Before I put this article in, I want to thank my friend Shelly for being so revealing with her feelings, but more than that, to thank her for the bravery she exhibits. Bravery that will help other people, show them a different way to tackle the "C" word. It is never easy, but she is indeed a fighter and a beautiful person.
Shelly's story:
"At 10 months into my retirement, thoroughly enjoying working in my yard when I began to feel NOT as strong as I used to be. My hips/groin area hurt, I was finding myself short of breath and was beginning to experience my health as old age (I was 64 at the time), or did I need to see a doctor?
I had a very high deductible, $8,000, insurance policy since retiring. In fact, I was going to be 65 so I felt I could go another year without anything major happening to me. Boy, was I wrong.
I decided to see my Chiropractor about my hip/groin pain and after two painful adjustments, we both felt I should get an MRI. He was awesome in setting me up for a cash pay of $500.
On March 5, 2021 my whole world changed.
During the MRI it was painful to even lie flat for any extended period of time. Upon completion the tech said my Doctor requested the tech call him with the results. After he spoke with the Doctor, the tech told me to go to his office
I arrived at my Chiropractors' office and he immediately took me into an exam room to show me the X rays. He told me I had a broken hip, which made sense to me since the pain I was experiencing was immeasurable. THEN he said "you also have Myeloma". He explained it was Cancer. It was the type of Cancer that makes your bones brittle and it also affects your blood. I am not savvy enough to explain all the medical details at this time.
While driving home I didn't know if I should cry. How was I going to tell my husband, especially when I didn't really understand it or was even mentally able to process it? When I got home we held each other, prayed to God and told each other "we'll get through this with Gods' guidance".
At this point I want to express that my husband and I have never been closer than in this time over the past 20 years. We both knew that we had to appreciate every moment together as we fight this disease. He became my nurse, my cook, my everything.
At this point I was in a wheelchair and found out that my other hip was also broken along with two compressed vertebrae in my back. I am now 2 inches shorter.
The following Monday we met with an Oncologist who explained much about the disease and proceeded to line up the necessary tests. I asked about the cost of the tests, knowing I had an $8000 deductible. In two more months I would be on Medicare and wondered if it could wait? He left it in our hands to decide. After going home we discussed it and knew it could not wait. We bit the bullet and paid the deductible so things could move forward very quickly.
My treatment plan was 15 consecutive days of Radiation which actually reduced the pain greatly, thank goodness. I was also on chemo treatments, Zometa, a bone building infusion. I had many appointments with my Oncologist, plus I met with an Orthopedic Surgeon re my hips. We outlined a plan to replace my hips after chemo, 6 weeks apart. I also had Stem Cell transplant that required 14 days in the hospital. (The worst part was the food, it was miserable). On top of all this a mega dose of Chemo before the Stem Cell transplant to kill off any remaining cancer which caused a lot of flu-type symptoms.
Yes, I did lose ALL my hair, bald IS beautiful, lol, but I got through it with yoga and working on my health to get stronger.
Six months after my Stem Cell transplant I returned to the Orthopedic Surgeon who took repeat X rays and said my hips had healed themselves almost perfectly requiring NO surgery. The treatments have improved dramatically over the past 10 years and there is still a lot to learn.
Now even though Myeloma is not curable, it is treatable.. Some people survive 3-5 years, yet others are 15-20 years because of the improvements over the past 20 years.
I still have lesions in my bones which cause me pain if I stand too long. I will take medicine the rest of my life to help me deflect more cancer. I have bloodwork every 90 days for follow up.
I plan to make the best of everyday!
I have been given a true blessing of health. I am thanking God for all his answer to my prayers.
Thank you Shelly.