My cancer journey started in November 2019. I was traveling for business on a European river cruise. I was on the top deck, walking down the outside steps, when I fell. I hit my head and couldn’t get up. It felt like I broke my hip. The crew carried me to my room, and the captain made an emergency stop in a little town in Hungary. I was taken to the hospital, and the next day, the doctor, in broken English, asked me if I had any medical issues. I replied no, and he then showed me the X-rays and told me I broke my hip at the femur, had a tumor, and that I had cancer. I couldn't believe what I was hearing. I thought I misunderstood him. I was scared of being alone in a foreign country and in disbelief. I kept thinking, how could I have cancer at 47 years old? After three days, an American emergency flight crew showed up in my room and told me they were taking me home. I just started crying.
After a 17-hour flight, I arrived home in Cincinnati. I was in the hospital for 10 days before they could replace my hip. The doctors needed to verify what type of cancer I had. It was confirmed that I had multiple myeloma (MM). Shortly after my hip replacement, I started my treatment for MM. In May 2020, I had a stem cell transplant, which failed immediately. I was devastated. I never thought about it failing. All I could think about was not seeing my 13-year-old son graduate from high school. I was given a new treatment for about two years. I felt bad, but was able to work again. Two years later, I was luckily well enough to have Abecma® CAR-T. The process was very long and hard on my family, but I responded very well and am happy to say I'm in remission two years later. I finally feel like my old self and am enjoying life again.
Kimberly
multiple myeloma (MM)
