Name: Joe Beeler
Age: 64
Hometown: Broomfield, CO
Link: https://endurance.themmrf.org/2018EverestBaseCamp/TheBeelerBoys

I was diagnosed with multiple myeloma in January 2016 and went through seven rounds of chemotherapy, induction consolidation and stem cell harvesting for two transplants. During this procedure, I contracted MRSA with no white blood cells to fight. After laying in isolation for eleven days, I started to rebound and was told I was going to live. Today, I am truly grateful to be alive!

I elected not to transplant and began a rigorous medical maintenance regimen, diet, exercise and many lifestyle changes. Nine months after my hospitalization, my son Trevor and I climbed Mount Democrat (14,154 feet) in Colorado. Living in and around Boulder, Colorado, all my life, the mountains and climbing are just part of my lifestyle. I read about the MMRF, Team for Cures, MM4MM, and didn’t hesitate to apply for the Mount Everest Base (EBC) Camp Climb. At 64 years old, I’m not quite as strong a climber as I used to be, but that’s no excuse (unless I really need it?). I’m so thrilled my son Trevor and I were selected to go!

Today, I am back working and training. It’s not easy to balance the treatments and conditioning, but trekking to EBC plus meeting all these wonderful people connected with the MMRF gives me so much inspiration. I want to share my experience, strength and hope with myeloma patients everywhere and show them that we can survive and thrive.