Support Groups Can Educate But They Can Also Improve Life!

I belong to the North Florida International Myeloma Foundation Support Group, and I joined it soon after diagnosis to help in my myeloma education.  Little did I know that it would turn into much more  You build relationships with other myeloma patients, but maybe just as important is that the caregivers get to interact with other caregivers.  Friendships blossom, laughter is abundant, kidding becomes an art form, and these meetings can be great fun.  Last night our group had our Christmas/Holiday party in St. Augustine to view the Holiday Lighting of the city in one of the trolleys.  We then went to dinner at an excellent restaurant.  As one new caregiver said who had not attended our meetings before, "Now I know what a fun group this is, I will be back!"  Yes it is a FUN GROUP!

In the picture at the right you notice a head growing out of the waiter's shoulder.  This is Anne Pacowta.  She and Dianna Chiles are Co Support Group Leaders.  They both were caregivers and support group co-leaders with their husbands, who both have lost their battle with this disease.  This makes their selfless service to this group so heartfelt and cherished.  We love our group leaders!  If you want to join the Jacksonville Support Group you can email Anne at  apacowta@myeloma.org or Dianne at luvsuns@comcast.net. 

In addition, one of our members made a Mambo for Myeloma song which the group will be Mamboing to at the February meeting.  It will be a Support Group Mambo Challenge, so I will blog about it in February.   The words go to the tune by the Beatles "Back In The USSR,"  but the new title is "Back In Stringent CR".   Hope you enjoy the song.  The words are as follows:


Back in Stringent CR

I have Myeloma  what can that be?
Couldn't sleep at all last night
Wondering what the future held for me
It gave this man a terrible fright

I want to be in stringent CR
and you don't know how lucky you are, boy
to be in  stringent CR

Been in the hospital so long I know the place
Gee, it would be great to be back home
Melphalan, Dex, it seems like a never ending race
With myeloma I feel so all alone

I want to be in stringent CR
and you don't know how lucky you are, boy
to be in stringent CR

Stem Cell Transplant really knocked me out
It leaves my senses behind
But when I hit sCR
And cure is  on my mind
Oh come on

I want to be in stringent CR
and you don't know how lucky you are, boy
to be in stringent CR

Stem Cell Transplant really knocked me out
It leaves my senses behind
But when I hit sCR
And cure is  on my mind

So raise awareness and fund research find a cure
So raise awareness and fund research find a cure

I want to be in stringent CR
and you don't know how lucky you are, boy
if you can just get into stringent CR

Oh just Mambo, Mambo, Mambo  for Myeloma,

Doooo,  Woooo,  Ohhhh