Living with Myeloma Without Defining Yourself By It

Audrey joined the HealthTree Foundation as the Myeloma Community Program Director in 2020. While not knowing much about myeloma at the start, she has since worked hard to educate herself, empathize and learn from others' experiences. She loves this job. Audrey is passionate about serving others, loves learning, and enjoys a nice mug of hot chocolate no matter the weather.

Diagnosed with MM and Chronic Kidney Disease in July of 2016. Went through induction therapy starting in August of 2016, then had his stem cells harvested in early December of that year. He had a successful Stem Cell Transplant at Dana Farber in January of 2017. He went on Revlimid and Velcade maintenance starting May of 2017. In December of 2021 Changed Velcade to Ninlaro. He is currently MRD negative and been off maintenance since April of 2023. Prior to getting MM he was sales manager for a small tooling distributor and enjoyed traveling around the country working with customers. He retired in the fall of 2018 to care for his wife who had been diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer. Sadly, she passed away in March of 2019. He has 2 adult sons, one is a student and lives at home, the other is an underwriter and lives with his fiancée Just north of Boston. He enjoys making music, playing golf, pickleball and hiking with his dog Moose. He got involved with the coaching program a few years ago because he wanted this phase of his life to have a purpose and he found it helping others in the Myeloma Community.

Clare Vallee is a retired nurse and attorney, who has lived in northern NH for almost 40 years. She and her husband have become quite comfortable being “snowbirds” over the past few winters and enjoy spending winters in sunny North Carolina. She was diagnosed with IgG Kappa MM in early 2018. She initially received R/V/D, and achieved complete response but suffered significant neuropathy. She opted to forgo SCT and when the myeloma reoccurred, R/Ninlaro/D provided complete response, but again exacerbated the neuropathy. She receives her care from Norris Cotton Cancer Center at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center with consultation from Dana Farber. She is currently receiving Dara/Kyprolis/Dex and has been in complete response for over a year. Although “sleeping-in” is a favorite hobby, you will find Clare staying active with friends, walking, gardening, knitting and enjoying time with family at the lake in NH or the beaches in NC. Clare enjoys being able to use her vast nursing knowledge to help and support other Myeloma patients find their way through this trying diagnosis.