Support Noah's Fight Against Myeloma

I have a hard time saying it out loud, but it's easier to type: Noah has cancer.

In April, Noah was diagnosed with multiple myeloma, a type of blood cancer that starts in the bone marrow. Then in May, Noah had an initial round of radiation to treat a tumor that had appeared on his sternum. The tumor was the "canary in the coal mine" as Noah likes to say. It was the first physical indication that something complicated and serious was going haywire in his body. Since then, Noah's treatment has included frontline VRd therapy and now, KPd. Both are chemo drug therapies intended to reduce the number of cancer cells in his bone marrow.

The next step in Noah's treatment could be a stem cell transplant (ASCT), which we initially thought would start this past October. However, after a disappointing PET scan in September, we had to scrap that plan and instead Noah started a new type of chemo regime: KPd. This new treatment was, thank God, much more effective. Noah began the stem cell transplant process in January, starting with collection of his stem cells. We hope to proceed to the transplant process in early February. Please see our CaringBridge blog for more regular updates on Noah.

We've been on an emotional and mind-numbing rollercoaster. The learning curve has been steep and often overwhelming. There are complicated technical terms to learn, words no one ever wants to hear. We're not experts, but we research each test result, scan, new drug regimen, doctor or specialist. With the help of our friend network, Noah has tracked down incredible myeloma-specific resources. He’s become his own advocate for the best possible care.

This is all terrifying and humbling. Sometimes it's still hard to believe. Like maybe I could wake up and things would go back to how they were before this disease derailed our lives. Noah is tired often, but he has been working since his initial diagnosis and throughout the radiation and ongoing induction therapies. He tries to maintain our family routines and some semblance of normalcy. Our two-year old son, Mojave, still enjoys playing on Saturday mornings at the beach with his daddy. Instead of castles, they build ramps in the sand together. Then they "drive" toy trucks down the ramps, launching them briefly into the air before they crash into the surf.

Noah is our hero. I continue to be amazed by his capacity to be a loving husband and father despite this whole mess. Noah is strong, brave, resilient, and remarkable. His positive energy and enthusiasm for life have never been more inspiring.

As Noah's treatment progresses and "the plan" inevitably changes, we're focusing on a few simple goals: advocate for the best care available, enjoy time with loved ones, and accept help. We’re fundraising primarily to cover medical bills and associated costs. Noah has health insurance, but we could use your help to cover the following:

We are using CaringBridge to keep family and friends updated on Noah’s treatment. Please be sure to follow us there: Cancer is a Trip.

While there is no cure for this stupid disease, the science is constantly evolving and people with multiple myeloma are living longer. Noah is young and healthy. We all believe in his ability to bounce back and keep fighting. There will be many years of remission and good times together in the near future.

With gratitude and love,

Nicole, Noah & Mojave