I never had a chance to thank the support group hosts from my trip to Los Angeles last weekend.
Barbara Campbell, founder and leader of the El Segundo, California support group, was gracious and very knowledgeable. We all sat in a circle and talked about our multiple myeloma experiences. What a great group! Only one newly diagnosed patient. The rest were veterans – long time survivors with much to share. I learned a lot!
That meeting started at 10:30 am. Since my next appearance was over an hour away in Riverside, I needed to break away before noon and head south. Heather with Millennium Pharmaceuticals was kind enough to give-up her Saturday to shuttle me between meetings. I enjoyed a true L.A. experience; busy freeway, Heather weaving in and out between cars like it was a slalom race course on Aspen Mountain.
Somehow, someway we made it to Riverside in just over an hour. 
Denise and Anthony Sibert with the Inland Empire Multiple Myeloma Support Group were there to greet me.
The gathering was large – almost 50 people. While Heather waited patiently, I stayed and answered questions for dozens of patients and caregivers after my presentation. It was a wonderful day!
The “cherry on top” of all this was Heather’s suggestion that I visit the world famous Balboa Beach Club in Newport Beach. Fabulous! I got a chance to meet her kids and we enjoyed a cocktail overlooking the bay.
A close friend of mine, Michele, drove-up all the way from San Diego to meet me and join me for dinner from one of those waterside food trucks. The food was great and the view was spectacular!
I will be heading back to California next Thursday. Anaheim Group leader, Tom Swick, listened to my story and stayed afterwards to ask me to speak to his group on August 2nd at 6:30. I will find the directions and share those here next week in case any of my readers are going to be in the area Thursday.
In the meantime, I’m sitting in the Tampa airport, waiting for my flight to Dallas. This weekend I’ m attending the IMF’s 13th annual Group Leader’s Summit. I should pick-up a few important tidbits from an impressive list of guest speakers. I will be blogging about it all weekend.
I’m feeling a bit better today. It’s my rest week – no Velcade or Revlimid until Wednesday. Boy, I can really feel the difference after only a few days off my meds! Makes traveling much easier.
So stay tuned for updated from Dallas. Feel good and keep smiling! Pat
Denise and Anthony Sibert with the Inland Empire Multiple Myeloma Support Group were there to greet me.
The gathering was large – almost 50 people. While Heather waited patiently, I stayed and answered questions for dozens of patients and caregivers after my presentation. It was a wonderful day!
The “cherry on top” of all this was Heather’s suggestion that I visit the world famous Balboa Beach Club in Newport Beach. Fabulous! I got a chance to meet her kids and we enjoyed a cocktail overlooking the bay.
A close friend of mine, Michele, drove-up all the way from San Diego to meet me and join me for dinner from one of those waterside food trucks. The food was great and the view was spectacular!
I will be heading back to California next Thursday. Anaheim Group leader, Tom Swick, listened to my story and stayed afterwards to ask me to speak to his group on August 2nd at 6:30. I will find the directions and share those here next week in case any of my readers are going to be in the area Thursday.
In the meantime, I’m sitting in the Tampa airport, waiting for my flight to Dallas. This weekend I’ m attending the IMF’s 13th annual Group Leader’s Summit. I should pick-up a few important tidbits from an impressive list of guest speakers. I will be blogging about it all weekend.
I’m feeling a bit better today. It’s my rest week – no Velcade or Revlimid until Wednesday. Boy, I can really feel the difference after only a few days off my meds! Makes traveling much easier.
So stay tuned for updated from Dallas. Feel good and keep smiling! Pat