I am a member of several myeloma support groups online. In one of these groups, lots of research and information is shared among the members. This is a valuable way to learn from each other and gain new information related to the treatment and management of myeloma. Recently, some members have attended patient symposiums through the MMRF and IMF. It's a amazing how excited the group gets when we hear that members of our group saw, met, and spoke to some of the top multiple myeloma specialists in the world. We joke that these doctors are in fact "our" rock stars!
Well, one "rock star" that is at the top of my list is Kathy Giusti who is not only a myeloma patient, but the co-founder of the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation. I've had a draft blog post entitled, "Kathy Giusti is a Rock Star" since I started this blog a year ago. Finally getting around to publishing it now. This amazing woman was diagnosed with smoldering myeloma in 1996. At the time, she had one daughter and she was determined to give her daughter a sibling. In 1997, she gave birth to her son. While fighting to survive and to complete her family, in 1998 she and her twin sister founded the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation. In 2005, Kathy's myeloma became active and she underwent a allogentic (donor - from her twin sister) in 2006.
Kathy's story is incredibly inspirational and the work she is doing through the MMRF for myeloma patients is outstanding. Here are a few video clips and articles that explain this work much better than I can.
Kathy Giusti - Morning Joe 9/23/13
The Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation (MMRF) Launches Revolution in Precision Medicine to Accelerate Cures
Kathy Giusti - Congress Unplugged 2012
Kathy Giusti: Two Wars Against Cancer
Kathy Giusti - Cancer Can't Stop Me
Kathy Giusti: Time 100 Most Influencial People in the World
The Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation
I have had the opportunity to participate in two MMRF Race for Research events: last September and in April. I am proud to support such an excellent organization like the MMRF. Kathy Giusti is a rock star in my eyes, in more ways than one. :)
Kathy Guisti is quite a person, she has helped us and countless millions yet unborn who will contract this disease, a cure needs to be found. I watched her Morning Joe interview and heard her say she had " an identical twin" from which she received a Allogenic stemcell transplant. Wished that were true for all of us!
ReplyDeleteYes, she did! I agree!
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