Hello! My name is Bill. I am 36 years old and live in southern Indiana. I have two beautiful kids, Bruce (4 years old) and Ansley (3 years old), and I have been with my wife, Courtney, for over five years now. In November 2024, I was diagnosed with a large plasmacytoma in my L5 vertebra, along with MGUS, after my L5 vertebra fractured at home while bending over to perform some daily chores. After two to three weeks of hospitalization, testing, and communication with my local neurosurgeon and oncologist, I underwent a spinal fusion to stabilize my spine, and subsequent radiation therapy to eradicate the tumor itself. For about a year, I continued to undergo blood testing, X-rays, MRIs, PET/CTs, and bone marrow biopsies until late April 2026, when I was finally diagnosed with active high-risk multiple myeloma (MM). Elevated light chains, m-spike, plasma cell levels in my marrow, and identification of at least eight to nine new lesions/tumors in my cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spine, as well as in my chest and ribs contributed to this formal diagnosis. In coordination with my local oncologist and the oncology team at Vanderbilt, we developed the plan to perform quadruplet therapy for four months, to be followed up with ASCT to assure the deepest initial remission possible.
Unfortunately, my ASCT was canceled/postponed in early September due to the fact that both newly found lesions and prior lesions did not shrink as much as anticipated, and the myeloma in my bone marrow did not reduce to a level at which ASCT made sense to proceed with right now. As of September 29, 2026, I have just begun at least two more months of a new quadruplet therapy with new medications to try and attack the myeloma differently. Hopefully, after the next couple of months of treatment, imaging, and other testing will prove ASCT worthwhile to begin; otherwise, they will consider this more of a refractory myeloma and proceed directly to CAR-T instead due to the high-risk nature of my strain of MM.
Medically speaking, I have around two to three appointments per week that involve blood labs, scans, follow-ups, or treatments. All of this has become both a burden and a routine for us as a family, and the only thing we can do is trust that God has a plan, and through Him that plan will be fulfilled no matter the outcome.
My kids are my pride and joy. Without them in my life today, I am not sure how I would have the motivation to get through these difficult times. Courtney gives me the mental strength, love, and care needed to overcome all of the obstacles that have been thrown our way in our time together as husband and wife. Fortunately, we have a close-knit group of family friends who are constantly in connection with us to assist with daily activities and care for our kids. Ninety-five percent of our family life involves either racing or medical appointments, so we are constantly busy and battling treatment exhaustion versus time together as a family doing extracurricular things to be as close to a normal family as possible. We watch all of the NASCAR races every weekend either in attendance, when possible, or on TV, and go racing ourselves at our local dirt track with a dear friend of mine.
Unfortunately, my transplant was canceled/postponed. They found new tumors in my neck and back, and the myeloma was not suppressed enough in my marrow (MRD testing) to allow for ASCT to make sense at this time. They may actually go straight to CAR-T instead of ASCT after my next two months of a different quadruplet therapy if my MRD testing and tumors do not reduce as they should. Still trying to stay positive. I have a wife and two toddlers who are counting on me! Thank you very much for the involvement and willingness to communicate. I have received two grants from Blood Cancer United so far, and a little bit goes a long way to keep our finances in check. Between travel, lodging, and other medically related bills, anything helps! Thank you for connecting. Racing is my life, and being involved with it in any shape or form is my passion. If I get any opportunity to meet new people, share my story, and help the blood cancer cause in any way, I will.
Bill
multiple myeloma (MM)
