Myeloma Mondays #25: Shaun from East Lansing

Today's Multiple Myeloma Monday is very special to me because after being diagnosed as young Myeloma patient, Shaun Mason who also happens to be a former college football player (Michigan State) was my beacon of hope as I was in search of other young people with MM. His story is truly inspirational and I lean heavily on their unfolding story for strength.

Where were you born and raised?

• Toledo,Ohio

Where do you currently live?

• East Lansing,MI

When were you diagnosed and how old were you?

• 01/15/2001- age 23

Did you know what MM was prior to diagnosis?

• Had never heard of the disease

Is there anyone else your in family with MM?

• No

What led to your diagnosis? (example: broken vertebra)

• Dislocated my shoulder and fractured my scapula in a college football all star game.(2001)
• Two vertebrae collapsed in my spine(2003)

How many times were you referred before actually being diagnosed?

• Only once

Where have you received treatment?

• University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center

Explain your treatment history:

• 2/2001: local radiation on shoulder and scapula on plasma cytoma
• 3/2003: fractured two vertebrae full blown multiple myeloma diagnosed
• 3/2003: started VAD treatments
• 9/2003: completed VAD
• 10/2003:Cytoxin/Autologous Transplant

Why did you or your doctor choose a specific treatment (For example, to have a transplant or not have a transplant, etc.)?

• We discussed multiple options and decided on my treatment because of the reconstruction on my spine and my age. We knew if an autologous transplant was not responsive I could try other options, fortunately so far things have worked out.

What has been the side effects of the different treatments?

• Experienced minimal side effects: complete hair loss, restlessness, weight gain and weight loss.

What has been the hardest thing about your MM journey?

• The fear of not being there for my child and wife. Also my biggest inspiration.

What are the top lessons learned that you would want a newly diagnosed MM patient to know about?

• You will find out quickly that once you are over the initial shock that it did happen to you, and you get over the why me. You will find there are treatments options and this is not the end of the road. Stay positive- you will find out quickly that it can always be much worse-look around in the waiting room at the hospital.

How have you been able to stay positive and encouraged in your MM journey?

• At first it is hard to stay positive because quite honestly the things you read about multiple myeloma are very grim and the outlook does not look promising. However, I am a firm believer that one of the biggest contributors to beating this disease is staying positive. I have two huge inspirations that drive me. The first one has been my son, when I was diagnosed my wife was pregnant with him. I thank God everyday that I am here to see him grow up and I will do whatever it takes to see him grow up. He just turned 7 in June. I want him to know his dad. I think this disease has certainly made me a better father because I cherish every minute that I get to spend with him. The second has been by wife because when I was diagnosed, she was 6 months pregnant with our son and it was as if she was not even pregnant. Instead of normal preganancy my wife slept on couchs and chairs in the hospital. She did whatever was necessary for me to get me through my chemo and transplants. It was simply amazing. So to say the least I owe these two individuals a father and husband, and that is my inspiration in staying positive and encouraged through this whole ordeal. I will do whatever it takes to give them that.

After being diagnosed... What perspective was changed the most?

• You learn quickly what is most important in your life and what you thought were priorities are not really priorities at all but rather luxuries.

Did you or a parent work in a field with or were exposed to toxic chemicals prior to diagnosis?

• No, but I did grow up in a neighborhood that was literally surrounded by farm fields.

What MM sites or blogs had you found good information from after diagnosis?

• MMRF

On transplant recovery and kicking people in the throat.

Phil and I were talking the other day about how easy it is to fall behind in blogging because so much happens that there's no possible way to catch up. But I will try.

Phil is still making slow progress. If he was anyone else he'd be sleeping 20 hours a day, but he's one tough cookie so instead he's playing with the kids and helping friends and trying to get back to regular life. And all with a smile on his face, bless his heart. Just recently he came to the conclusion that this treatment process has been really hard on him physically (which I was anticipating and trying to make allowances for all along, but I won't say I told you so).

I mentioned it in my last post but it bears repeating... Phil's body went through a lot. Twice. And it's going to be months and possibly years before he's back to where he was before all of this. As much as I'd like to compare it to childbirth recovery, it's much harder, though Phil makes it look easy and never complains, unlike me. Three times. If you're going through transplant, give yourself time to recover. And if you have a loved one going through it, by all means... don't treat the patient like an invalid but do be compassionate. We've appreciated the sensitivity we ourselves have been shown by so many as our little family has been recovering from this trauma.

As for me, I'm beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel. From the moment we knew Phil had cancer, we were flooded with so much practical help from our closest friends and family. I will never forget those first few days, not only because of the complete shock we were in, but also because of the insane amount of love that we received. My little posse kept my family fed, my house clean and my head above water. I could never have survived without them. Now all of that help has allowed me to get to the place where I'm ready to stand up, dust myself off and take some unassisted steps toward autonomy. Just to put this in perspective, Phil has been sick since Ocean, who is now four-and-a-half, was five months old. We were only married for a year and a half before Phil's first blood clot, a pulmonary embolism. And that's just the tip of the iceberg. After all, this is just the myeloma blog. It's not the miscarriage blog or the getting fired blog or the moving five times blog or the losing loved ones blog. That's a lot of life crammed into a few short years.

Now, finally, I'm ready to be normal for once, realizing that our normal will include regular visits to the cancer center forever. But it also includes making dinner, scheduling activities and classes for the kids and taking vacations (something we have never done on our own as a family). I haven't mastered the laundry abyss or the cutting of the lawn but thankfully Phil's mom has been filling in the gaps there and not judging me as I am still figuring out how to juggle three kids while staying on top of the housework. (Hint: it's impossible.)

And speaking of my little angels, our two eldest kids have been kind of a disaster lately, and I'm at my wit's end with them.

I'm trying to find the balance between extending grace because this has been difficult for them, and sending them to their rooms for all of eternity. There has to be some middle ground. Currently I'm just looking forward to the start of school because, really, what am I supposed to do when Iris kicks Ocean in the throat because he won't stop touching her feet? Sigh. At least, at the end of the day, there's always Ruby who is currently too tiny to sass me.

A wee update, and a laughing baby.

Well hello there, friends and fellow myelomen and women. At almost 50 days post-transplant number two, we here at the Brabbs house are all alive and well. Phil's recovery has been much tougher this time around, and by that I mean he's generally more run-down and more easily tuckered out than at this point after the first transplant. Of course some of that could also be attributed to the addition of another child to the mix which, as most of you know, multiplies the workload and saps the energy stores exponentially.

I apologize for my absence. It's a funny thing, this process. Bone marrow transplants are often mistaken for surgery, but the procedure itself is nothing more than the push of a syringe into a bloodstream. However, the recovery is also unlike that of a surgery since the effects of the transplant continue for much longer than it would take to recover from an appendectomy, for example. Fatigue, food aversions, susceptibility to infection and a general feeling of "blah" can affect the patient for months. It's difficult to explain to people who expect that, after this procedure, the patient will feel better and be able or inclined to return to their normal life. The reality is that chemo bombs take a toll on the body, and a baby immune system takes time to grow.

With that in mind, for a time after both transplants I felt the need to close ranks and be in solitude, focusing on the health and well-being of our family. While thankfully usually a simple process for us, treatment has been emotionally overwhelming for me and I've tended to need some privacy in order to process the events of the last few months. I think it will continue to be a long road but overall I feel positively about Phil's treatment and care and how we've all emerged rather unscathed given the gravity of the situation. And I want to thank you all for your continued support, even in our silence.

We got the results back from Phil's 30-day check, and his M-spike is at .4, which is slightly lower than it was going into transplant. Our friend Nick kindly reminded me that it takes a while for one's body to catch up to the effects of transplant, so we're looking forward to getting the numbers at 60 days and 100 days to give us a more accurate picture of what's going on. At that point Phil will begin a maintenance regimen of a few different chemo drugs to make his body inhospitable to the cancer cells, hopefully altogether eradicating the myeloma.

While Phil's numbers and health continue to gradually improve, we're enjoying the remainder of the summer, and the remainder of meals in our freezer that our friends so generously provided. Not to mention the sweet treats that our neighbor friend keeps bringing over for us to devour. Yum! Most importantly, Phil just celebrated his second birthday since diagnosis and, we've discovered, birthdays take on new meaning in situations such as these.

I will leave you, for now, with a video of Ruby laughing. Because who doesn't love a laughing baby?

Myeloma Mondays #24: Katie from Houston, TX

Where were you born and raised?

• Born in Rochester, Minnesota (parents were both on staff at Mayo Clinic) and raised all over the world.

Where do you currently live?

• Houston, Texas

When were you diagnosed and how old were you?

• July 25, 2008 – age 61

Did you know what MM was prior to diagnosis?

• Yes, unfortunately, I did.

Is there anyone else your in family with MM?

• My mother was diagnosed with MM at the the age of 85. It was in the early “smoldering” stage and didn’t slow her down a bit. She visited her oncologist each month for blood/urine work and led her active, amazing life. A year later she was killed instantly in an automobile accident. As terrible as that was, I’m so grateful that she didn’t have to endure even a fraction of what I have gone through.

What led to your diagnosis?

• Kidney failure and broken vertebra and ribs.

How many times were you referred before actually being diagnosed?

• Once

Where have you received treatment?

• M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston.

Explain your treatment history

• 7/2008: Plasmapheresis, Dialysis, started Velcade, Dex, Thalidomide
• 8/2008: Kyphoplasty for fractured T6, T7, T9
• 9/2008 : Scans showed 7 fractured ribs
• 9/2008: Hurricane Ike hit Houston – without electricity for 15 days
• 1/2009: Began testing to see if candidate for ASCT
• 2/2009: Kyphoplasty for fractured T8
• 2/2009: Began Zometa infusion each month
• 3/2009: Apheresis for collection of 15 million stem cells – I was participant in clinical trial in which I received 10 million cells at transplant rather than the standard 5 million cells – thus 15 million needed so I could bank 5 million for future use.
• 4/2009: ASCT – hospitalized at MDA for three and a half weeks.
• 10/2009: Began Revlimid as maintainance therapy – have been on and off a couple of times because of low blood counts.
• 2/2010: Stopped Zometa because of damage to kidneys. My kidney function is always of concern.
• 4/2010: One year out from transplant and things are looking good with exception of impaired kidneys. I receive Procrit when Hemoglobin count drops below 10.

Why did you or your doctor choose a specific treatment?

• I was diagnosed at Stage IIIB with 75% infiltration. I knew I was in a dismal state and wanted aggressive treatment so I could live for awhile. Previous to MM I was in superb health.

What has been the side effects of the different treatments?

• All of the usual suspects - terrible nausea and vomiting (lost 40 pounds), Dex made me crazy, neuropathy in hands and feet (tried acupuncture but didn’t help), constipation, bone pain, hair loss, unrelenting fatigue. I think the single worst incident was the bone pain during the time I was giving myself the injections of Neupogen twice a day for stem cell collection. The pain in my sternum was akin to the cliché of having an elephant stomp on your chest during a heart attack. Thank God I had been forewarned by all the paperwork I had signed.

What has been the hardest thing about your MM journey?

• How it has frightened my family. I hate that they worry about me all the time. My husband and I had always assumed we’d grow old together. Now I’m not so sure. I try to find happiness in every day; however, it’s easier said than done sometimes.

What are the top lessons learned that you would want a newly diagnosed MM patient to know about?

• Go to a TOP cancer center for treatment , where your physicians and their staff have untold years of experience in treating MM and they can anticipate your needs. Even though you feel so out of control, you can take charge in some aspects. Remember that it is YOUR body and YOUR health insurance paying the hundreds of thousands of dollars, so speak up! For example, I found my first bone marrow biopsy excruciatingly painful. I realized that I would have many more in the future. From then on I had the biopsies done under anesthetic – I’m out for a few minutes, don’t feel a thing, and I’m on my way. Ditto for MRI until just recently. Now my fractures are healed enough that I can get through it without any sedation. I would want a newly diagnosed MM patient to realize that he/she must ask for help. Friends desperately want to help you, but they might not know how. Tell them! One of my friends recently commented that she had always been terrified of M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, and now she feels as though she could give tours of the place because she’s spent so much time with me there!

How have you been able to stay positive and encouraged in your MM journey?

• It’s difficult. I’m always waiting for the next shoe to fall. My husband is a phenomenal caretaker. I literally owe him my life. My children, grandchildren and sisters are so loving and supportive, but I feel tremendous guilt putting them through this. My adored Tony (90 pound black Lab) is always right by my side or curled up on my feet. My transplant oncologist was concerned that I was depressed and suggested a psychiatric consult. I take the antidepressant Lexapro and see a therapist at MDA every month. This has helped me so much. I do believe that God doesn’t give us a burden greater than we can bear. I know that there are millions of people in far worse shape than I. I am extremely grateful to be at MDA. People come from all over the world, and here I am just a few miles away. When I feel a bit stronger and pulled together, I’d like to volunteer at MDA.

After being diagnosed... What perspective was changed the most?

• I truly no longer sweat the small stuff. I keep any negative people out of my life (and that includes physicians and nurses.) I indulge myself in what I love (being with my grandkids, talking frequently with my sons and daughter, planning future trips with my beloved husband, staying close and speaking often with my few close friends, keeping my herb garden in decent shape, playing the piano and knitting when the neuropathy in my hands allows, eating chocolate cake if I feel the inclination.) When I hear of a friend or just an acquaintance who has been diagnosed with cancer I call them right away, and I tell them that I will keep calling (or e-mailing, whichever they prefer) to keep tabs on them. I offer to take them to chemo and stay with them or be with them when they have their port inserted. I am in the unique position to be able to calm their fears.

Did you or a parent work in a field with or were exposed to toxic chemicals prior to diagnosis?

• I spent part of my childhood living in North Africa (Morocco.) I recall having to wash all food in a solution that tasted like Clorox. When we would visit European countries or the U.S. my dad would joke that it was odd to eat fresh food and water that didn’t taste like Clorox! Also, there was a paper factory nearby where we lived that emitted an awful odor and a few times each year the heavy sirocco winds would blow in and you couldn’t even go outside because the odor was so horrible. I lived on the Exxon Refinery compound in San Nicholas, Aruba for three years in my mid twenties.

What MM sites or blogs had you found good information from after diagnosis?

• Ohhh……you need to be so careful here as there is so much terrifying and outdated info out there. I think the sites that connect with MM patients are the most useful.

Myeloma Mondays #22: Richard from Dana Point, CA

Richard is pictured on the left next to his sister who provided her stem cells for transplant.

Where were you born and raised?

• In the United Kingdom, county of Surrey about 25 miles south of London

Where do you currently live?

• Dana Point, California , USA

When were you diagnosed and how old were you?

• September 2004 at age 44 / IG-D " LAMBDA " Bence Jones Light chains

Did you know what MM was prior to diagnosis?

• No

Is there anyone else your in family with MM?

• No

What led to your diagnosis?

• Back pain / bone pain then complete loss off feeling from the stomach down a tumor in my spine was impinging on the spinal cord causing severe nerve problems. Basically I fell over and could not walk as my legs could not feel anything.

How many times were you referred before actually being diagnosed?

• Only once partly because I thought it was an old back injury but as soon as I had an MRI and saw an Oncologist he diagnosed MM straight away.

Where have you received treatment?

• In the USA at first....I had 21 days of radiation treatment in the tumor which was at my T7 vertebrae, along with Dexamethasone to help reduce it's size.
• Having been in the USA for only a short time I had no insurance so in October of 2004 I flew back to the UK to start six months of Chemo / VAD at a local hospital near to my parents.
• After the chemo I was referred up to University College Hospital in central London where I had a full ALLOGENEIC transplant with my sister's bone marrow.

Explain your treatment history:

• Sept 2004 ~ radiation and Dexamethasone plus drugs for Peripheral Neuropathy.
• Oct 2004 ~ VAD (vincristine, adriamycin, dexamethasone) chemo / Zometa.
• May 2004 ~ TBI ( total body irradiation) for 4 days with Melphalan then Allo transplant.
• May/June ~ Seven weeks ( 4 in isolation ) for counts to come back up.
• July to Feb 2005 ~ At parents house on Cyclosporine fighting GVHD ( graft verse host disease )
• March / April 2005 ~ Back to USA on just Penicillin, Aciclovir and Sodium Clodronate for bones.
• Fly back to UK twice a year for blood / free light chain tests...so far so good.

Why did you or your doctor choose a specific treatment?

• At first I was scheduled for an AUTOLOGOUS transplant but as I was fit and young ( now 45 ) the Doc's thought I should get my siblings tested and my sister turned out to be a 6 by 6 match for my marrow......they explained that there was a high mortality rate ( 36 % ) due to rejection issues ( GVHD ) but there was in my particular circumstances a good chance I would survive long term without taking any Myeloma drugs.

What has been the side effects of the different treatments?

• All the normal stuff...hair loss, very fatigued, some stomach problems but not much vomiting.
• Major Peripheral Neuropathy for many months from the nerve damage and drugs.
• The big problem was the complete loss of any Salivary glands resulting in a severe dry mouth making it very difficult to eat, this did come back very slowly but was most difficult to deal with relating to what food to eat ( soon learnt to make good soup !!! ).
• The (sibling donor) transplant resulted in some mild GVHD / rejection issues which killed off all my tear ducts producing a sticky mucus, the result being I have to constantly use two types of eye drops one to dissolve the sticky ness and one to lubricate.
• Lastly continuing back pain and weakness.

What has been the hardest thing about your MM journey?

• Coming to terms with a limited life span.
• Not being able to do the sports I wanted.
• Dealing with dry mouth for such a long period.
• Learning to live with eye problems.
• Thinking of the time when love ones will be left alone.

What are the top lessons learned that you would want a newly diagnosed MM patient to know about?

• Do as much research as you can and get lots of opinions from different doctors.
• Think about risk assessment with regard to your treatments.
• Consider your " CUMULATIVE TOXISITY " by which I mean what drugs you use over what period of time.......leaving options for future treatments if you can.
• Be positive about all the future treatments that are on there way.
• Join a local support group and go to an IMF conference or two.

How have you been able to stay positive and encouraged in your MM journey?

• Yes, Yes, Yes, .......I do think that I have been lucky and am in a very unusual position of having an ALLOGENEIC transplant .......I am encouraged by all the new treatments that have come about in the last 5 years.

After being diagnosed... What perspective was changed the most?

• Live life with GUSTO and try not to let the small things get you down....NO STRESS !!!
• I realized after being diagnosed that there was no turning back so just get on with it and adjust ones perspective to a shorter time scale but don't forget to have fun. Walk instead of run and be thankful.

Did you or a parent work in a field with or were exposed to toxic chemicals prior to diagnosis?

• My dad was in bomb disposal in the second word war and my mom was a nurse for fifty years and I was in the Fire service in the UK when I was in my early twenty's so could have been exposed to all sorts of nasty stuff.

What MM sites or blog's had you found good information from after diagnosis?

• Mainly the IMF and the The Myeloma Beacon plus some Blog's

Momentarily emerging to say hello.

This is the first time since Phil came home that I've been able to sit down at the computer and type more than a few word Facebook update.

It appears to me that the recovery from this transplant has been tougher than the first. Phil seems more tired and generally run-down. He also has had a headache since he got home but I'm convinced he's having Mountain Dew withdrawals. No matter... he seems to have taken a turn for the better today, hence me actually having time and energy to post an update.

The two weeks in the hospital went well. Phil spent much more time resting, less time stationary biking. More time joking around with nurses, less time trying to beat the walking record on the transplant floor. Oh, and more time waiting out tornado warnings in the hallway, less time.... well, NOT waiting out tornado warnings in the hallway.

At some point we came to the realization that, while we've attempted to protect the older two kids from the harshness of this whole situation, little miss Ruby has been here through this entire ordeal. First on the inside, privy to all the meetings with our medical team, months of chemo and through the first transplant. Then on the outside, coming to the hospital every day during transplant number two. I think Ruby's presence throughout the last year just adds to our love and appreciation for this delightful new member of our family.


My not-so-subtle hungry baby.

On tap for the next few months... forced rest for Phil. He likes to be social and creative and busy, so resting goes against the fiber of who he is. I get the difficult job of making sure he's napping, eating and wearing his mask when he ventures outside. Plus the added bonus of household responsibilities (the house looks like hell) and full-time kid duty (I look like hell). Speaking of kid duty, Iris decided to start potty training last week when she got off her motorcycle big wheel bike and asked, "Where can I go pee?" which was completely the worst timing in the history of potty training. Caregiving is not for sissies (and thank God once again for my mom helping out and keeping this ship, and me, afloat every day).

I'll be popping in from time to time to update you all on Phil's recovery since he's on internet hiatus until further notice. Maybe I'll even do a video blog or two if children and time permit/s. We'll see.

We're thinking of all of you and hope you are taking the time to enjoy each one of your days.

Thanks Frank

Yesterday was my hardest day yet. I was extremely tired and had a bad headache. Not the ideal state of mind for a national syndicated interview. So when I got a call from Frank Beckmann's administrative assistant, I did what any other person who wants Multiple Myeloma to be a household cancer name would do, I picked up the phone.

So I actually did more than pick up the phone. I allowed Frank to interview me about my journey with Multiple Myeloma; literally the first full day home after my 2nd Bone Marrow Transplant (who does that?!?!?!?!). Frank and everyone at WJR involved did such a wonderful job. You can listen to the interview online right here: http://www.wjr.net/Article.asp?id=1867064&spid=34613

As mentioned on the interview. I will be moving away from blogging as I focus on gaining my physical strength back. The Cancer Kicker Foundation (CKF) will still be pushing forward so more updates about how I am doing will be provided (most likely by Zak) there at http://cancerkicker.org. You can help get the Cancer Kicker Foundation off the ground by buying some dominate stuff at http://dominategear.com

Addendum by Cassie:
Check back periodically, folks. I plan to pick up the posting slack while Phil is on the mend.

Phil's Vacation: Day +12

Today I was released! Back home I returned to a couple of kids that were tickled pink to see me. Iris was so happy she just kept giggling. She sat in my lap for an hour as we watched Thomas together and I just couldn't stop rubbing her feet and kissing the top of her head. Man, that felt so sweet. Later, Ocean got up from his nap to find me resting on the couch and he just broke out in laughter and excitement. All in all, I felt like this was a triumphant return filled with joy. These kiddos make me realize why I need to put everything I have into moving beyond Multiple Myeloma. To not see these kids grow and mature and one day become their own, would be a great misfortune. Although, I will continue to trust in the unseen and unexplainable, I will fearlessly believe in a cure.

It didn't take long for me to crash after hanging out with the kids for a little bit. I have learned from my previous transplant that my hemoglobin is one of the best indicators in terms of how I will be feeling. Once it drops under 8.0, I am a wreck. It's hurts to think and do anything other than sleep. That was this afternoon. Because I left the hospital two days earlier this go around, I am not getting all the red blood cell transfusions, which would boost my hemoglobin and allow my heart to chill a little. I believe the red blood cells are the last blood cell to bounce back, so I expect this week will consist of me being reunited with our comfortable king size bed.

What's up Next?

• Wednesday: Blood work / labs with possible transfusions and possible PICC line removal
• Day +30: Blood work to determine state of disease and how I am recovering. Stop wearing mask outside... yippee!
• Day +60: Blood work to determine state of disease and how I am recovering. Possibly begin my maintenance therapy (i.e. more low-dose chemo)

Please note that I will be slowing down on the number of blog posts. I accomplished my goal of capturing my BMT experience for those who will be going through that in the future. I am now in need of some serious recovery, which will probably lead to me taking a vacation from social media and focusing on rest and rehab for the next 6 months. All and every expect of the Cancer Kicker Foundation is owned and managed by Zak and Steve. Keep them busy by getting some dominate gear. (DominateGear.com)

Thanks everyone for tuning in and providing support and encouragement over the last two weeks. It definitely helped us through BMT #2!!! And on the 13th day he (Phil) looked back at all that he had been through and done....and RESTED!

Phil's Vacation: Day +11

Today marks independence for Americans and I stake claim of independence from cancer this day forward! My white blood cells (WBC) started to come back and so did my ANC. If I would not have tossed my cookies this morning, my BMT doc was looking to let me go home. No worries, that gave me the opportunity to play the world's great prank (view it here) on 8A at UMHS and also celebrate the 4th with some awesome transplant patients and their families as we dominated Rock Band for 3 hours and we have video right here to prove it!!!



I am out of this joint tomorrow, making my stay 12+ days, two better than my first transplant. Now it's time to start on the road to a long recovery. I am ready.

Keep dominating,

Phil

Phil's Vacation: Day +10

I still have not engrafted, which means my Absolute Neutrophil count has not been at 0.5 or higher for two consecutive days. The nurse I had a bet going on on which day I would engraft and it looks like we are both going to lose. My hope is that today my ANC appears in my blood work. I actually started feeling bone pain (lower back) from the Neupogen shots which I felt to during stem cell collection, but not during my first transplant. I take this as a good sign and every time I feel the pain, I am going to envision fireworks going off in my bones because the Myeloma is dead, the old has gone and the new has some!

So rejoice and be glad in this day with me as we remember how awesome it is to live in a country with so much freedom. I may be the first generation of Brabbs' to not fight in a war going all the way back to my Great Grapa George. So this country, with it's flaws, has come a long long way. Let the bell of Freedom ring.

Phil's Vacation: Day +9

Day +9 consisted of good company, still no appetite and a possible sign of engraftment of my stem cells....hooray!

A quick reminder that Zak will be packaging shirts on Wednesday, so it would be helpful if you put your order in today at http://dominategear.com. We have the classic gray shirt with the burgundy (Multiple Myeloma) ribbion and our HOT dominate Breast Cancer shirt as well. Thanks for the support in dominating cancer.

Phil's Vacation: Day +8 (Special Interview with Nick Willis)

This is a very special post to me because my friend Nick Willis, Silver Medalist in the 2008 Beijing Olympics in the 1500m, gets personal and vulnerable to explain how he has been able to dominate his mother's death by cancer when he was only 5 years old.

Nick is going for gold in London in 2012, but greater than that, Nick is officially a dominator of life. This guy lives with a semi-truck full of passion and a soft heart....but he is still a little punky around the edges with his sarcasm. I love this man. You can read more about Nick on his personal website by clicking here.

Below is Nick in Beijing receiving his bronze medal which eventually was upgraded to Silver when the winner was caught using performance enhancing drugs. Second fastest runner in the mile in the world.....now that's DOMINATION!