Janice, my lovely bride, was diagnosed with multiple myeloma on April 14, 2014. Janice’s doctor had been treating her for back pain for months, not recognizing her symptoms as multiple myeloma. We finally decided to go to the ER on April 14th, and Janice was admitted to the hospital. The tests showed two fractured vertebrae and two collapsed vertebrae; her blood calcium levels were 13 times normal levels (due to calcium leaching from her bones) and her kidneys were reaching the point of failure – multiple myeloma had worked its evil. It’s tragic that the symptoms of multiple myeloma are not more quickly recognized by physicians.

My Janice was very sick—our lives had been turned upside down. A hospital bed was delivered to our home along with many new medications. It was a huge challenge to manage the medications, side effects, shock of the diagnosis, and to get a grip on life’s new paradigm. Those first few months were tough.

Janice was inspiring as she faced her challenge. I was amazed that she was (and still is) so concerned about my welfare and how I was doing, while facing her struggle. When the side effects from the drugs led to anxiety attacks, she would listen to inspirational music and pray.

As Janice started getting better, we became more and more thankful for the obvious advancements in the treatment of multiple myeloma and for the work of the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation. Several new effective drugs have already become available since her diagnosis. There is no cure yet, but amazing progress is being made.

We can now truly better understand the tears and heartbreak of the millions who have gone before us and appreciate the sacrifice of so many to find a cure. Cancer has chosen to knock on our door; therefore, we want to do our part to make sure that future generations have the ability leave their own doors shut when cancer comes knocking. Therefore, I have chosen to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro in my effort to make a difference, raise funds for research, and say, “Let God’s will be done.”