Help Uncle Harry Fight Multiple Myeloma

My uncle, Harry James Mullett, is one of the most reliable, helpful people you could ever meet. Harry is a former resident of Greene County, Pennsylvania where he was a member of the Greene Valley Presbyterian Church. It was there that he met my Aunt Linda in 1980; they married in 1981. Harry is a lifelong fan of the Steelers, Pirates, and Penguins. He has held down two jobs for decades. He always arrives early and rarely misses a shift. At age 62, his only medication had been a Vitamin D supplement.

Then came last fall, when he began experiencing severe back pain and unexpected weight loss. After multiple scans, lots of blood work and a bone marrow biopsy, he was diagnosed with multiple myeloma. It's a rare, incurable type of blood cancer. Myeloma cells crowd out healthy ones, leading to fatigue, anemia & higher risk of infections. Abnormal proteins build up in the bloodstream, which can damage the kidneys & weaken bones.

Since January, Harry has endured ten cycles of treatment, including chemotherapy, immune-modulating drugs, twice-weekly blood tests, and a repeat bone marrow biopsy. True to form, Harry has continued working throughout this process. In recent weeks, side effects have led him to cut back his hours.

The good news is the treatments have worked their magic. There is little residual disease is detected in the bone marrow. This means it's time for the gold standard of myeloma treatment, the stem cell transplant. On August 17, 2023 Harry and Linda left their home (and their fur babies) in Newport News, Virginia to travel to Richmond, VA where Harry began the weeks-long transplant process at VCU Massey Cancer Center. Stem cells will be removed from his blood and frozen. He'll be given a large dose of a powerful chemotherapy drug to target any remaining cancer. Then his own stem cells will be returned. Following that, he will remain hospitalized for several weeks because he will be vulnerable to infections and complications. Once his immune system has slowly begun to recover, he will be seen in the outpatient clinic before eventually returning home. Deductibles and out of pocket costs for 2022 and 2023 have already totaled more than $10,000. Short-term disability will only cover a portion of Harry’s regular wages.

For months, friends and family have sought permission to set up a fundraiser to help them out. They have finally and gratefully agreed.

I am organizing this on behalf of my uncle and my aunt, who is steadfast by his side. If you are able, we ask for your support in Harry and Linda’s battle. Your generous donation will help Harry and Linda with excessive medical bills and expenses. We thank everyone for contributions of any amount.