Laurie C

multiple myeloma coach since 2023

I am a 60 year old female who was diagnosed with high risk [t(4,14)] IgG Lambda light chain Multiple Myeloma on Nov 1, 2021 after a tumor in my spine cracked my T4. I had 4 cycles of KRd, then an autologous stem cell transplant mid June 2022. I resumed treatment September '22: on Revlimid 10 mg daily and Velcade 100 mg 2 x per month. I am just changing to Revlimid 5 mg + Velcade 2x monthly due to bad headaches and blurry vision. I also got shots of Xgeva once every 3 months for bone strength, this is now being changed to every month. I can talk to people about life hacks for a successful autologous stem cell transplant. I can talk about what I've read about high risk MM. I can talk about the importance of managing your bone strengthener properly and what happens if your doctor forget a dose. I read all of the Myeloma Research that I can find. I am still working. I would like to bring kindness and support to the lives of those diagnosed with Myeloma. WAYS I CAN BE HELPFUL: tips on having a great bone marrow transplant; how to prepare questions to discuss with your doctor, how to help yourself heal through diet, music, exercise, reading and love. Understanding blood test changes. I can support patients in English and in French. I read alot about new CAR T therapies and related clinical trials for my work. Please write me! My email is HEALINGMYELOMA@GMAIL.com I AM NOT THE BEST RESOURCE FOR: discussing issues related to end of life, grief management, palliative care, prognosis, etc. I am not knowledgeable about anything related to insurance issues and or the health insurance appeal process. healingmyeloma@gmail.com IS MY EMAIL healingmyeloma.blogspot.com IS MY BLOG I love coaching, so please email me HEALINGMYELOMA@gmail.com Wishing you peace and love.

Angela Byrd

multiple myeloma coach since 2024

Hello, I was diagnosed in July 2021. What I didn’t know was for 11 years before I was MGUS. I was started on Revlimid in Oct 21 and still take 25mg daily for 21 days monthly. I have adrenal insufficiency, stage 3 kidney disease, chronic anemia which I did not have before I was diagnosed. Because I felt so good with really no problems I don’t think I took this diagnosis seriously. I’m a Mom of 2 adult daughters and 4 Grandchildren. I have a great support system but my family has no idea what this Cancer is. I’m a Veteran, but I have no idea if this Cancer came from something I could have been exposed too. No one in my family have cancer and I come from a large Military family.

Larissa Velez-Jackson

multiple myeloma coach since 2025

Hello! I am a 49 years old and was diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma at 42 yrs of age. I have always been very health conscious as I teach Pilates, yoga, and am a performing artist and choreographer. My journey started with one singular spinal lesion after a few months of pain and physical therapy, and full on MM was diagnosed shortly afterward. Being young, my disease moves pretty fast and aggressively, though I've responded very well to all the different lines of treatment. I had a stem cell transplant in 2019, my second SCT in 2023, followed shortly by Carvikti Car T therapy. In 2025, just recently, I had a GPRC Car T Cell therapy through a clinical trial. I have had four different rounds of radiation throughout my treatment journey as well. I have a lot of experience with rehabbing from my spinal and other bone injuries and perform much of my exercise regime at home. I just had a total shoulder replacement surgery---my first ever surgery---and am really moved to be restoring my arm movement back after MM damaged my right arm and shoulder three years ago. While the journey can be rough, I am overall so thankful to have a great family, incredible medical team (first Mount Sinai Hospital Myeloma Cancer Center in NYC and now Memorial Sloan Kettering)and lots of inspiring community that helps me through! I enjoy being a HealthTree coach starting this year. I like to inspire folks to keep positive and moving gracefully into the unknown, as we all are doing on our cancer journeys.