Harvey Church

multiple myeloma coach since 2025

I was diagnosed in May of 2021. I discovered a tumor on my right femur. After several other test I discovered I had swine additional lesions and was diagnosed with MM. I selected UAMS in Little Rock as my main treatment center. Dr Fritts VanRhee. Shortly after surgery to remove the tumor I started treatment. 2 rounds of VDT- Pace. At the beginning of my evaluation my FIsH test revealed I had 4/14 and chromosome 1q deletion 1p. Then on to 2 stem cell transplants. I completed all yhese treatments by 2/2022. On 2/17/22 I was considered in remission. Maintenance through 2022 was carfilzomib, Revlimid and Dex. Levels climbed in 23 so I switched to Darzalex Faspro. During second round of treatment I developed a tumor on my jaw. This tumor progressed to 5 cm over the next few months. My doctor decided to do stem cell #3. It basically didn’t work and the tumor continued to grow. Out next step was bio-specific (teclistamab). I started this treatment in the fall of 2023. After a few weeks my jaw tumor was gone and my levels were considered at complete response. I have maintained these levels for 6 month. All is good so far with the teclistamab. I have been amazed at my progress. While some of the treatment have been short lived the bio specific drugs have shown great promise. I live outside of Nashville so my local treatment center is Sarah Cannon. Dr Jesus Berdeja is my oncologist here in Nashville. Both Dr VanRhee and Dr Berdeja are amazing and have taken great care of me. On the personal side-I have been married to my wife Carol for 36 years. I have two grown children and three grandchildren. I have worked as a banker for 38 years. In December I retired as president and Chief Operating Officer of TriStar Bank. I will continue to serve on the banks board after my retirement. My family enjoys spending time at our lake house. My hobbies are mostly related to lake life.

Melissa Rosenbauer

multiple myeloma coach since 2023

HOLA! I am Melissa Rosenbauer, an American living in Spain with my German husband, Thomas Bossert, who has multiple myeloma. Together, we have made it through the toughest year of our lives when Thomas (55) was diagnosed with MM in February 2022. But now we are on the other side and I am excited to help guide YOU through all that we've learned so you too can get to the other side of this. As a caretaker, I can speak to some specific areas of MM: - navigating care outside the US (specifically in the Spanish public system) - kidney failure and dialysis (Thomas was on dialysis for 4 months at diagnosis) - quad induction therapy (VRD plus Daratumamab) - strange side effects like hiccups - stem cell transplant - how to seek out and ask for help from friends & neighbors I am a happy, upbeat, positive person who chose to take this journey with love, understanding & acceptance. Yes, I've been through all the stages of grief at Thomas's diagnosis, but I've always tried to stay optimistic throughout. And this was in part with the help of HealthTree's coach program. Thomas & I connected with our coaches, Tad & Maci, very early on and they were with us every step of the way. I'd like to be with YOU every step of the way. From our experience, we know it's important to connect with people who are in similar circumstances, so I'll tell you a little bit more about me: I'm 45 years old, we do not have children (but one 4-legged fur baby, Lola!!) and I work as a textile & interior designer. I speak English, Spanish and German (I prefer English as my native tongue, but can help guide you in Spanish as well). I hope with my experience, we can find a connection and I can help you in YOUR journey. Let's get started and through this together!!

John Bailey

multiple myeloma coach since 2023

I'm a retired public health physician. I was diagnosed in 2003 with IgG kappa myeloma. Initially I had a tandem transplant as part of a clinical trial with two years of maintenance therapy and remained in remission for 15 years. In 2018 I relapsed and had a 3rd transplant using the remaining cells harvested in 2003 with followup medical therapy and remained in remission for another four years. In early 2022, I had a second relapse presently being treated with daratumimab. All in all, I have been on several different treatment regimens over the years due to side effects such as rashes and neuropathy and not due to becoming refractory to the treatments.I am fortunate to have survived myeloma for twenty-one years. Treatment for that long has taken a toll of course but I remain in relatively good health for an 81 year old, exercise regularly, try to eat sensibly, stay socially active and enjoy life every much. I am encouraged by the rapid progress in myeloma therapies and would be happy to talk with you if that would be helpful.