Thanks For the Memories It's not happiness that brings you gratitude, it's gratitude that brings you happiness. Today I am a very happy girl. As I sit in the Louis Armstrong Airport waiting for my delayed flight home to Philadelphia from The American Society of Hematology 's Annual Meeting (#ASH13) I am reflecting back on my experience. I have a lot for which I am grateful. I am grateful for the educational grant that enabled the International Myeloma Foundation to bring 12 patient advocates from across the United States to The American Society of Hematology's Annual Meeting (#ASH13). I am grateful that IMF asked me to be one of those patient advocates this year and report from #ASH13. I am grateful for the progress that has been made in treating myeloma in the last decade because of these advances I am well enough to travel alone half way across the country five years post diagnosis. I am grateful...
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ASH13
There is no better place to host a Medical Convention than New Orleans. The sights, the sounds, the smells and the people invigorate you. I have the best of both worlds here. During the day I am surrounded by the giants of hematology. I feel like an anxious child at a theme park patiently waiting to see the "characters" that I respect and admire. When I see one of those special people I want a picture as a souvenir. I had my picture taken with the @MayoMyeloma tweeters that I faithfully follow (@VincentRk and @myelomaMD), and shook hands with the much respected @BrianDurieMD. I still have a list of other "characters" I would love to meet and shake hands with and just maybe I will be able to sneak in a quick photo shoot for my scrapbook. Friday afternoon I listened intently as the presenters defended their points of view on critical issues in myeloma at International Myeloma Foundations's Satellite Symposium. Then on Friday night I celebrated li...
What It Means to be an Advocate
What does it mean to be an advocate? If you asked me that question 6 years ago I would not know what to say. Six years ago I was a cancer-free 5th grade Science/Math teacher whose biggest worry was would my students understand long division and pass the NJ- ASK test . Fast- forward 6 years and I am now a retired educator, a multiple myeloma survivor and a patient advocate. I learned about advocacy a little at a time. First I learned how important it was for me to advocate for myself at doctors visits. This required a lot of practice. I was brought up in an era where the doctor knew best. Patients just followed the doctor's orders. Asking questions and seeking second opinions did not come naturally to me. I thought I would offending my doctor if I did so. Little by little I began to educated myself. That part came easy since I was a teacher. Then I began to speak up at my appointments. I would challenge myself to ask at least one question at each con...