My story with Myeloma began in the summer of 2020 when I was having some health issues and was eventually diagnosed with MM in August of 2020.

My health issues were carpal tunnel syndrome and low hemoglobin counts. I gave blood fairly regularly and the hemoglobin is always tested to be sure it’s high enough to give blood - this is how I knew there was a problem as my hemoglobin continued to go down. Many tests later narrowed the problem down to Multiple Myeloma - a blood cancer (MM). At the same time I was suffering with extreme wrist and hand pain and numbness that had a rapid onset of only a few months. This was confirmed to be Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CPS) and the recommended treatment that could help would be surgery, however, that would not happen until my myeloma was treated first. As it turns out, in my body the extra proteins from the MM ended up depositing in my wrists so with treatment the CPS subsided to a nice tolerable level. The MM treatment  I had was 5 rounds of chemotherapy and then a stem cell transplant. MM is not a curable cancer so while I am now in remission, a relapse is almost a certainty. Being younger and in good health otherwise, the prognosis is for a more generous time span - time during which there will be further research and treatments to extend lifespans even further and eventually find the cure.

I enjoy biking and I am participating in this riding event to raise funds and awareness for MM - a cancer that affects me personally. My CPS still bothers me when I ride but it is manageable. It will be a fun day biking with a few friends in harmony with many others.