SoCal Myeloma Community Chapter: Emotional Aspects of Myeloma - Important Information for Patients and Their Loved Ones

Diane has been an active and engaged care partner with Todd, her husband, since he was diagnosed with multiple myeloma in 2017. In January 2020 they retired to devote their time and talents as patient advocates, HealthTree coaches, and myeloma community leaders. They are committed to helping improve and advance cancer care for all patients and feel a collaborative, virtual support group is an excellent way to help educate and empower patients and their families. Diane and Todd have lived in Orange County, CA for over 25 years where they raised their two sons.

Todd Kennedy was diagnosed with myeloma in 2017 and has become a tireless advocate for myeloma patients and research. His background includes over 30 years working in the pharmaceutical industry until he and his wife Diane retired from their respective first careers to devote their time and talents to strengthen the myeloma community. They collaborate with HealthTree and other trusted partners to educate and empower myeloma patients and caregivers and accelerate the arrival of cures.

Louise Lavin is an advanced practice psychiatric nurse and a licensed professional clinical counselor in Ohio. She received a BSN with Distinction at the University of Rochester and a MSN in psychiatric nursing from the University of Pennsylvania. She has worked as a Psychiatric Clinical Nurse Specialist at the Philadelphia Psychiatric Center and on the psychiatric liaison team at the Medical College of Pennsylvania. She has also been an adjunct professor at the Graduate Family Nurse Clinician Program at the University of Pennsylvania and at the Graduate School of Psychiatric Nursing at the University of Cincinnati. In 1981, she was one the first nurses in Ohio to open a private practice offering individual and marital counseling with a special interest in helping patients cope with serious physical illnesses. After being diagnosed with myeloma in 2015, she directed her focus to assisting fellow patients. She participated in the development of the training material for Healthtree coaches and was a speaker at the first Myeloma Coach Summit. She also presented a patient’s perspective on MRD testing at a MMRF webinar and served as a patient reviewer for the MMRF’s HIT videos. Presently, she volunteers as a myeloma coach and presents a variety of workshops on the emotional aspects of Myeloma. Utilizing her mental health background and her personal experiences as a patient, she strives to help fellow myeloma patients cope more effectively with their illnesses.