Finding Strength in Community: How Support Networks Empower Myeloma Patients 

Cynthia is a newborn ICU nurse by trade that has spent the last six years in the medical device industry educating nurses and doctors about devices that are new to their facility. In her spare time she enjoys hiking, traveling the world with her family, and creating Halloween animatronics for her annual front yard display. She has a passion for life-long learning and enjoys sharing what she learns with the people around her.

Dr. Steve Morris, DDS (ret), lives in Nashville, Tennessee, and has been married to the same wonderful woman for 63 years. Together, they raised two successful children and are proud grandparents to 6 grandchildren. Steve is a Captain in the USAF, having served from 1966-1968. His dental career spanned nearly 40 years, from 1968-2007, when he maintained a dental practice in New York. Some of Steve’s greatest accomplishments come from his service outside of his dental practice. He is proud of his years helping people overcome addiction, a mission close to his heart for more than 30 years. At the age of 65, Steve turned his talents toward writing, and many of his articles have appeared in various newspapers and magazines. After successfully battling prostate cancer, multiple myeloma, and plasmacytic leukemia, he devoted his life to offering hope, encouragement, and support to other cancer patients and their families. He helped start an international AA group for those in recovery who have or have had cancer; the group has grown to 150 members, with 40-50 people meeting on Zoom 3 times a week. His greatest fulfillment comes from this mission of service, touching countless lives in a profound and lasting way.

Carol's career was primarily in the IT world, where she worked as a programmer, project lead, and IT database manager. She has a deep love for the arts and enjoys exploring her creativity through machine embroidery, Cricut projects, and painting. Staying active has always been a big part of her life, from playing tennis and pickleball when time allows, to trying more adventurous activities like ziplining, biking, and traveling. She also devoted over 20 years to volunteering with Ivan Lendl’s Wheelchair Sports Camp and Golf Tournament in Connecticut. Above all, spending time with her daughter and her three granddaughters is what brings her the greatest happiness.

Julia's myeloma story started in May 2021 with a diagnosis after two broken feet led to extensive blood work and a surprising result. She’s a very active person — weightlifting along with lots of cardio, walking daily, eating healthfully, and staying engaged in her routines — all while undergoing treatment under the care of a Myeloma Specialist at the University of Chicago. She chose to pursue a stem cell transplant in October 2021 and followed that with a maintenance regimen. Side effects have been manageable, and she feels strong and optimistic about her future. Her family has been a huge part of this journey. She and her husband, Mike, are both retired and have two wonderful children — Michael, 29, and Zachary, 26 — who have supported them through every step. She continues her physical activities, works estate sales, is an avid gardener and travels as much as she can with her husband. Staying busy and connected with friends and family has kept her feeling strong and motivated. She’s passionate about offering help and support to others going through a similar experience. She tries to stay on top of new developments, and at the same time make sure that it's only part of her life story.