun and exciting life. He played golf at many beautiful places around the country with three of his best friends, Larry, Tim and Mike. Bob also had a passion and love for flying his own airplane's with his friends and family. He had a strong love for riding his Harley Davidson across the country. He loved his work life too, as it was full of travel, going to many new places, seeing new things and meeting new friends. LIFE WAS GOOD! Prior, he started getting colds frequently. We were wondering why he was getting sick all the time. January, 2015 was when our family fell apart. I took him to the doctors and he had double pneumonia and his organs were shutting down and he became septic. The docs told me they didn’t think he was going to make it. They put Bob on life support right away and was in a coma for 30 days. We had no idea at this time he had Multiple Myeloma. Within that 30 days, his kidneys were not good but his liver did come back. He was put on Dialysis three days a week. After waking up from the Coma and with all his family by his bedside, he felt confident life would return to normal. This is where the next step in his Journey started. Fast forward six months on Dialysis, he wasn’t getting better but feeling awfully tired. His blood work and later confirmed with a Bone Marrow Biopsy that he was diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma. Bob’s oncologist told us he had about two years to live. Well, if you know Bob, he didn’t take that lightly. We had to get to work! He then started on a Chemo Therapy treatment called Velcade. He responded really well. In a matter of several months his light chains fell from 23K to under 100. The Velcade worked for several months but his light chains started creeping back up. So he had to continue with another Chemo cocktail and was recommended he would consider a Stem Cell Transplant. Side Note: One day he was at his Chemo appt and was sitting next to a guy he never met. (Bob was pretty down in the dumps, as he was having Chemo twice a week, and Dialysis three times a week) They introduced themselves and started talking about sports and their diseases. They both had Multiple Myeloma but for Henry it affected his bones where Bob’s affected his organs. Bob asked Henry if he was on Dialysis as well. He said no but his kidney function improved by 12%! If Bob’s improved like that he could get off Dialysis. Henry gave Bob HOPE which you really don’t have with this decease. The year 2016 was a miracle for us! By the grace of God, Bob was able to get OFF Dialysis and never went back!! Bob referred to Henry now as “his angel”. Bob and Henry continued their friendship and had lunch once a month to catch up. In the Spring of 2017, Bob underwent the Stem Cell Transplant at Stanford University, Bob went through it very well exception of losing all his hair. (No big deal) He was in remission now!! Unfortunately, just after four short months, the cancer came back and back on Chemo! Bob was on a continuous Chemo regimen for three more years. He tolerated them pretty well. Not any terrible side effects that they describe on the warning labels, which was good, he could maintain a good quality of life. Bob dealt with Peripheral Neuropathy like most people on Chemo, it’s annoying but you learn to live with it. Just before Thanksgiving of 2020 Bob’s oncologist had said his Chemo regimen he was on had stopped working. He had to now go on a more aggressive Chemo called Selinexor. This chemo was rough for Bob. He got pretty much all the side effects this time. Flu like systems, shortness of breath, fatigue, GI tract issues, you name it. After consultation with his doctor they decided to lower his dosage. That worked! No more side effects and reduced his light chains by 20%. Chemo continued for another year and a half. Time was on our side, as the CAR-T Cell Therapy which was the newest and biggest treatment for Multiple Myeloma. Bobs oncologist was very hesitant as with Renal failure patients, they couldn’t approve it. Bob said, “Please doc, I want to do this, if I can help one other person, I want to try”. His Doc said you have to understand there is a chance your kidneys could fail. Bob said ok I’ll take my chances and Bob was able to have the CAR-T. We knew the side effects and danger associated with it, but Bob still wanted to move forward. He said, what did I have to lose? Bob was the first person at Kaiser to undertake this treatment for Multiple Myeloma. Bob got through it and it did NOT affect his kidneys. He was in remission for almost 2yrs! I got my husband back! I thanked God over and over. Unfortunately, after the two years, the cancer had returned. Where do we go from here? Time again was in our favor, there was one drug available for having relapsed after CAR-T. It was called Talvey. Bob went through this Chemo Therapy drug and unfortunately the worst for him. It was a harsh drug and side effects were tough. With only a fews months the therapy stopped working. The cancer was too active, and there wasn’t any other treatment available. Bob wanted everyone that has been diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma or any cancer, your have to “embrace it, keep your chin up, “it’s just another bump in the road”. Bob always had a smile on his face and was able to help so many with his coaching he did through the Health Tree Foundation. He left this world knowing he guided so many people “away from the cliff”. He also had strengthened his faith with God which was so important to him. This is why Bob, myself and our familes want to raise money for research and to find a cure for this disease.