Renzi Strong-Support Joanie and Chris in Their Cancer Battle

Joanie-Mum-Mimi

As most of you know, our mom has slowly migrated down to Estero Florida over the past few years. She calls it her Happy Place. She made this decision about 3 years ago when she was diagnosed unexpectedly with smoldering multiple myeloma. For those of you who are not familiar with this form of blood cancer, it’s a chronic form. It is typically (not always) a slow progression that can often times be managed by some of the treatments available- thanks research!

The term “smoldering” refers to the cancer being present but not rapidly multiplying in a progressing form. Think of glowing embers in a fire-pit. You see them and feel it’s heat but it’s not yet ripping flames. Joanie was smoldering for about 3 years, going for scans and blood work every 3 months to check her levels. We prayed for her each visit. If you ask her, it’s the prayers, palm trees and beach that kept her disease at bay for as long as it was. The stress free environment down in the sunshine state and year round outdoor exercise kept her mind and body in a healthy state. Recently, in June 2024 she went for her routine scan, bloodwork and bone marrow biopsy and it seems her levels are rising to a point where she is no longer smoldering, she has progressing multiple myeloma. Her doctors both in MA and FL feel she needs to begin treatment. She packed up and went back down to FL at the end of August to begin this journey. Her treatment will consist of a cocktail of outpatient chemo therapy infusions and steroids to hopefully manage the myeloma. It will be a long road as Myeloma is not curable- however, with thoughts and prayers and lots of sunshine we hope Mom can reach remission and continue to enjoy her happy place and visits with her family. We are rooting for you Mama!

Chris-Dad-Papa

Chris has always been an athlete at heart. Both as a player and beloved Coach. His health was always in a great standing and up until 2 weeks ago was playing pickle ball 4 days a week for 2+ hours at a time. It wasn’t until mid august when he saw a random rash on his leg that convinced him to stop into urgent care. His initial thoughts were maybe he got bit by a tick and so they tested him for Lyme and sent him off with some antibiotics. He got a call the next day by a very concerned urgent care doc saying he needs to go see his PCP immediately.

One visit turned into 4 within the span of a week and he was diagnosed by an oncologist with Acute Myeloidal Lukemia (AML), an incredibly aggressive and fast progressing blood cancer. Crazy part is, the rash had absolutely nothing to do with Lyme or the Lukemia and resolved itself. If you believe in divine intervention, this is it. The doctors told him if he had waited 3-5 weeks his chances of coming out of this would have been significantly lower. They told him he needs to go right into Beth Israel Deaconess Medical center where he will undergo 5+ weeks of in-patient treatment. He left his oncologist, packed up his things and headed into Boston. He’s there now undergoing intense chemotherapy in hopes he reaches remission and we pray, can be cured.

His spirits are high and he has had many friends and family visit him which makes his day. We are rooting for you Dad!

Even with these unexpected tough times, both of my parents have the most incredible mindset. We admire it and I think sometimes it can be a reset for ourselves to thank our lucky stars for the simple things. Health, family, time. Don’t take any of it for granted. Although my parents are not together as a couple anymore, they still support one another as they go through this. They have family and many friends supporting them as well.

We are naming this fundraiser “Renzi Strong” because no one fights alone.