|
|
Spotlight on Asheley Taker:
Taker money and run… My 100+km journey for my mom and stepdad | | |
|
|
My name is Ashely Taker and our story starts in October 2017.
After a summer where my mom, Carolyn, wasn’t feeling herself and had some pain, and test after test came back negative, we all assumed she was just getting older and finally slowing down a bit.
Boy, were we wrong.
| |
Late in October, my mom was walking into her house when her collarbone snapped. She was rushed to the emergency room, and there were concerns all around because bones don’t just “snap”. | | |
|
After more tests it was confirmed:
my mom had bone cancer, but it was a secondary cancer.
That’s how we came to find out she had multiple myeloma.
| |
|
The news was devastating. The true matriarch of our family, a new grandmother of 3 young grandsons, had a non-curable cancer. This news and the aftermath were the hardest thing our family had to endure.
We watched as my mom did the chemo and some radiation, then the stem cell transplant
Watching her go through this just confirmed what
we all knew:
my mom is the strongest person I have ever known.
When the stem cell transplant was done, we all held our breath and waited to hear if it took, which it did!
It gave my mom 6 years of fun, travel and laughs.
| |
Brad and Mom, 3 months before mom’s diagnosis
Cape Breton, Summer 2017 | “Mimi” and two of her grandsons in Cape Breton,
six months post first stem cell treatment, Nov 2018 | | |
|
This past summer was the sixth anniversary of my mom’s diagnosis, and again she was starting to feel differently.
My mom knew it was back.
| | |
The hematologist asked her to come in to review her file and we knew then it was time to look at the next treatment. | | |
|
The day my mom was to meet her hematologist, my amazing stepdad, Brad, had gone to see our family doctor. He had been feeling a little off, and went for blood tests. When he walked in the door after coming from the family doctor, he looked like had seen a ghost, and said:
“The doc thinks I have the markings for multiple myeloma.”
| | |
|
We were shocked.
We thought this had to be some sort of sick joke, but two hours later, the hematologist confirmed our worst fears…
Brad had MM as well.
| |
|
My mom decided to put off her treatment for a few months while Brad had his chemo.
So, here we were again watching someone we love go through all the steps.
When your family gets this kind of news, you ask a lot of questions, the biggest always being:
“Why?”, “How is this fair?”, and “What can I do?”.
| |
Brad (pre-treatment), me, and my mom Carolyn, Bedford, NS, 2024 | | |
|
Determined to do something, I decided to run 100km
and try to raise $10,000 for multiple myeloma.
I chose to do the run this past May (2024) because it’s the month that Brad did his stem cell transplant and Mom started her chemo again.
| | |
|
Brad finished his stem cell transplant the first week of June and came through it extremely well. He’s at home now in Northern Cape Breton spending time in the yard.
My mom will be doing her second transplant in early Fall of this year. They are both in amazing spirits and they hope to be back in Mexico, on the beach, next January.
| | |
Brad, post treatment - Cape Breton, July 2024 | |
Mom and Brad - Cape Breton, July 2024 | |
|
I was shocked and humbled by how many people came out
to donate to my run!
In just one month, we raised a total of $16,897!
While the run was initially to be 100km, with the amount that was coming in, I just kept going and completed my May challenge by running 126km!
| |
|
Over the past 6 years, I’ve seen so many advancements that help with this disease.
I’m hoping that through my 126km run and the monies we raised,
that we’ll be contributing to help advance important research and awareness for myeloma.
We are all rooting for my mom and Brad, and hoping the next time the disease comes back, they will be even closer to a cure.
I know this money we all raised will help with that.
XO
Ash
| |
Mom, Brad and all the grandkids, Aug 2022
Cape Breton at “Mimi and Poppy’s house”.
Brad wasn’t diagnosed yet and Mom was 5yrs post first stem cell transplant. | | |
|
We hope you enjoy meeting our Spotlight Stars and your fellow Myeloma Canada community members. The Spotlight section of Myeloma Matters features stories and reflections supplied by members of our community - those living with myeloma, caregivers, healthcare professional - in their words. The views expressed and shared are those of that individual. We recognize that everyone’s journey and experience with myeloma is different.
To all of you who have shared your stories in the past, and those of you who continue to do so today, we are indebted...you are an inspiration.
If you would like to share your experience in a future issue of Myeloma Matters, please contact us at contact@myeloma.ca.
| | | |
Myeloma Canada's promise: To improve the lives and empower all Canadians affected by myeloma, accelerate access to the best care, while supporting the pursuit of its cure and prevention. | |
Follow us on social media for the most up-to-date information and resources: | |
Si vous préférez recevoir vos communications en français, écrivez-nous à contact@myelome.ca. | |
|
To donate to Myeloma Canada
please visit myeloma.ca or call us toll-free at 1-888-798-5771.
| | | | |
