Maureen's Story: Living with Multiple Myeloma, Living with Purpose
Maureen's Story: Living with Multiple Myeloma, Living with Purpose
Maureen had never heard of multiple myeloma — until she became diagnosed with the disease. In 2019 it was estimated that 3,300 Canadians would be diagnosed with multiple myeloma.
Myeloma is, it’s a new norm to me. It’s, you're not really with it, you're not really without it, you know, it's a very difficult situation to, live with. Some of the people they've had it for 11 years, and 15 years, and then you have somebody else that dies in, in two years, you know, so there's no norm.
We started a group called, the New Norm, and we do that once a week and it's very, very, strengthening, for anybody who's going through it. My purpose is to help other people get through this, really. There has to be a reason that I have this, and getting through this, and dealing with it.
Never give up hope Just talk to as many people as you can who have it, you're going to feel better every day. Maybe not every day, but some days.
I honestly do not know how I would have got through without the friendship and, knowing that people want to help you, and they're there for you.
“There has to be a reason that I have this,” she says — and, as you’ll see, she has found purpose in her new life.
In the next video, Maureen says having myeloma has caused her to reflect on her independence.
The baby's just grown up so much. Having myeloma has caused me to really reflect on being independent and needing people.
I used to go to visiting my daughter maybe once a month, but I haven't been up to see her now for about a year. I was going to drive, they said, “Just take the train and see how that one goes.”
But I'm anxious about getting on the train. What if I fall?
When doctors tell you you've only got two years, that is the strike at the heart, because all of a sudden, you know, you may be 75, but you, you think you've got at least a few more years, to have some time with my granddaughter, but maybe I don't.
INTERVIEWER: Do you have any goals or anything you wanted to achieve from your treatment? Get well.
I'm being managed, as the doctor says, now, and that's about all I know at this point.
You like to be busy, especially with a 2-1/2-year-old and I think that would be my happy place.
While multiple myeloma has it’s challenges, Maureen says, “You build your strength up and you start feeling better … and you push yourself a little more.”
Now, she says in the final video below, “I’m feeling that there is a little bit of hope.”
Watch these videos to learn more about how Maureen’s multiple myeloma diagnosis has changed her life. In the first video, below, Maureen talks about the importance of support, friendship, and speaking with those who understand her experience.
I thought I'd done everything right in my, my life, you know, with eating, and watching what I was doing, and whatever, how, how did I get this? And where did it come from?
I've always worked and I worked for major hotels in the Toronto area. Loved, loved, loved the job. I've also done a lot of, volunteer work, I really like that.
And all of a sudden, I'm, I’m not of any use to anybody. The doctor phoned me actually, she says, “you've got cancer” and, of course, that was a huge shock to me.
I had no idea. I've never heard of myeloma before. I was really concerned.
Well, as soon as you go to Google you see you could have it for two years, five years, six years, and all of a sudden you think, well, your life is over.
It's scary. It brings a lot of depression, you feel you should be doing something. You just don't feel well enough to do it.
Before I was Ms. Spontaneous, you know, you’d ask me out and I would go. You're always pushing yourself to do that little extra.
You build your strength up and you start feeling better and you start eating better, and you push yourself a little bit more. I'm feeling that there is a little bit of hope.
I'm much stronger. I mean, I completely look after myself here.