Why I Give: Sue Hultgren's Story

In April 2019, Sue Hultgren was having extreme rib pain. She asked her primary care physician to order any and all tests to uncover the source of her pain. X-rays showed fractured ribs. This, combined with blood work, confirmed her diagnosis of multiple myeloma. 

Sue received a first line of treatment with lenalidomide (Revlimid), bortezomib (Velcade), and dexamethasone. She had a stem cell transplant in October 2019, and had a very good partial response. Afterward, she was treated with 20 mg of lenalidomide. In 2020, it was reduced to 10 mg, then 5 mg, and now Sue takes 2.5 mg and has no detectable M-protein.

Returning to the new normal after transplant

It took Sue six months after her transplant to move and walk normally. But she slowly started to gain her strength back. Her physical therapist developed a plan that combined therapeutic exercises with yoga and breathing techniques. Sue credits this plan with changing her life after her transplant. She also has a wonderful husband who has been a vital caregiver.

Most days, Sue feels great. In 2023, four years after her transplant, she said out loud, “I feel like I’m back to normal!” She has minimal residual rib pain almost daily, but it is easy to ignore except for days when she overworks herself. “I’ve gone from using ice packs on my back for a couple of years to simply taking time out and sitting in my recliner to take the pressure off my ribs.”

Creating art and donating to HealthTree

In 2020, Sue and her husband moved from Illinois to warmer weather in Tennessee. Sue pursued her passion for art and started a Facebook page called Sue's Path. She creates over 20 products, such as charcuterie boards, coasters, pot holders, and bags that feature her own designs. In her spare time, she loves to travel.

While researching multiple myeloma shortly after her diagnosis, Sue found HealthTree. When Sue started her online presence, she knew she wanted to donate proceeds and give back to this community. Her first year, she gave $200 with the goal of increasing that amount by $100 each year. Sue donated $600 in 2023, $700 in 2024, and $800 in 2025!

"I thank God for the opportunity to create art that I love and to be able to give back to a community that invests in health," Sue said. HealthTree is grateful for her contribution to a company that makes patients and research a priority.  

How to get involved with HealthTree 

When you give to HealthTree Foundation, 100% of your donation supports blood cancer research to save lives and improve patient outcomes. This year, thanks to a generous matching grant, every dollar for myeloma research will be tripled! 

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