Our mother, Evalyn Merrick, is living with Multiple Myeloma. Thanks to her positive attitude and pure strength of character, everyday she defies the death sentence this blood cancer can carry. Evalyn walks, swims, takes exercise classes, and participates fully in her busy life. Evalyn also finds time to be an active member of the NH House of Representatives, where she sits on the Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs Committee (a post she sought to with the goal of helping others with expensive medical conditions).
Evalyn would not be with us were it not for the constant research and developments funded through organizations like the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.
Early in 1989, Evalyn began experiencing joint pain. Concerned about over-use injuries from her occupation as a fitness instructor and coordinator (and full time mom), she visited a rheumatologist who performed routine blood tests. Evalyn’s results revealed a spike in her protein levels, a red flag for potential problems. As a result, Evalyn was sent for her first bone marrow biopsy, which found monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (or “MGUS”), a potential precursor to Multiple Myeloma.
In the years that followed, Evalyn was closely monitored through annual bone marrow biopsies and blood tests, a precaution that ensured she would catch any problems early.
In 1997, one of Evalyn’s routine tests showed signs of Multiple Myeloma. A battery of subsequent tests confirmed the presence of tumors in her bones. After consultations with specialists, Evalyn was informed that if she did not undergo a bone marrow transplant within four months, she would be dead within 2 years.
Evalyn was told she had two choices: an allograph bone marrow transplant (that would require a donor), or an autologous stem cell transplant (that would use the patient’s own “cleaned” cells). Both procedures carried serious risks, with the allograph bone marrow transplant being the most dangerous, and the autologous stem cell transplant still in its early stages of implementation.
Evalyn teamed with her husband Rick, a practicing physician, to research and arm Evalyn with as much information as possible. After evaluating all of the evidence before them, they made the choice to wait until there was more confidence in stem cell therapy. In the meantime, they decided to try to prolong Evalyn’s life by trying a relatively new drug developed by researchers and shown to be a potentially anti-myeloma chemotherapy.
With monthly infusions, Evalyn was able to hold the disease back for four years.
In 2001, Evalyn’s disease started to progress rapidly, and it was obvious drastic measures were needed. By that time, stem cell transplants were much more common and had a 95% survival rate. Evalyn started a sequence of three months of heavy dose chemo, during which time she lost her hair, became frail, and was finally admitted to Dartmouth Hitchcock in NH for her transplant in late October 2002.
In the meantime, Evalyn’s son Scott applied to colleges without the support of his mother and father (Rick spent as many nights as possible with Evalyn at the hospital). Her daughter Rachel put her thesis on the back burner to make trips from Colby College in Maine to Dartmouth Hitchcock to stay with Evalyn when Rick could not.
Evalyn’s transplant was a success. Through positive thoughts and incredible strength, 18 days after the return of her cells, Evalyn was out of the hospital and home for her challenging recovery. By Christmas, Evalyn was able to take a run at one of her favorite ski mountains – a huge triumph.
Evalyn’s 9-year “birthday” (from her re-birth after her cells were returned) is this month – November. Periodically, the Myeloma finds new ways to evade her current drug regimen, forcing her to find new ways to out-smart the disease with new drugs and new interventions. Each year is a victory over the disease for which current science has no cure.
With steadfast optimism, strength, courage and love, Evalyn has been an inspiration to all those who know her; but Evalyn’s story could not have been so promising were it not for constant research and new developments. Her hope, and the hope of her family and friends, rests on funding to hire researchers, finance clinical trials, and support efforts to ultimately find a cure to this and all blood cancers. We remain hopeful.
